Grading Seahawks position units after roster cuts

Now that 12s know who will play for the Seahawks to start 2018, how good is the team really? Here is a look at each position group and how they grade.

The Seahawks, of course, made a bunch of moves on Saturday to finalize the roster for 2018. There were also some surprising cuts. But now that we know who plays where for Seattle, here are grades for each position group.

Offense

Quarterback

Starter: Russell Wilson

Backup: Brett Hundley

Short take: Wilson is a top-five quarterback. This is not breaking news. Hundley hasn’t yet played a snap in Seattle but has experience as a starter in the NFL. Seattle placed Austin Davis on IR and will probably work out a release deal with him soon. Alex McGough, seventh-round pick this year, was waived with probable hopes he will be available for the practice squad.

Grade: A

Running back

Starter: Chris Carson

Backups: Rashaad Penny, C.J. Prosise, Mike Davis, J.D. McKissic and Tre Madden (fullback)

Short take: This group is physically better and has much more potential that the 2017 Seahawks version. That group included Eddie Lacy and Thomas Rawls, among others. Carson should do really well behind a better line, if he stays healthy. Penny will get a bunch of carries. And Prosise and McKissic can help out at receiver as well. Still, the entire group has to prove they can be healthy for long stretches.

Grade: B

Wide receiver

Starters: Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett

Backups: Brandon Marshall, Jaron Brown and David Moore

Short take: Baldwin hasn’t played this preseason but should be ready for week one. Lockett could have a breakout year. Marshall supplies veteran experience and has had a nice preseason. One player that got released was Amara Darboh who simply was ineffective or injured during his short time in his Seattle career.

Grade: B

Tight end

Starter: Nick Vannett

Backups: Darrell Daniels and Will Dissly

Short take: Ed Dickson was placed on the non-football injury list so there is real doubt Dickson will ever play a down for Seattle. Vannett had a really solid preseason and, like Lockett, could have a breakout year. Dissly was drafted mostly to block and loves doing that. He could really help the team in short yardage situations. Seattle doesn’t yet know what it will get from recently acquired Daniels.

Grade: C+

Offensive line

Starters: Duane Brown (left tackle), Ethan Pocic (left guard), Justin Britt (center), D.J. Fluker (right guard) and Germain Ifedi (right tackle)

Backups: George Fant, Joey Hunt, J.R. Sweezy and Rees Odhiambo

Short take: The starters have been set since training camp. And Ifedi showed in preseason game three that he might be OK in 2018. Plus, he had no penalties in the preseason so miracles can happen.

Actually, this group has the potential to be Seattle’s best offensive line in five years or more. They just need to keep progressing under Mike Solari’s system and stay healthy.

Grade: C (potentially, however, much much better)