Henderson's 53 man roster projection

[Donn Beach]

For me, I think Marquez Valdes-Scantling is going to be the most interesting decision, Kubiak talks like he really likes him, they have a history, could they trade him? Interesting comment about Arroyo

While evaluating the current roster, could general manager John Schneider make another splash between now and then? No stranger to late-summer additions, Schneider and the Seahawks still have the $9 million in cash and cap space they freed up by releasing tight end Noah Fant before camp. That would be enough to add a reasonably-priced edge player (no, not Micah Parsons or Trey Hendrickson), or perhaps some lower-cost veteran depth for the offensive line. Seattle has eyed guard Dalton Risner, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection for the Seahawks:



QUARTERBACKS (3): Sam Darnold, Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe

There's no question about the pecking order here. Lock is the clear-cut No. 2, though the Seahawks have been planning to use Milroe in specialty packages that will allow the third-round pick to showcase his athleticism.

RUNNING BACKS (4): Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Walker III, George Holani, Robbie Ouzts

It's no longer a given that Walker will be the Seahawks' primary back. He's missed extensive time in the spring and summer with more injuries, while the ever-reliable Charbonnet has done nothing but impress Seattle's coaches. After Kenny McIntosh's season-ending knee injury, Holani beats out seventh-round pick Damien Martinez for RB3 in this projection. Ouzts, a fifth-round pick, has clearly won the fullback job.

WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton, Dareke Young, Jake Bobo

Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks like a candidate to be traded or cut. The Seahawks signed the speedy receiver to a one-year, $4 million deal ($1.5M signing bonus and another $1.5M guaranteed), but Horton, a fifth-round pick, has looked like their third-best receiver. Valdes-Scantling doesn't play special teams, and if he's no better than a WR4, Seattle might balk at paying him another $2.5 million. Complicating matters is that $1.5 million of his $2.245 million base salary is guaranteed. He has also come on of late while Horton has been sidelined with an ankle injury that doesn't sound serious. Bobo (concussion) went down in the preseason finale as well. But the fact that MVS was playing in that game seems like another indication that he's far from a lock to make the team.

TIGHT ENDS (4): AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo, Eric Saubert, Brady Russell

The Seahawks felt good enough about the strength of this position group to move on from Fant. Barner continues to look like a better receiver than anyone -- perhaps even the Seahawks -- expected when they drafted him in the fourth round last year. Arroyo, Seattle's second-round pick, has arguably been the team's most consistently impressive rookie. Saubert replaces Pharaoh Brown as the veteran blocking specialist while Russell, who has been competing with Ouzts at fullback, makes the 53 because of his special teams ability.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10): Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas, Josh Jones, Olu Oluwatimi, Bryce Cabeldue, Michael Jerrell, a veteran not currently on the roster

The Seahawks upgraded at left guard by drafting Zabel in the first round, right guard Bradford is fit and playing his best football, and right tackle Lucas is finally healthy. Between those personnel boosts and the O-line-friendly scheme that new coordinator Klint Kubiak is installing, a group that has long been viewed as an Achilles' heel in Seattle could potentially be a strength. Sundell has been battling Oluwatimi at center, while Bradford has clearly beat out Haynes at right guard. Haynes is now dealing with a pectoral injury, per coach Mike Macdonald. Placing him on IR would free up a roster spot for an outside addition.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5): Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy II, Brandon Pili, Mike Morris

The Seahawks are expecting Murphy, last year's first-round pick, to take a jump after a rookie season in which he was more disruptive than productive. Veteran nose tackle Johnathan Hankins (back) has been on the Non-Football Injury list, and his availability for the start of the season is in question. Pili gets the nod in this projection as Hankins' fill-in, but Quinton Bohanna is also a viable option.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5): Uchenna Nwosu, DeMarcus Lawrence, Derick Hall, Boye Mafe, Tyreke Smith

Nwosu only recently passed his physical after offseason knee surgery, so it's not clear if he'll be ready to play by the start of the season, and thus if the Seahawks will even have him on their initial 53. For that reason, Smith makes the cut in this projection -- though the Seahawks could alternatively add a veteran edge player depending on Nwosu's progress. They've kept an eye on Jadeveon Clowney and previously had strong interest Von Miller before he signed with Washington.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4): Ernest Jones IV, Tyrice Knight, Patrick O'Connell, Drake Thomas

Knight has been sidelined while dealing with a knee injury and a separate, undisclosed medical issue, but Macdonald has sounded optimistic about his chances of being ready by the opener. O'Connell has had a strong camp while getting extensive fill-in reps with the starters.

CORNERBACKS (5): Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Josh Jobe, Shaquill Griffin, Nehemiah Pritchett

The Seahawks brought back Griffin on a one-year, $3 million deal ($1.75 million guaranteed) to compete with Jobe for the third cornerback job, but he missed a good chunk of time while tending to a personal matter. That could make him a somewhat-expensive CB4 -- given how much would he play in that role since Nick Emmanwori will get some of the sub-package snaps. However, $1 million of his $1.74 million base salary is guaranteed.

SAFETIES (5): Julian Love, Coby Bryant, Nick Emmanwori, D'Anthony Bell, Ty Okada

The Seahawks didn't draft Emmanwori 35th overall with the thought that he'd challenge Bryant for a starting spot right away. In fact, they had discussions this summer with Bryant about a possible extension. The plan is for Emmanwori to play in sub packages as a big nickel, mainly lining up in the box.

SPECIALISTS (3): Jason Myers, Michael Dickson, Chris Stoll

The Seahawks had to sign long-snapper Zach Triner because Stoll has been dealing with a back injury, but it hasn't sounded serious enough to threaten his availability for the start of the season.

[Pharmabro]

I kinda liked Martinez the former Beaver and Miami? Back. MVS is notable as well.

On the 4 TE + Ouzts? When I heard 4 RB I assumed they were going for 4 TB + 1 FB. And then they double down on needing 4 TE and one of them is the guy that lost out to Ouzts for blocking back? Probably not a big deal either way.

10 Oline? Cross and Zabel are good. Lucas if he is healthy s pretty good as well.

Olu was a bright spot last year after the starter quit on us. Maybe he was given some grace as a developmental piece who was thrusted into a starting job before expected?

Bryce Cabeldue: He was the 4- or 5-star recruit who couldn't stay healthy. I like his potential as a late draft lotto ticket but I am not counting on him for this year at all.

Thos O-line is the best I have seen in several years I really love what I am seeing is Zabel.

[57reasons]

I kinda liked Martinez the former Beaver and Miami? Back. MVS is notable as well.

On the 4 TE + Ouzts? When I heard 4 RB I assumed they were going for 4 TB + 1 FB. And then they double down on needing 4 TE and one of them is the guy that lost out to Ouzts for blocking back? Probably not a big deal either way.

10 Oline? Cross and Zabel are good. Lucas if he is healthy s pretty good as well.

Olu was a bright spot last year after the starter quit on us. Maybe he was given some grace as a developmental piece who was thrusted into a starting job before expected?

Bryce Cabeldue: He was the 4- or 5-star recruit who couldn't stay healthy. I like his potential as a late draft lotto ticket but I am not counting on him for this year at all.

Thos O-line is the best I have seen in several years I really love what I am seeing is Zabel.

barring injury i would expect Cabeldue to be ticketed for the PS whenever Haynes returns from the IR. Could use another T as an upgrade over Jerrell who is just awful. Can definitely see some outside additions coming in, be it Risner, Clowney, an ILB to upgrade one of the two backups, etc. Hendrickson too much to hope for, and Parsons would be bank-breaking overkill with this already-talented defense.

[trharder]

For me, I think Marquez Valdes-Scantling is going to be the most interesting decision, Kubiak talks like he really likes him, they have a history, could they trade him? Interesting comment about Arroyo

WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton, Dareke Young, Jake Bobo

Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks like a candidate to be traded or cut. The Seahawks signed the speedy receiver to a one-year, $4 million deal ($1.5M signing bonus and another $1.5M guaranteed), but Horton, a fifth-round pick, has looked like their third-best receiver. Valdes-Scantling doesn't play special teams, and if he's no better than a WR4, Seattle might balk at paying him another $2.5 million. Complicating matters is that $1.5 million of his $2.245 million base salary is guaranteed. He has also come on of late while Horton has been sidelined with an ankle injury that doesn't sound serious. Bobo (concussion) went down in the preseason finale as well. But the fact that MVS was playing in that game seems like another indication that he's far from a lock to make the team.

If they decide to keep MVS and they have to cut Dareke Young or Bobo, does anyone actually think they should cut Bobo?

[Donn Beach]

Dugar, Michael-Shawn
@MikeDugar
When asked about potentially keeping only 5 WR because they’re going to be a heavy personnel team, Macdonald says: “I think it’s fair to say it’s part of the conversation.”

Nothing set in stone, but it's on the table.

[Pharmabro]

For me, I think Marquez Valdes-Scantling is going to be the most interesting decision, Kubiak talks like he really likes him, they have a history, could they trade him? Interesting comment about Arroyo

WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton, Dareke Young, Jake Bobo

Marquez Valdes-Scantling looks like a candidate to be traded or cut. The Seahawks signed the speedy receiver to a one-year, $4 million deal ($1.5M signing bonus and another $1.5M guaranteed), but Horton, a fifth-round pick, has looked like their third-best receiver. Valdes-Scantling doesn't play special teams, and if he's no better than a WR4, Seattle might balk at paying him another $2.5 million. Complicating matters is that $1.5 million of his $2.245 million base salary is guaranteed. He has also come on of late while Horton has been sidelined with an ankle injury that doesn't sound serious. Bobo (concussion) went down in the preseason finale as well. But the fact that MVS was playing in that game seems like another indication that he's far from a lock to make the team.

If they decide to keep MVS and they have to cut Dareke Young or Bobo, does anyone actually think they should cut Bobo?

Bobo looks pretty good at times, but he always seems to be getting knocked the F out.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Were they seriously considering using him as a punt returner this year?

[Donn Beach]

Were they seriously considering using him as a punt returner this year?

The guy is in his annual bubble situation. He's considered a key special teams guy, he's also considered one of the leagues best run blocking WRs. Those are the reasons he is on the team, and he can catch a football. I'm sure he saw it as a chance to add value

whatever he can bring to the table

“Jake’s an integral part of our football team. Talk about identity, how he plays on special teams, his clutchness catching the ball — the guy has incredible hands,” Macdonald said. “And then now with how we’re going to be blocking on the perimeter, I mean, we’re gonna want 19 out there push-crackin’ safeties and doing all those things, too. He brings a lot to the table.”

special teams is really the deciding factor in most of the bench position decisions. If bobo can return a punt i think it not only impacts him but there is a ripple effect. A decision on another player where they can not be as concerned about needing to cover punt return depth. I was saying how i think MVS is going to be an interesting decision, he doesn't play special teams