With OTAs now opening across the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC in a little over two months, officially ushering in the first season under new coach Mike Macdonald.

In preparation for the new incoming season, we’ll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, diving into scheme fits, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2024 campaign.

After playing in eight games with the Seahawks in 2023, will Drake Thomas rebound from injury and find a way to earn a rotational role in 2024?

Thomas was a three-star recruit per 247 Sports and committed to play for NC State in the 2019 recruiting class. He played in four seasons for the Wolfpack, including playing with his brother and current Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Thayer Thomas. He was increasingly productive throughout his career. He finished with 292 tackles, including 46 for loss, 19 sacks, and four interceptions. Thomas went undrafted in the 203 NFL Draft and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent. After being waived by the Raiders during final cuts, the Seahawks claimed him off waivers. During his rookie season, he played in eight games before being placed on injured reserve in November.

Despite his size, Thomas is a throwback middle linebacker who would play inside as the MIKE defender in Macdonald’s defense. With his lack of speed, he’s likely an early down player moving forward with special teams capabilities, which could still be a valuable asset for the Seahawks.

Back to full health after a significant injury, Thomas thrives during training camp and the preseason during all phases and pushes one of Tyrell Dodson or Jerome Baker for a starting spot. At the very least, his play in the running game forces Macdonald to play him on early downs and he stuns as a contributor on defense for the Seahawks in 2024.

Clear size and athleticism limitations become a major hindrance for Thomas, especially coming off injury, and expose him in coverage on obvious passing downs. He gets pushed by the likes of Patrick O’Connell and Eason Gibbs for his roster spot and ultimately doesn’t return on the practice squad after being released in late August.

Bringing him in for a top-30 visit before the 2023 draft, the Seahawks liked Thomas enough to not just claim him off waivers, but also played him right away on special teams upon arrival last season. He showed some nice ability on kick and punt coverage, but he only got five snaps on defense with three coming in his final game before an injury ended his season prematurely.

Going into 2024, Thomas has a chance to thrive under Macdonald’s leadership in a linebacker room that has a significant amount of questions if he’s healthy enough to compete. But he has yet to practice this spring and that makes his situation a bit more murky. Offering significant special teams experience, Thomas has enough talent to make the 53-man roster, but it won’t be without a fight and will be health permitting.

Previous 90-Man Roundups

Buddha Jones | Devin Richardson | TaMerik Williams | Rason Williams II | Ro Torrence | Nathan Pickering | Dee Williams | Devere Levelston | Kobe Lewis | Sunny Anderson | Mike Novitsky | Max Pincher | Easton Gibbs | Hayden Hatten | Garret Greenfield| Carlton Johnson| Matt Gotel |George Holani | Cody White | Ty Okada

There is an interesting name that has been out at Seattle Seahawks OTAs: former UW Huskies head coach Chris Petersen.

Seahawks busy learning Mike Macdonald’s ‘really creative’ defense

Now almost five years removed from his successful tenure on Montlake, Petersen has a unique perspective of the goings on at Seahawks headquarters in Renton. Not only does he have his decades of experience as a big time coach at both Washington and Boise State, but he also has been an analyst for FOX Sports in recent years.

Petersen is familiar as well with two assistants under new Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald: offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff, who both relocated to the other side of Lake Washington after helping the Huskies reach the national championship game earlier this year.

Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk welcomed Petersen on the show Thursday morning, giving him a platform to share his observations from visiting Seahawks practice. Here are a few things Petersen pointed out.

Chris Petersen on Seattle Seahawks OTAs

First takeaway

“What a great looking team, just physically. I mean, (Seahawks general manager/president of football operations) John Schneider, he’s got some guys over there. There is no question about it, just walking around and looking at the defensive guys and the length and the size of the secondary – I was like, ‘Wow.’ That was probably the first thing that jumped out to me.”

Second takeaway

“The second thing was probably the newness of the staff. A lot of focused energy, teaching. You know, the times that I’ve been there in the past so many years with Pete (Carroll) and his style and his system, guys really knew what was going on and the energy and – you know, (it’s) Christmas and everybody’s running around. Pete ran a program a lot different than a lot of NFL guys do. He had a little bit more of that college spirit than a lot of of the pros do. And so I felt like that was different, and again, I think a lot of it has to do with the newness of Coach Macdonald and his staff.”

Brock Huard on biggest difference Macdonald brings to Hawks

Third takeaway

“The third thing that jumped out at me – and again, it’s kind of still ‘Underwear Olympics’ over there, I get it, they don’t have pads, they’re not really playing – but I thought Geno Smith looked really good. The accuracy and what that ball looks like coming out of his hand and all those type of things. I was like, ‘Yeah, geez, I forgot they got Geno.’ And Geno’s a wily veteran for sure by now with the experience he’s got the last couple of years.”

Working the arm. pic.twitter.com/74uPaLQg0i

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) May 24, 2024

The Grubb and Huff offense report

“So they’re trying to get their ways implemented, their styles, their systems. You know, they had that thing – I mean, obviously – running pretty smoothly over there at UW where you know a lot of these little nuances are taken for granted. Now nothing’s taken for granted. They are starting from scratch and they really have to earn and build the credibility in their rooms that they’re teaching. And so you could really feel the focus and intention of, like, getting this system, this new system, and their way of of doing things installed.”

Listen to the full Brock and Salk conversation with former UW Huskies head football coach Chris Petersen in the podcast at this link or in the player near the top of this post. Catch Brock and Salk on Seattle Sports from 6-10 a.m. weekdays.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Do Shelby Harris’ comments reflect how free agents view Seahawks?
• Is Seahawks’ big investment on D-line a good strategy?
• Lofa: What stands out with Seahawks LB Tyrice Knight
• What Tyler Lockett sees in new Seattle Seahawks QB Sam Howell

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SEATTLE, Wash. (Wednesday, May 29, 2024) – Real Salt Lake (8-2-6 / 30 points / 1st West) crafted another magical late-game comeback with a 90+9 equalizer from All-Star hopeful **Andrés Gómez** in the final minute of stoppage time. Refusing to lose, the performance is not only an encore to the Claret-and-Cobalt’s barnstorming three-goal comeback and stoppage-time equalizer just four days earlier in Dallas, but the draw extends Real’s historic unbeaten streak to a staggering 12 matches.

Watch / Listen to RSL Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni, GK Gavin Beavers, AM Diego Luna and FW Andrés Gómez commentary following 1-1 comeback at Seattle Sounders on Wed., May 29, 2024

Real Salt Lake was the clear aggressor on a rainy night along the Puget Sound as both teams looked to establish an early presence, intercepting four balls in Seattle territory within the first five minutes of play. The fourth saw **Diego Luna** cleverly pick off Sounders in their buildup, knifing towards goal before he was taken down to earn an early penalty kick – but the call was reversed to a free kick on the edge of the box following review.

Real’s 19-year-old goal ‘keeper **Gavin Beavers** was busy in the heart of the first 45, repeatedly coming off his line to punch danger away. His finest moment of work came in the 35th minute as Seattle burst forward, putting together a five-pass combination that culminated with an Obed Vargas one-time rocket from distance. Barreling towards the top corner, Beavers dove at full extension to his left, getting a glove on the strike to send it wide. Beavers then stepped up for an encore just four minutes later, denying a Cristian Roldan blast from inside the box to keep his team level.

RSL nearly jumped out to a lead in the 41st minute as its high pressing defense once again converted into attack. Hounding Seattle defenders as they passed along the back line, **Anderson Julio** jumped the passing lane and, noticing MLS veteran Stefan Frei was off his line, ripped a shot from more than 30 yards that went just wide of the post. Neither team could break through, however, heading to the locker rooms with a fresh scoreboard – the two sides sharing similar possession, expected goals, shots on target and passing accuracy.

Coming out for the second half, Seattle created a prime chance almost immediately. As a long ball was played into the RSL defensive zone, it fell to the feet of Raúl Ruidíaz. He played to Jordan Morris on the edge of the box who then held up play for the overlapping run of Albert Rusnak. Laying it off at point-blank range, Rusnak’s shot was blocked by a heroic last-second intervention by tonight’s RSL Captain, Justen Glad.

Beavers once again played the role of hero in the 66th minute, making another full-extension save on yet another outside-the-box strike from Sounders. Despite the collection of impressive saves, Beavers would lose his clean sheet – and a 257-minute shutout streak dating back to March 9 in MLS action – in the 68th minute, when Rusnák gave Seattle a 1-0 lead. Standing over the ball for a free kick from a deep position on the right side, Rusnák faked as though he was whipping in a cross to his teammates at the far post but instead ripped a low-driven shot at Beaver’s near post. Diving to get a glove on it, the pace and power was too much as it trickled into the net.

MLS MVP candidate and usual RSL Captain **Chicho Arango**, in his first substitute appearance this MLS season, injected life into the Claret-and-Cobalt in the 81st minute. Positioned in a pocket between defenders on the right side of the midfield, he received the lay-off from Gómez and promptly smashed it at the near post from distance with his famed right foot, nearly leveling the match aside from a good save by Frei. Again in the first minute of stoppage time, RSL had a primetime chance for an equalizer. As Brayan Vera took a free kick from the left side of the Seattle zone, his cross bounced around the traffic of the box before falling right to the feet of **Fidel Barajas**. Shooting from point-blank range with his right foot, Frei saved it back into play for Barajas again, this time sending it over the bar with his left.

Coming directly off a Seattle dagger that was called back for a foul, Real Salt Lake threw themselves forward with the final whistle looming to net a shocking last-minute equalizer. Vera controlled the ball in the RSL half with all nine of his outfield teammates charging forward. He floated a beautiful ball all the way into the box as **Matt Crooks** used his 6’6’’ frame to elevate and win the header. Arango then leapt forward as it floated across the box, heading it left to the feet of his Columbian compatriot Gómez for the one-time shot. The first was deflected, but Gómez wouldn’t be denied as it came back to him for the clinical nutmeg finish.

First-place RSL improves to three wins and five draws against just one loss away from home this season, last losing a road match in the 2024 MLS opener back on Feb. 21 at Miami. Tonight’s RSL comeback marks the fifth time the Claret-and-Cobalt have come from behind this season to earn 11 of its 30 points: 2-1 win at Vancouver on March 23, a 3-1 win vs. St. Louis on March 30, a 5-3 home win over Colorado, last week’s 3-3 draw at Dallas and tonight’s last-minute equalizer. Arango was shut out from finding the scoresheet for just the fifth time in 16 matches this season, but remains tied for the MLS Golden Boot lead with his 13 goals and 8 assists.

Off to the best start in Club history with 30 points from 16 matches (exceeding both 2016 and 2014), RSL has ascended to the top of the Western Conference for its latest first-place bragging rights in the calendar since April 30, 2016, and the latest solo No. 1 in the West since August 2013. This week’s back-to-back road contests precede Saturday’s home match against Austin FC, just the fourth of four America First Field matches for RSL from mid-April to mid-June, the Claret-and-Cobalt playing eight of 12 away from home during that span, including the trip to Dallas and tonight at Seattle. RSL will then enjoy a much-needed June 8 international bye weekend prior to again traveling to Montreal and Kansas City on June 15/19 to wrap up the circuitous gauntlet.

RSL 1 : 1 at SEA

GOAL-SCORING SUMMARY:

SEA – 68’ – Albert Rusnák (Unassisted): Standing over the ball for a free kick from a deep position on the right side, Rusnák faked as though he was whipping in a cross to his teammates at the far post but instead ripped a low-driven shot at Beaver’s near post. Diving to get a glove on it, the pace and power was too much as it trickled into the net.

RSL – 90+9’ – Andrés Gómez (Unassisted): Brayan Vera controlled the ball in the RSL half with all nine of his outfield teammates charging forward. He floated a beautiful ball all the way into the box as Matt Crooks used his 6’6’’ frame to elevate and win the header. Arango then leapt forward as it floated across the box, heading it left to the feet of his Columbian compatriot Gomez for the one-time shot. The first was deflected, but Gomez wouldn’t be denied as it came back to him for the clinical nutmeg finish.

NOTES FROM RSL 1 : 1 @ SEA

• Andrés Gómez’s 90+9 equalizing goal is the latest equalizer in Real Salt Lake’s 630-match history.

• The late equalizer marks the third consecutive comeback for RSL, earning five points from the stretch (5-3 vs. Colorado, 3-3 @ Dallas, 1-1 @ Seattle).. The three matches have seen RSL score five goals in the final six minutes of play plus stoppage time.

• 30 points through 16 matches in the best-ever start for Real Salt Lake, surpassing both 2016 and 2014.

• Nelson Palacio earned his first start with RSL since the Feb. 21 opener at Miami, following Saturday’s performance in Dallas that saw him score his first-ever RSL goal, a 90+8 stoppage-time equalizer.

• Captain Chicho Arango started on the bench for the first time this MLS season in the midst of a three-game week, subbing on in the 58th minute for an injured Anderson Julio to provide a much-needed spark.

• 19-year-old Gavin Beavers earns his fourth start of the MLS season for RSL, finishing 360 minutes of play with only three goals allowed and 15 saves, with a 257-minute shutout streak from March 9 to May 29 across matches against Colorado at home, Chicago away, and both May matches against Seattle.

• RSL finishes the season series with Seattle on top, earning a win and a draw (4 pts.) from the two matches with a 3-1 goal differential.

• The active 12-game MLS unbeaten run is tied for the second-longest single-season streak and the Club’s fourth-longest overall in RSL’s 20-season history, exceeding last year’s 11-game streak across three competitions, as well as a 16-game run from 2013 into 2014, and a Club-record 18-game unbeaten streak from July 2010 to April 2011. The eight consecutive matches unbeaten away is the second-longest streak in Club history.

• For the first time ever, RSL now owns back-to-back seasons with unbeaten runs of nine games or longer … With three more win/draw results against Austin Saturday and at Montreal / Kansas City in mid-June, RSL would establish a new single-season unbeaten streak record (14 games in 2010).

• Tonight, MF Emeka Eneli played the full 90 once again (1420 minutes of a possible 1440) after he was subbed out for the first time this season in the 70th minute on Saturday in Dallas, ending his “Iron Man” streak … Eneli and FW Chicho Arango (1355 min.) have played nearly every minute of the Club’s 16-game MLS season so far in 2024, with DF Andrew Brody (1210) also appearing in every match.

• Three players have appeared in 15 league games, missing just one game this year – Anderson Julio, Braian Ojeda and Andrés Gómez – while Justen Glad, Matt Crooks, Diego Luna and Fidel Barajas have each appeared in 14 of 16 MLS contests thus far, finishing off a heavily-congested month Saturday against Austin.

LINEUPS:

Real Salt Lake (4-2-3-1): Gavin Beavers; Philip Quinton (Andrew Brody, 83’); Bryan Oviedo (Alex Katranis, 83’); Justen Glad ©; Brayan Vera; Emeka Eneli; Nelson Palacio (Braian Ojeda, 64’); Andrés Gómez; Maikel Chang (Matt Crooks, 34’); Diego Luna (Fidel Barajas, 64’); Anderson Julio (Chicho Arango, 58’)

Subs not used: Zac MacMath, Bertin Jacquesson

Seattle Sounders (4-2-3-1): Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan; Nouhou; Yeimar; Jackson Ragen; Obed Vargas; João Paulo (Paul Rothrock, 90+3’); Cristian Roldan (Reed Baker-Whiting, 74’); Albert Rusnák; Jordan Morris (Joshua Atencio, 83’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Danny Musovski, 83’)

Subs not used: Andrew Thomas, Danny Leyva, Dylan Teves, Sota Kitahara, Cody Baker

Stats Summary: SEA / RSL

Shots: 17 / 19

Shots on Goal: 5 / 4

Saves: 3 / 4

Corner Kicks: 11 / 4

Fouls: 11 / 13

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

RSL: Bryan Oviedo (Caution – 67’)

RSL: Matt Crooks (Caution – 75’)

SEA: Obed Vargas (Caution – 87’)

SEA: Reed Baker-Whiting (Caution – 90+4’)