Predicting who makes Seahawks 55 – yes 55 – man roster for Week 1

Due to NFL rule changes, the Seahawks have essentially what will be a 55-man roster each week. So who will be on Seattle’s Week 1 roster?

So, why 55? Previous to this year, NFL teams were allowed to have an active 53-man roster entering game week. Then teams had to make 7 players inactive 90 minutes before the game so that each game started with 46 players.

But now, teams have a 16-player practice squad and not 14. This essentially means the team has more players to choose from for a specific week’s roster which takes 67 choices to 69 which in all intents and purposes means teams have a 69-player group to choose from. Teams are allowed to give promotions to two players from the practice squad each week to the 55, basically.

Predicting the Seattle Seahawks Week 1 roster

This means while there can only be 46 players on a weekly roster, Seattle can basically choose from 48 to play. Whew! A lot of math. Confusing? Thank the NFL. So who will be on the Week 1 roster? Here’s my guess.

Quarterback

Drew Lock (starter), Geno Smith and Jacob Eason

Jacob Eason is still on the team but he seems to be a safe bet to be inactive or on the practice squad. No offense to Eason, but teams aren’t waiting with bated breath to sign him. But if Smith or Lock were released, a team would sign them.

My prediction here is that Lock ends up as the starter by the beginning of the season. Part of me is hesitant to say that, to be honest. The reason is that Pete Carroll and John Schneider want to see what they really have in Lock long-term and not Smith.

Lock, if very good, could be the answer – and a relatively cheap one – to Seattle’s quarterback issues without Russell Wilson. While Smith is still just a gap between Wilson and whoever becomes Wilson’s long-term replacement.

I am keeping Lock on the active roster because unlike the last decade, Seattle doesn’t know how well their quarterback will play nor do they know if he can stay healthy every game of every season.