When Klint Kubiak was announced as the Seattle Seahawks’ new offensive coordinator earlier this year, it seemed like a stroke of great fortune for Brady Russell. Russell, who in two years with the Hawks had yet to log an offensive snap at tight end, was an ideal candidate to switch roles in a new offensive system.
Kubiak often employed a fullback in New Orleans, and even though head coach Mike Macdonald was not involved with the offense in Baltimore, he saw daily how valuable a versatile, powerful fullback like Patrick Ricard could be to an offense.
Russell doesn’t have the sheer power of Ricard, but he is aggressive and athletic. He blocks very well, which is of paramount importance for a fullback. And he could also prove to be a valuable receiving option in case of an emergency.
Seahawks' Brady Russell’s fortunes change drastically on the third day of the draft
What’s more, Seattle really did not have any other players who fit the description of a fullback. The job appeared to have Russell’s name all over it.
When John Schneider used one of his fifth-round picks on Alabama’s Robbie Ouzts, Brady Russell suddenly had competition. Though listed as a tight end, Ouzts didn’t get drafted to run patterns. He got drafted to block. In college, he had experience lining up both in a wing position and as a traditional fullback.
The theory is – if Schneider spent a precious draft pick on this blocking fullback, the Seahawks must expect Ouzts to eventually win the fullback job. Were that to happen, Russell could conceivably stick around based on his stellar special teams performance. But how likely would it be?
The Hawks will already be carrying an extra player on offense (at fullback), and they devoted a round three pick to another tight end. That player – Elijah Arroyo – figures to be battling it out with Noah Fant to be the team’s primary receiving tight end. Will there be room for a backup fullback, no matter how good his team's play has been?
This isn’t the first time Brady Russell will have to overcome the odds to find success. He did it as a walk-on at Colorado before eventually earning a scholarship. Then he did it in Seattle, making the roster as an undrafted free agent and playing two-thirds of the team’s special team snaps in 2023. He repeated that role last season.
Along the way, Schneider has rewarded him with decent raises each year. This year, he signed his third straight one-year deal with Seattle – the first of his deals to top the million-dollar mark.
But he will have to beat out Robbie Ouzts to ensure he plays out that deal. I have heard some fans speculate that the Hawks might be inclined to retain Ruseell even if he fails to win the fullback job. The thought is that Russell is valuable enough on special teams to stick around. I’m not so sure.
I presume that either Ouzts or Russell wins the fullback job while the other goes to the practice squad.
And I think Schneider wants Ouzts to win. He drafted Ouzts earlier than almost every analyst I know thought he would go. (Indeed, many didn’t think a specialist like Ouzts would be drafted at all.) Ouzts is bigger and already has experience lining up at fullback or H-back. True, that experience wasn’t in the pros, but he did play against elite college athletes in the SEC.
It is still a long way off, and Ouzts may falter. If he does, Brady Russell will be there to seize control of his unlikely journey. If not, then I suspect his days in Seattle could be numbered.
If that happens, I imagine there will be a couple of other teams who see value in a tough, resilient player who is willing to do the dirty work on offense and special teams – and who has the long, flowing hair that makes him stand out on any NFL roster.