Seahawks week one roster prediction before last preseason game

The Seahawks play their final preseason game on Saturday with several roster spots up for grabs. A lot of the starters, like every other NFL team, are pretty much set. But depth could be the reason a team makes the playoffs or not.

Seattle’s backups have looked basically terrible this preseason. That said, the presumed starters haven’t played so there is no real way of saying how the 2021 season will go based on what we know this offseason. A lot of the depth might be decided in preseason game three versus the Chargers.

Here’s a guess at who makes the 53-man roster for the Seahawks for 2021.

Predicting who will make Seahawks roster prior to preseason game three

Offense

Quarterbacks: Russell Wilson (starter, duh) and Geno Smith

I mean, Russell Wilson has been the surest quarterback in thr NFL to play for almost a decade and he is really good. Smith will be his backup. If Seattle has to look for a third-string quarterback during the season then something bad has happened and the team is in crisis mode.

Cut: Sean Mannion

Running backs: Chris Carson (starter), Rashaad Penny, Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas and Nick Bellore (fullback/linebacker)

Carson is the clear starter and after that is a bunch of question marks. As strange as it sounds, Dallas might be the next most reliable back. He can return kicks and catches passes out of the backfield. Penny gets hurt a lot and Homer hasn’t shown he can carry any kind of load that requires getting more than 4 yards a carry.

Among final cuts: Alex Collins

Wide receivers: D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, D’Wayne Eskridge, Freddie Swain, Penny Hart and Cade Johnson

Practice squad: Penny Hart

Among final cuts: Cody Thompson and Aaron Fuller

So, top-two receivers are obviously set. Metcalf and Lockett are going to get most of the targets. If one gets injured, things go south quickly. Eskridge might be good but is an unproven rookie. Swain and Hart might be decent options but only playing off better receivers. Johnson will just be finding his way. Seattle should sign Josh Gordon if Gordon is reinstated.

Tight ends: Will Dissly, Gerald Everett, Cam Sutton

Cuts: Tyler Mabry

The Shane Waldron offense should be able to use talented tight ends extremely well. Dissly should be ready for a breakout season. Everett knows Waldron’s system well after playing with the Rams for the last several seasons. After Dissly and Everett there is not a lot of proven talent but maybe Waldron will find a way to make it work.

Offensive lineman: Duane Brown, Damien Lewis, Ethan Pocic, Gabe Jackson, Brandon Shell (all previous five are starters), Stone Forsythe, Kyle Fuller, Cedric Ogbuechi, Phil Haynes and Jordan Simmons

Among final cuts: Jamarco Jones, Tommy Champion

This is one of the greatest areas to predict as far as the Seahawks final roster because none of the presumed starters have played this preseason and Duane Brown is still doing his holding-in. Otherwise, the starters are set. I have Haynes making the team because he can play multiple spots. Forysthe is a rookie who looked better in preseason game two than in preseason game one and that is a good sign.

Defense

Defensive line: Carlos Dunlap, L.J. Coller, Robert Nkemdiche, Rasheem Green, Kerry Hyder, Poona Ford, Bryan Mone, Benson Mayowa, Alton Robinson, Al Woods

Among final cuts: Robert Nkemdiche

Nkemdiche is an interesting piece but he has a history of being injured and that hasn’t changed this preseason so why take a chance on him? The pass rush is solid as it is, especially with Darrell Taylor factored in, and Seattle has some veteran and proven run-stoppers.

Linebackers: Bobby Wagner (like, well, obviously), Jordyn Brooks, Cody Barton, Darrell Taylor

Ben Burr-Kirven was lost to a knee injury but was more of a special teamer anyway. K.J. Wright isn’t coming back. Wagner is a future Hall of Famer. Brooks is going to be a beast. Barton has been excellent in preseason and Taylor is explosive so there you go.

Cornerbacks: Ugo Amadi, Marquise Blair, Tre Flowers, D.J. Reed, Tre Brown, Ahkello Witherspoon

Blair and Amadi are good at slot corner and Blair could end up being a starter at safety if Diggs or Adams was injured. Reed is OK. The rest is a potential mess.

Safeties: Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and Ryan Neal

Adams and Diggs, enough said.

Specialists: Michael Dickson (punter), Jason Myers (kicker) and Tyler Ott (long snapper)

Myers was perfect last year. He will likely miss a field goal in 2021 but is still very good. Dickson is the Seahawks punter for the next 10 years. Ott is good at what he does. These three, besides Wilson, have the safest spots on the Seattle roster.