3 biggest winners and losers from Seattle Seahawks final roster decisions

Seahawks loser No. 1 - Edge rusher Darrell Taylor

Darrell Taylor has to be losing his spot on the depth chart at this point, right? He's an inconsistent pass rusher, though clearly capable of being extremely disruptive if he can get to the point where he remains consistent, but he doesn't help at all in run support. In fact, many times in 2022 on running plays, Taylor seems to simply get pushed backward. Plus, Taylor is currently out with a shoulder injury.

But Seattle kept five edge rushers total and could have kept just four. Besides 2022 starter Uchenna Nwosu, Seattle retained Boye Mafe, Derick Hall, and Tyreke Smith. Smith is the key here for Taylor. Both Mafe and Hall are bigger players than Taylor and both are more likely to be three-down players than Taylor. I would hope anyway.

Mafe appears to have been set to start opposite Nwosu at the beginning of the season with his play during training camp and the preseason. Mafe was extremely active in the preseason games and set a hard edge against the run. Hall might be capable of doing the same, though he is only a rookie and it might take him several games (once he is healthy himself as he is dealing with a shoulder injury). He is still very good at setting the edge against the run like Mafe is.

But Smith, who didn't play due to an injury in 2022, hasn't done a whole bunch in preseason either. But Seattle might have kept him because they are losing faith that Taylor will ever be anything more than just a pass rusher. If Smith is productive early in 2023, Taylor could be a third-team player by Week 6.