The Seattle Seahawks made their final decisions on who to keep on the 2026 roster on Sunday, though there will likely be some changes made before the team begins the season. Moves can be, and will be, made up until kickoff.
Still, 53 players know for sure that they will get paid to be on the active roster and will be positioned to help the team defend its Super Bowl title from last season. It is great to be on the team, and the job now is to keep proving they belong.
Keeping 53 players means nearly 40 had to be released, though. Many will stay in the Pacific Northwest on the practice squad, but others will need to look for other gainful employment.
Winners and losers from the Seattle Seahawks final roster decisions for 2026
Winner: Wide receiver Montorie Foster Jr.
What a story! Foster has gone from part-time substitute teacher and real estate agent to full-time NFL player. He has been a big part of the Hard Knocks story of Seattle's training camp, and deservedly so. His family is great, Foster has a winning personality (though his parents might be even more so), and the ability to reel in important catches.
The next step is proving he belongs in the league for quite some time, though. In real games, he needs to be productive, as long as he isn't a healthy scratch on game days. He hasn't yet shown he can be counted on when the bright lights come on, but at least he now has a chance to do so.
Loser: Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene
Igbinoghene was having somewhat of a decent training camp early, but not good enough for the team to not look elsewhere to replace him. By the time roster cuts were made, the cornerback had basically been replaced three times. Once by the Seahawks agreeing to a deal with Terrion Arnold, then signing Trevon Diggs and trading for Avery Smith.
Igbinoghene will likely land on a practice squad somewhere. He's good enough to do that, but he clearly isn't good enough to help Seattle win games in the eyes of general manager John Schneider.
Winner: Edge rusher Connor O'Toole
O'Toole was signed as an undrafted free agent last year because of his elite raw athleticism. He hasn't played defense long, though, as he started as a wide receiver in college. He has adjusted quickly enough for the Seattle Seahawks to land him on the active roster.
The team might have been afraid that he would get scooped up on waivers and decided to keep him. Or maybe Schneider and Mike Macdonald see how old the edge rush group is and decided O'Toole is going to be around a while.
Loser: Nose tackle Uso Seumalo
Seumalo also would have been a nice story to have on the team, but his release simply came down to a numbers game. The Seahawks have a loaded defensive front, and Seumalo can only do decently against the run but not pressure quarterbacks.
The hope is he lands on the practice squad and develops. It is easy to see him being elevated a few times during the season, as he probably can help the team stuff the run in short-yardage situations.
Winner: Wide receiver Tory Horton
Horton wasn't going to be released, of course; he has too much potential to have that happen. As a rookie last season, he scored six total touchdowns in eight games before a shin injury ended his season. He looked good in camp, too, before another ailment (it seems) forced him off the field.
The win here is for the player, the team, and fans. Not having Horton start on the physically unable to perform list implies he will be ready in Week 1 or close to it. If he can pick up where he left off last year, Horton could be a breakout star.
Loser: Cornerback Trevon Diggs (but only sort of)
Diggs was somewhat surprisingly released in final roster cuts after playing so well in limited action in preseason Week 3, and after only being signed a week before that. He is unlikely to be picked up by another team, though, as he spent the entire offseason not being signed elsewhere.
In reality, the Seahawks plan on signing Diggs to the practice squad and having him acclimate to Mike Macdonald's scheme a bit more. It wouldn't be surprising to see Diggs elevated in Week 1 or, at the latest, Week 2.
Add us as a preferred source on Google