Who makes the cut? Here’s a Seahawks’ 53-man roster projection

Given the sheer volume of talent returning from their Super Bowl-winning team, the Seattle Seahawks and general manager John Schneider are tasked with some difficult decisions as they trim their roster from 91 to 53 players by Sunday’s 3 p.m. NFL cutdown deadline.

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Who ultimately makes the cut? Ahead of Friday night’s preseason finale, here’s a stab at what Seattle’s initial 53-man roster could look like.

Quarterback (3)

• Sam Darnold
• Drew Lock
• Jalen Milroe

The first two preseason games made clear there’s still a significant gap between Lock and Milroe. That means Seattle will likely roster three quarterbacks again, with Lock serving as one of the league’s most experienced backups and Milroe hanging around as a long-term development project.

Running back (3)

• Jadarian Price
• Emanuel Wilson
• George Holani

* PUP list: Zach Charbonnet

The big question here is how soon Charbonnet can return from February ACL surgery. Head coach Mike Macdonald hasn’t ruled out the possibility that Charbonnet comes off the PUP list prior to Week 1, but it still seems more likely that he remains there to open the season.

Assuming that’s the case, Seattle appears set to begin with a three-man backfield of Price, Wilson and Holani. Wilson has been sidelined for the past two weeks with an undisclosed injury, but Macdonald has referred to it as a short-term issue.

Fullback (1)

• Brady Russell

* Season-ending IR: Robbie Ouzts

Russell was already a roster lock as Seattle’s special teams captain, but now he steps in as the primary fullback with Ouzts on season-ending injured reserve.

Wide receiver (6)

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba
• Cooper Kupp
• Rashid Shaheed
• Tory Horton
• Montorie Foster Jr.
• Emmanuel Henderson Jr.

* Season-ending IR: Jake Bobo

With a quartet of Smith-Njigba, Kupp, Shaheed and Horton, Seattle could have one of the NFL’s top receiving corps. But Horton’s health is once again a question mark, as he’s been sidelined with an undisclosed injury for the past two weeks. However, Macdonald indicated Horton’s issue shouldn’t sideline him long-term, so we’ll keep him on the roster in this projection.

Meanwhile, Bobo’s season-ending injury opened a battle for the WR5 spot, with Foster and Cody White seemingly the favorites to capitalize on the opportunity.

Foster gets the edge here, having outshined White as a surprise standout this summer. Foster has six catches for 60 yards and a touchdown in two preseason games, along with two tackles in kick coverage. And Foster might have had two more TDs, if not for a pair of overthrows by Lock.

The Seahawks also might keep a sixth receiver to replace departed special teams stalwart Dareke Young, who left a void at gunner. If so, Henderson could be a hand-in-glove fit. The rookie sixth-round pick excelled as a gunner in college with his blazing speed, which he showcased while making two punt-coverage tackles against the Titans on Sunday.

Tight end (4)

• AJ Barner
• Elijah Arroyo
• Eric Saubert
• Nick Kallerup

Barner, Arroyo and Saubert are set to return as Seattle’s top three tight ends. And with Ouzts out for the season, Kallerup’s roster spot is probably safe. Whether the 6-foot-5, 266-pound Kallerup lines up at tight end or fullback, he could help replace some of the blocking specialist snaps that were slated for Ouzts.

Offensive line (9)

• Charles Cross
• Grey Zabel
• Jalen Sundell
• Anthony Bradford
• Abraham Lucas
• Josh Jones
• Olu Oluwatimi
• Christian Haynes
• Beau Stephens

* Season-ending IR: Mason Richman

Seattle returns its starting O-line of Cross, Zabel, Sundell, Bradford and Lucas. Jones is set to be the backup swing tackle again. And in the wake of Richman’s season-ending injury, Oluwatimi appears on track to remain the backup center.

Oluwatimi had been floated as a potential trade candidate, given that he’s a starting-caliber backup who’s in the final year of his rookie deal. But that possibility was contingent on Richman – who can play guard, tackle and center – being able to step into the backup center duties.

Meanwhile, this projection features a tight three-man battle between Haynes, Stephens and Cabeldue for two backup guard spots. Haynes is ahead of them both on the depth chart, while Stephens’ status as a rookie fifth-round pick might give him the edge over Cabeldue.

Interior defensive line (5)

• Leonard Williams
• Byron Murphy II
• Jarran Reed
• Rylie Mills
• Mike Morris

The Seahawks return arguably the NFL’s best defensive tackle duo in Williams and Murphy. Reed is back with his steady, tone-setting presence. And now, with a potential full season from Mills, this group could ascend to even greater heights in 2026.

The final spot here goes to Morris, due to his versatility along the D-line and his special teams value. He had eight special teams tackles in the regular season last year, plus another four in the postseason.

Brandon Pili also is in the mix, but nose tackles are generally among the most likely positions to clear waivers and make it through to the practice squad.

Edge rushers (5)

• DeMarcus Lawrence
• Uchenna Nwosu
• Derick Hall
• Dante Fowler Jr.
• Connor O’Toole

Seattle’s four-man edge rushing rotation is set with Lawrence, Nwosu, Hall and Fowler. The question is whether the Seahawks also keep a developmental edge or two for waiver-claim protection, as they did with both O’Toole and Jared Ivey last season. If so, O’Toole separated himself from the other contenders with 1.5 sacks, a third-down tackle for loss and six total pressures against the Titans.

Linebackers (4)

• Ernest Jones IV
• Drake Thomas
• Tyrice Knight
• Chazz Surratt

Jones and Thomas return as the two starting linebackers, while Knight gives Seattle the luxury of a starting-caliber backup. For the final spot here, Surratt gets the edge over Patrick O’Connell due to his special teams prowess. Surratt had 11 special teams tackles last season, which were second-most on the team despite him missing six games due to injury.

Cornerbacks (5)

• Devon Witherspoon
• Josh Jobe
• Noah Igbinoghene
• Nehemiah Pritchett
• Julian Neal

Witherspoon and Jobe are entrenched as the top two cornerbacks. But after that, this position group might be the most difficult to predict.

Igbinoghene and Pritchett have been battling for the third cornerback spot, so they both make the roster in this projection. Neal also was expected to factor into the CB3 battle, but he only just recently returned to practice after missing most of camp with an undisclosed injury. But regardless, Neal is assured a roster spot as a rookie third-round pick.

Rookie seventh-round picks Andre Fuller and Michael Dansby are also in the mix. Both have showed upside as developmental corners this preseason, so it’s possible the Seahawks stash one of them on the roster for waiver-claim protection.

And then there’s former two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs, who signed a one-year, minimum-salary deal last week as he aims to resurrect a once-promising career that’s been derailed by knee injuries. If Diggs flashes in the preseason finale, he could land a roster spot and provide needed depth.

Safeties (5)

• Nick Emmanwori
• Julian Love
• Ty Okada
• D’Anthony Bell
• AJ Finley

* Season-ending IR: Bud Clark

It remains unclear whether Emmanwori will be ready for Week 1 after undergoing ankle surgery in July. But either way, he’ll be on the initial 53-man roster after coming off the PUP list earlier this month.

Love and Okada are set to be the top traditional safeties, while Bell seems likely to make the roster as an insurance option for Emmanwori. While there’s no direct replacement for Emmanwori’s Swiss Army knife skill set, the 6-foot-1, 211-pound Bell can play the big-nickel spot and filled in well when Emmanwori was sidelined early last season.

Clark was on track to earn snaps in specialty packages, but the rookie second-round pick’s season-ending injury opens the door for another safety to make the roster. Finley, who has battled back from a torn ACL that wiped out his 2025 season, appears to be the next man up.

Specialists (3)

• K Jason Myers
• P Michael Dickson
• LS Chris Stoll

Myers is set for his eighth season as Seattle’s kicker, Dickson is slated for his ninth season as the team’s punter and Stoll is entering his fourth season as the Seahawks’ long snapper.

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