The Seahawks came out of the NFL Draft with roughly 70 players under contract so they’ll undoubtedly be in the market for a large undrafted free agent haul this season. While that list is being finalized, here’s a breakdown of the projected starters, backups and potential position battles heading into the next phase of the offseason.
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Quarterback
Starter: Russell Wilson
Backup: Geno Smith
Fringe: Alex McGough, Danny Etling
There’s no doubt about the starting quarterback, even though it felt like there would be just a couple months ago. There’s also no doubt about the backup; McGough and Etling are not going to beat out Smith. Seattle typically carries just two quarterbacks in the regular season, so McGough and Etling are really fighting to be the practice-squad passer.
Running back
Starters: Chris Carson, Nick Bellore (FB)
Backups: Rashaad Penny, DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer
Fringe: Alex Collins
The reported undrafted prospects here include FAU’s B.J. Emmons and Louisiana-Monroe’s Josh Johnson. They might creep into the fringe category once those moves are solidified since Collins’ spot isn’t exactly cemented. A Seahawks draft pick in 2016, Collins is a talented runner but I don’t think he’s incapable of being unseated by a rookie free agent. Plus, Seattle reportedly flirted with free-agent running backs before the draft so clearly it sees room for more competition behind Carson and Penny.
Receiver
Starters: Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, D’Wayne Eskridge
Backup: Freddie Swain
Fringe: John Ursua, Penny Hart, Aaron Fuller, Cody Thompson
I’d expect Seattle to have plenty of undrafted free agents at this position. So far the reported names include Florida State’s Tamorrion Terry, South Dakota State’s Cade Johnson and Stanford’s Connor Wedington, who is from Sumner, Wash. I mocked Johnson to the Seahawks on a few occasions and if his route running from the Senior Bowl translates to the pro level, then he should have a legit shot to sneak into one of the final few roster spots when the regular season begins. The other interesting name is Ursua, a 2019 seventh-round pick who flashed promise in his preseason, then got buried on the practice squad in 2020.
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Tight end
Starter: Will Dissly
Backups: Gerald Everett, Colby Parkinson
Fringe: Tyler Mabry
Because Seattle uses three-receiver sets more often than it uses a fullback or a second tight end, I chose to only make the No. 1 tight end the “starter” here. If you’d like to swap Dissly for Everett in that category, that’s fine. They’re both going to play a fair amount, occasionally seeing the field together, and Wilson will have no issue trusting either of them in the passing game. This unit lacks depth but Parkinson, listed 6-7, could be a solid No. 3 as long as Dissly and Everett stay healthy.
Offensive tackle
Starters: LT Duane Brown, RT Brandon Shell
Backups: Cedric Ogbuehi, Stone Forsythe
Fringe: Tommy Champion, Jamarco Jones
Ogbuehi, who re-signed on a one-year deal this offseason, doesn’t have a specific designation next to his name because he’s a swing tackle in my eyes. If something happens to Brown or Shell, Ogbuehi is an option at either spot. Pete Carroll on Saturday specifically mentioned Ogbuehi as someone he wants in the mix this season.
“Cedric Ogbuehi, this is a guy that really has the potential to be a big-time football player,” Carroll said. “He’s going to get a great chance to go with Brandon out there at the right tackle spot and compete to the finish to see who wins the job. And knowing that he can also play the other side if we need him to, as he did last year. We feel really good about the depth of it and the experience.”
Forsythe will also be trained up to play both spots and then settle in where he fits best, which I would expect to be left tackle. Seattle is reportedly bringing in Mississippi State’s Greg Eiland as a UDFA. Eiland was a four-year starter in college. He was a left tackle for two seasons, switched to right tackle in 2019 and last year made six starts at left guard, one at left tackle and one at right tackle. Cal’s Jake Curhan tweeted that he also was signing with the Seahawks. He was a four-year starter at right tackle.
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Offensive guard
Starters: LG Damien Lewis, RG Gabe Jackson
Backups: Jordan Simmons, Phil Haynes
Fringe: Jamarco Jones
Carroll on Saturday revealed that Lewis will play left guard in 2021 after excelling on the right side as a rookie in 2020. A 2018 fifth-round pick, Jones is a wild card because he has played all over the offensive line and his best work has come at guard. If Jones can outplay Haynes, a 2019 fourth-round pick who can’t stay healthy, then he may end up owning that backup job.
Center
Starter: Ethan Pocic
Backup: Kyler Fuller
Fringe: Brad Lundblade
Seattle doesn’t have a center under contract beyond this season and Pocic only has one decent year of starting experience, but he should still be considered the favorite to start in 2021. The team reportedly went to Canada to find a UDFA prospect in Pier-Olivier Lestage. The Seahawks apparently watched Lestage at the Tropical Bowl in Orlando and were higher on him than other teams when the draft ended.
“It’s the team that showed the most interest,” Lestage said in an interview. “Pete Carroll called me, so definitely I was feeling a good vibe with them.”
Defensive tackle
Starters: Poona Ford, Bryan Mone
Backups: Al Woods, Cedrick Lattimore
Fringe: Robert Nkemdiche, Myles Adams
Cutting defensive tackle Jarran Reed may force Seattle to be more creative with its fronts since the roster doesn’t currently have anyone other than Nkemdiche who fits the mold a traditional three-technique tackle. Ford, Mone and Woods feel more like traditional nose tackles, though Ford has the athleticism and talent to do whatever he wants up front. Nkemdiche is a former first-round pick and is only 26 but he has been underwhelming since entering the league in 2016.
“We think Robert might be able to do a real nice job playing the three-technique and moving around in passing situations,” Carroll said. “He’s an inside player, though, primarily.”
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Virginia Tech’s Jarrod Hewitt tweeted that he’s coming to Seattle as a rookie free agent. Listed 6-1, 290 pounds, Hewitt was Dane Brugler’s 44th-ranked defensive tackle.
Defensive end
Starters: Carlos Dunlap, L.J. Collier
Backups/rotation: Kerry Hyder, Benson Mayowa, Rasheem Green, Aldon Smith, Alton Robinson, Darrell Taylor
Fringe: N/A
This is easily Seattle’s deepest and strongest position, even if Smith’s legal troubles eventually earn him a trip to the commissioner’s exempt list or another suspension. And honestly, the starting five-technique is up for grabs. Collier gets the benefit of the doubt for now since he was the full-time starter there in 2020 and he’s a first-round pick. But Hyder could easily unseat him during the preseason. Collier, Hyder and Green will also rush from the interior on passing downs. This group is loaded, even if it’s not full of household names.
Outside cornerback
Starters: D.J. Reed, Ahkello Witherspoon
Backups: Tre Flowers, Tre Brown
Fringe: Pierre Desir, Damarious Randall, Gavin Heslop
It is honestly anyone’s guess who the starting outside cornerbacks will be in Week 1. Of the players currently rostered, Reed, listed 5-9, had the best 2020 season. Witherspoon, listed 6-3, arguably has the most talent. Flowers has the most experience in Seattle’s system. Brown has upside. This is just a projection for now but it’s hard to argue against Reed and Witherspoon being the best two outside guys on the roster. Bryan Mills of North Carolina Central announced Saturday he has agreed to a UDFA contract with Seattle.
Slot cornerback
Starter: Marquise Blair
Backup: Ugo Amadi
Fringe: N/A
Selected in the second round of the 2019 draft, Blair is a lot of potential and not a lot of production. He was a backup free safety as a rookie, didn’t play much and didn’t show the coaches enough to replace Tedric Thompson, who was unseated by Quandre Diggs (via trade) midway through the season. Blair beat out Amadi for the nickel job in 2020, then blew out his knee in Week 2. Carroll said Saturday that Blair is doing “great” in his rehab and should factor into the nickel competition again when he returns to the field. Reed is, of course, an option here as well.
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Safety
Starters: SS Jamal Adams, FS Quandre Diggs
Backup: Ryan Neal
Fringe: N/A
The Seahawks are quietly in need of legit depth here. Neal played strong safety last season and can probably play free safety in a pinch. Blair began his career as a strong safety and later moved to free safety, so he has similar versatility. Amadi can also play free safety. Randall backed up Diggs last year but he’s a cornerback now. Seattle would have to do a lot of shuffling in the event of an injury, which is why it probably makes more sense to add another body to this position group.
Linebacker
Starters: Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks
Backups: Cody Barton, Ben Burr-Kirven
Fringe: N/A
Seattle needs depth here, too. Army linebacker Jon Rhattigan has reportedly signed a rookie free agent deal, and he was Brugler’s 47th-ranked player at the position. Unless K.J. Wright returns, Seattle will need a new strongside linebacker or rely heavily on nickel packages. Barton played strongside for a few games as a rookie in 2019 but Seattle has not seemed confident in his ability to be a starter. Carroll suggested Saturday that the team will be heavy in the UDFA market at linebacker.
“It is a competitive opportunity for young guys to come in and try to get on this team and be part of it,” Carroll said.
Specialists
Starters: K Jason Myers, P Michael Dickson, LS Tyler Ott
No change here and none in the foreseeable future considering everyone on this list has been named to the Pro Bowl within the last three years.
