My last roster projection on the blog was prior to the first Seahawks preseason game. My final projection goes up prior to the last preseason game against the Browns. It is possible we will get more injury news or other developments that require this projection to be revisited before cutdown day on Tuesday, but it is more fun and challenging to attempt to guess correctly right now.

Roster outlook

This is Mike Macdonald’s first season as a head coach. Therefore, we don’t have a lot of history to look back on for how he sets his final roster. What we do have is the numbers he kept at each defensive position over the last two seasons in Baltimore while he was the defensive coordinator.

The table below shows his keeps for 2023, as well as his average over both seasons. It also shows my current projected keep numbers for each position group. Note, that DL in Macdonald’s world includes nose tackles and defensive ends, but not edge rushers/outside linebackers. I have split outside and inside linebackers into separate buckets.

The final column shows the difference between my projections and what Macdonald kept last season.

Given that Macdonald has not been responsible for offense, I have kept those blank for this year.

Current projections

Quarterbacks

Straightforward here. Geno Smith and Sam Howell make the roster. PJ Walker likely to practice squad as emergency third quarterback.

Running backs

This was more challenging. I continue to believe George Holani is the better all-around option as the third string running back, but Kenny McIntosh had a very good game against the Titans and the team may think it will be easier to get Holani on the practice squad. More importantly, I have the team only keeping three running backs because they should be able to stash a couple guys no practice squad and can elevate them when or if they need them.

Wide receivers

I am projecting Dareke Young and Laviska Shenault Jr. make the roster, but Winston Jr. is making it tough. Cody White has had a good camp and preseason as well. Eskridge has not done enough and will probably cut within a week of Creed Humphrey getting the largest deal in history for a center in the NFL. Winston Jr. and White are good bets for the practice squad, as well as Hatten. Eskridge may get a chance on another roster for a fresh start.

Tight ends

It sounds like Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown should be ready for week one. Brady Russell is a lock and AJ Barner has made strides. Tyler Mabry has been on the practice squad for years and is likely headed back there.

Offensive line

What a tough cut this is going to be. Abe Lucas being on PUP opens up a roster spot. While I would not personally keep Stone Forsythe, I believe the Seahawks will want to keep him as insurance at left tackle while George Fant is needing to start at right tackle. My preference would be to keep Mike Jerrell and have Fant slide to left tackle if there is a need. That would mean McClendon Curtis or Jerrell would act as backup right tackle. You would hope that would only be for a few weeks until Lucas returns. Alas, I am projecting the Seahawks will not be comfortable with that option and will hold onto Forsythe, despite middling play and being on the last year of his rookie deal.

Raiqwon O’Neal makes it over Jerrell and Sataoa Laumea because the latter two have a better chance to be available on the practice squad. O’Neal can backup both guard spots. Jerrell is the guy the Seahawks need to avoid losing. Laumea has been coming on, though, and Garrett Greenfield has shown promise as well. Jalen Sundell has shown upside at center. This has become a very deep room. The question remains how high the ceiling is.

Defensive line

Speaking of deep rooms…this group has a lot of obvious keeps: Byron Murphy, Leonard Williams, Jarran Reed, and Johnathan Hankins. I believe Mike Morris should be a lock, but I must admit some bias that I really like what he has done in preseason and who he is as a person. His length is a valuable asset you cannot teach.

Myles Adams has value, but they simply have too many guys at defensive end and he should be able to slip to practice squad as he has in past years. If not, the team has to take that risk.

For a little fun, I decided to predict the team will trade for Keondre Coburn as a backup nose tackle. He was one of the targets I outlined Seattle could go after to give them security behind Hankins. My initial guess was the team would trade Darrell Taylor for Coburn straight-up, but now that Taylor has been traded, Seattle would have to come up with other compensation. Mike Jackson would have made sense as the Titans need corners, but he is gone. Perhaps, the team would be willing to part with one of their young corners, but I doubt that would be of interest to the Titans.

I like Kyon Barrs as a possible practice squad player. Devere Levelston may be an option there as well.

Inside linebackers

The addition of Michael Barrett makes this a fascinating decision. It would seem clear that Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker, Tyrice Knight and Barrett make the roster. It is possible the team could just keep four players at this position. Macdonald has always kept five, so I am following suit.

The decision comes down to Jon Rhattigan or Patrick O’Connell. I believe they will go with O’Connell because Rhattigan is due $3M that the team can get back if they cut him. Maybe he will agree to a new deal to save his spot, but the difference between O’Connell and Rhattigan is just not that great.

Edge/Outside linebackers

To make room for the extra defensive lineman, I have cut the edge number to four players. Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Dre’Mont Jones, and Derick Hall are all locks. The Taylor trade opens the door for Nelson Ceasar or Jamie Sheriff to make the squad, but it seems more likely they wind up on the practice squad. The team has a solid edge rotation and can utilize Morris, Williams, and Murphy on the edge as well in certain situations.

Cornerbacks

Macdonald kept seven at this position last year. I think that is too many this year. The trade of Jackson allows the team to keep an extra young player. Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Tre Brown, and Artie Burns are obvious keeps. While I believe DJ James and Lance Boykin may be better players, the team seems enamored with Nehemiah Pritchett and he was the higher draft pick.

The surprise here is keeping Dee Williams, the undrafted free agent receiver-turned-corner. He makes the team as the primary punt and kick returner with Eskridge being cut. He gives the team their most dynamic return man in years.

Safeties

It was tempting to go to five safeties as Ty Okada is an excellent special teams player, but I think they keep four and stash Okada and Marquise Blair on the practice squad. Blair is ultra-talented, but needs more time learning the system.

Special teams

Punting god Michael Dickson reprises his role.