A Seattle Seahawks roster analysis is an interesting exercise. The team completed their final mini-camp prior to commencing training camp July 29. General Manager John Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll will continue to shuffle the roster under the organizational mantra of “Always Compete.”
Seattle Seahawks Roster Analysis, Part 1
Here is a roster analysis taking a look at the offense heading into camp. Numbers in parentheses indicate expected number of players the team will keep at that position:
Quarterback (2)
LOCK: Russell Wilson
IN COMPETITION: Austin Davis, Trevone Boykin
Wilson enters his sixth season in the league already. He is working extremely hard this off-season to put 2016 firmly in the rear view mirror. A combination of injuries, poor offensive line play, and lack of a consistent running game severely hampered him. Another obvious factor? Wide receiver Jermaine Kearse fell off the edge of the earth and endured a terrible season.
Boykin has the inside edge at once again backing up Wilson. He had an interesting off-season with an arrest for marijuana possession and public intoxication. Although his experience and skill set sets him up well, he will still have to earn his spot – as well as stay out of trouble.
Davis, recently signed, has NFL starting experience. The Seahawks usually only keep two quarterbacks on the active roster, though. So he could be the odd man out come the end of the preseason.
Running Backs
Running Back (4)
LOCKS: Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise
IN COMPETITION: Alex Collins, Chris Carson, Mike Davis
OTHERS: Tre Madden, J.D. McKissic
This will be one of the most interesting position groups to watch in training camp. The Seahawks offense clearly felt the absence of Marshawn Lynch last season. The lack of a running game slowed the whole offense down, and Carroll has committed to getting back to his bread and butter. Lacy, Rawls, and Prosise are all coming off injury-riddled 2016 campaigns. Lacy and Rawls will compete to be the bell cow, but could ultimately end up as a “thunder and lightning” component.
Prosise flashed brilliantly in his limited game action, but must prove his frame can withstand the rigors of NFL violence. He is an exciting and enticing third-down threat who has reportedly bulked up a little this off-season.
Carson will push the second-year Collins for a roster spot. With a bowlegged running style and the desire to run over defenders, Carson is a little reminiscent of Lynch.
Fullback (1)
IN COMPETITION: Algernon Brown, Kyle Coleman
Somewhat surprisingly, the Seahawks elected to not bring back veteran Marcel Reece. Reece, only 31, played well in his short stint with the team. That decision indicates more of a youth movement than an indictment of Reece’s ability. If Reece remains unsigned, and if this position becomes an issue, expect Reece to get a call from Schneider.
Brown, from BYU, looks the part. Watching video of him, you see a lot of ability to engage defenders and open holes. Kyle Coleman is also in the mix.
Wide Receivers And Tight Ends
Wide Receiver (6)
LOCKS: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Paul Richardson, Jermaine Kearse, Amara Darboh
IN COMPETITION: Tanner McEvoy, Kasen Williams, Kenny Lawler, Cyril Grayson, David Moore
OTHERS: Darreus Rogers, Rodney Smith
This is another intriguing position group. Baldwin is the alpha male. Lockett returns after a gruesome compound fracture in his leg late last season. Richardson, finally healthy, began to show the promise that prompted the Seahawks to use a second-round draft pick on him in 2014. In the absence of Lockett, Richardson turned in impressive performances against both the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs.
It is simply not economical from a cap standpoint to release Kearse, not until after the season. One of the franchises most clutch receivers, he owns three of the biggest receptions in Seahawks playoff history. The coaching staff – and Wilson – are looking forward to a big bounce back season in 2017.
Darboh, a third-round pick in the draft this year, will push for reps but will likely be relegated mostly to special-teams duty. He is a big, physical, possession receiver. McEvoy had nine catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns last season. He has intriguing size (6’6”) and athletic ability, but must prove he belongs on the final roster.
The most intriguing currently on the wide receiver board is Cyril Grayson. A track star at LSU, Grayson clocked a 4.3 40-yard dash at the school’s pro day. He is small in stature (5’9”, 178 pounds) but represents the kind of diamond-in the-rough wild card Carroll loves to take chances on. Grayson has not played football since 2011, and he faces long odds to make the team as well. His immediate future with the Seahawks may initially be on the practice squad, if the team can get him through waivers during final cuts this summer.
Tight End (3)
LOCKS: Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Nick Vannett
OTHERS: Marcus Lucas, Stevie Donatell, Tyrone Swoopes
At this point, Graham, Willson, and Vannett are written in stone on the roster. The others are competing for practice squad eligibility.
In The Trenches
Offensive Line (10)
LOCKS: Justin Britt, Joey Hunt, Mark Glowinski, Germain Ifedi, Luke Joeckel, George Fant, Ethan Pocic, Rees Odhiambo, Oday Aboushi
IN COMPETITION: Justin Senior, Jordan Roos, Robert Myers, Will Pericak
We can’t discuss the Seahawks without addressing the always popularly unpopular offensive line. Clearly, this is a position group the front office wanted to improve. Whether they accomplished it or not remains to be sign, but there is some reason for optimism.
Britt anchors the returning group, as he enters his last season before free agency. Glowinski, Ifedi and Fant started last season and have the first crack at earning roster spots. Fant has bulked up considerably and worked with Seahawks icon and Hall of Famer Walter Jones this off-season to improve his game.
Joeckel received a one-year, $8 million deal so he isn’t going anywhere. The former second overall pick from the 2013 draft never really fulfilled his potential in Jacksonville, but line coach Tom Cable seems to believe he can get him right. Aboushi, signed in free agency, will compete with other newcomers Pocic (2017 draft) and Roos (undrafted free agent) for time. Pocic is a player the Seahawks are particularly excited about, and reports indicate that Roos was on their draft board. Senior, Myers and Pericak are staring at long odds to make the team.
