Seahawks news: What having fewer players at training camp means

In Saturday’s Seahawks news, Seattle, like all NFL teams are likely to have fewer than the normal 90 players at training camp due to COVID-19.

Per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, NFL teams are likely to only bring in 75 to 80 players for training camps this season. Since 2012, NFL teams have had 90 players at training camps. This is due to COVID-19 and trying to have fewer people around. How this affects Seahawks news is that this could mean fewer undrafted free agents have a real chance of making the team.

Seattle, of course, has had several UDFAs become impact players in the Pete Carroll era. Doug Baldwin was the best receiver the Seahawks had in the 2010s, of course. And that is to name one of several players who made the team without being drafted.

But having fewer players attend camp also means that some veterans, who might currently be battling for a roster spot, will have an even tougher time of making the team.

The tight end room has a couple of those type of players, Luke Willson or Jacob Hollister. Seattle knows Willson well and Hollister played decently for the Seahawks in 2019 after Will Dissly was injured. Likely tight end locks to make the team are Dissly, offseason signee Greg Olsen. 2020 draftee Colby Parkinson might also be that, even though he did injure his foot this offseason.

Who might make the team and who does not

My point is that if Seattle is thinking of keeping four tight ends then either Hollister or Willson might not be asked to attend training camp which means they are less likely to make the team.

Seattle currently has far too many offensive linemen on their bloated roster so watching which ones are asked to camp and which ones are not will be a telling sign of who is probably going to be a Seahawk this year and who is not.