A player who isn't a high-round draft pick has to work a little harder to impress coaches and stick on an NFL team. Those players might not be without talent, of course, but they often become fan favorites because they have to prove themselves, just as most of us do. The Seattle Seahawks have a few of these.
One, of course, is Jake Bobo. He was an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2023, but he had the work ethic to make his teammates praise him in training camp. He wasn't fast, but he knew how to use his body to catch contested passes. He should be a lock to make the roster again in 2025.
Third-year safety Jerrick Reed II, though? Less likely, at least according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. In his latest roster projection, Dugar leaves Reed off the list, while Nick Emmanwori, Julian Love, Coby Bryant, and Ty Okada do make the team.
Jerrick Reed II might not make the Seattle Seahawks 2025 roster
Okada might be the biggest surprise, simply because Bell has had a very good camp (like Okada), but has starting experience in the NFL. Okada versus Bell might be one of the biggest decisions head coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider have.
Jerrick Reed, however, has an injury history. The sixth-round 2023 pick played in 10 games as a rookie, but only five last year. He hasn't gotten much of an opportunity as a safety, but as a rookie, he was terrific on special teams. He might be great on special teams in 2025, too, but he might not get the chance.
Not with the Seattle Seahawks anyway. Reed should land somewhere in the NFL if he is released by Seattle. He plays hard, has quickness, and likely could help in coverage for a secondary-needy team, and is elite at covering punts and kicks.
The issue for Reed isn't that he can't play, but that he doesn't play. If the Seahawks had the space, he delivers high-end value in the third phase of the game, but Seattle also has plenty of backup wide receivers who can do the same. The safety room has fewer spots, and while Okada might be questionable to stay, Emmanwori, Bryant, and Love are locks.
Dugar is probably correct, though. He knows the Seattle Seahawks well, and while he might be delivering sad news, it is also likely true. But 12s will probably be able to root for Jerrick Reed still, just when he plays on a different team.