Seattle Seahawks 53-man roster projection has questions at quarterback, Chris Carson’s status

RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks open the 2022 common season towards the Denver Broncos on Sept. 12.

There’s a lot to be sorted out roster-wise earlier than Russell Wilson makes his much-anticipated return to Lumen Subject on Monday Evening Soccer. The Seahawks do not know whether or not Drew Lock or Geno Smith shall be their starter, and primarily based on Pete Carroll’s feedback about how they’re in “good condition” at quarterback, it seems like they’re content material letting their present choices battle it out for now.

However will that change if Lock and Smith falter and both Jimmy Garoppolo or Baker Mayfield turn out to be free brokers?

The opposite large query is in Seattle’s backfield, with no phrase but on whether or not Chris Carson will return from neck surgical procedure.

QUARTERBACK (2): Geno Smith, Drew Lock

Some contained in the Virginia Mason Athletic Middle consider Lock’s expertise will win out, however Smith remains to be within the pole place, having taken the first-team reps throughout OTAs and minicamp. Carroll will weigh preseason video games closely when figuring out the winner, as he did 10 years in the past when Wilson beat out Matt Flynn. The Seahawks have sometimes carried solely two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, however they could hold a 3rd now that they not have a starter as sturdy as Wilson was for many of the previous decade. Jacob Eason is at the moment the No. 3.

RUNNING BACK (4): Rashaad Penny, Ken Walker III, Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas

Between the character of his damage and what Carroll has mentioned about it, Carson’s standing is sounding extra uncertain than questionable. For now, Penny is within the driver’s seat to be the first again after ending final season on a tear and returning on a one-year deal. However he has an extended damage historical past and a second-round choose in Walker vying for a share of the early-down work. Homer and Dallas are digital locks due to what they supply on particular groups and in change-of-pace backfield roles.

WIDE RECEIVER (6): DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Freddie Swain, Dee Eskridge, Penny Hart, Bo Melton

Metcalf surprisingly skipped necessary minicamp in an obvious assertion about his unsettled contract state of affairs. The Seahawks are nonetheless optimistic about extending him, but it surely does not look like a slam dunk given how expensive the receiver market has turn out to be. In the event that they do get a deal completed, then the highest 4 of Metcalf, Lockett, Swain and Eskridge are set. Veteran Marquise Goodwin is among the many gamers vying for one of many closing spots.

TIGHT END (3): Will Dissly, Noah Fant, Colby Parkinson

There is a perception within the group that whichever quarterback finally ends up beginning for Seattle shall be extra inclined to throw to tight ends than Wilson was. The latest investments the Seahawks have made there — bringing again Dissly on a larger-than-expected deal and choosing up Fant’s fifth-year choice after buying him within the Wilson commerce — recommend they count on tight ends to be a much bigger a part of their offense. Carroll mentioned Fant “had perhaps essentially the most spectacular camp of anyone.” The Seahawks suppose Parkinson, a fourth-round choose in 2020, has breakout potential.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Charles Cross, Damien Lewis, Austin Blythe, Gabe Jackson, Abraham Lucas, Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe, Dakoda Shepley, Phil Haynes

The Seahawks selected Cross ninth total — making him their highest draft choose since 2010 — to exchange Duane Brown at left sort out. Then they doubled up within the third spherical with Lucas, who’s competing with Curhan and Forsythe on the best facet. So the Seahawks may have two rookie starters at sort out, which is exceedingly uncommon. Based on ESPN Stats & Data, solely two groups since 1970 have began two rookie tackles in Week 1.

DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Al Woods, Poona Ford, Quinton Jefferson, Shelby Harris, Bryan Mone, L.J. Collier

The Seahawks acquired Harris within the Wilson commerce and re-signed Jefferson, who returns to Seattle after two seasons away. Collier is in a contract yr, with Seattle declining the fifth-year choice on its 2019 first-round choose after three underwhelming seasons.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Darrell Taylor, Uchenna Nwosu, Boye Mafe, Tyreke Smith, Alton Robinson

The $9.5 million common of Nwosu’s two-year deal makes him Seattle’s highest-paid free-agent addition underneath Carroll and common supervisor John Schneider. The Seahawks added three outdoors linebackers in Nwosu, Mafe (second spherical) and Smith (fifth spherical) as a part of their plan to include extra 3-4 appears into their protection. Robinson’s roster spot does not appear safe after a down second season in 2021.

INSIDE LINEBACKER (5): Jordyn Brooks, Cody Barton, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, Nick Bellore, Tanner Muse

That is the primary season since 2010 that neither Bobby Wagner nor Okay.J. Wright are manning the center of Seattle’s protection. Barton, a 2019 third-round choose, is lastly getting an opportunity to be a full-time starter after Wagner was launched. It is a step again in expertise, however Barton and Brooks give the Seahawks a quicker linebacker duo than they’ve had in latest seasons.

SAFETY (5): Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Ryan Neal, Ugo Amadi, Marquise Blair

Re-signing the 29-year-old Diggs to a three-year, $39 million deal made it clear that the Seahawks aren’t in full-on rebuild mode regardless of the way it might need seemed after they moved on from Wilson and Wagner. Anticipate Diggs and Adams for use interchangeably and to maneuver round extra earlier than the snap with the intention to disguise appears. That would assist reignite Adams as a pass-rusher.

CORNERBACK (5): Sidney Jones IV, Coby Bryant, Tre Brown, Tariq Woolen, Artie Burns

It is essentially the most wide-open place group on Seattle’s protection, with nobody entrenched in both of the 2 beginning spots. Jones has the sting for certainly one of them given his expertise and the truth that he is wholesome, not like Brown, who’s coming off knee surgical procedure. Seahawks coaches have raved about Bryant’s smarts and ball abilities. Seattle introduced again Justin Coleman to compete with Blair and Amadi at nickelback.

SPECIALIST (3): Okay Jason Myers, P Michael Dickson, LS Tyler Ott

The Seahawks have been fifth final season in Soccer Outsiders DVOA scores for particular groups. That was regardless of an up-and-down yr from Myers, who is ready to make a non-guaranteed $4 million within the closing yr of his contract. Seattle hasn’t introduced in one other kicker to compete for the job.