Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider is currently in the process of “finalizing” his initial 53 man roster. Tuesday’s mid-afternoon deadline mandates that all 32 NFL clubs trim their roster down to 53 in preparation for the regular season. On Wednesday at 9am Pacific, the league office will process waiver claims that were submitted on any eligible players that were released.
Schneider could use this system as an opportunity to upgrade his depth at a position that fails to meet his standards. An average of 25-30 players are claimed around the league annually. The waiver wire order is determined by the 2024 NFL Draft order, meaning the Seahawks will place 16th in the waiver priority.
By 4 PM ET today, all 32 NFL teams must reduce their rosters down to 53 players.
A few notes:
– the vast majority of these moves will be made by releasing or waiving players. A player with 4 or more years of service is a vested veteran and thus is outright released. Those…
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 27, 2024
With that in mind, we’ve identified three positions the Seahawks could target on the waiver wire.
Nose Tackle
Are the Seahawks good enough at the nose tackle position? Veteran 12-year pro Johnathan Hankins is currently entering the season as the starter. Hankins was signed by Schneider earlier this offseason in a move that reunited him with defensive coordinator Aden Durde.
Fourth-round sophomore nose tackle Cameron Young is currently on the Physically Unable To Perform (PUP) List and doesn’t appear to be nearing a return. The Tennessee Titans, who the Seahawks held joint practices with and played against in the preseason, are a team to watch for a potential nose tackle claim. They have Keondre Coburn and Quinton Bohanna on the roster, and are unlikely to keep both behind T’Vondre Sweat. Bohanna would be especially intriguing given that he previously played for Durde in Dallas.
Tight End
The Seahawks have been banged up at tight end as of late. Noah Fant, Jack Westover, and Pharaoh Brown all missed recent practices, prompting Schneider to sign two tight ends to simply get through practice and the preseason. Michael Ezeike and Devon Garrison were the players signed, but are unlikely to make the 53 man roster.
Fant and Brown are Seattle’s two top tight ends, and Brown and A.J. Barner should make the roster as well. Given the mounting injuries and uncertainty, Schneider could consider acquiring a veteran player at the position to ensure offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has enough bodies for the Denver Broncos in Week 1.
Offensive Tackle
The Seahawks are thin at offensive tackle because Abe Lucas appears primed to remain on the PUP. Thankfully, Mike Macdonald has a veteran right tackle in George Fant to replace him in the starting lineup. Lucas’ absence still delivers a blow to Seattle’s offensive line depth.
Stone Forsythe is currently the swing tackle. The Seahawks have rookie offensive tackles Michael Jerrell and Garret Greenfield on the roster, as well as sophomore Raiqwon O’Neal. O’Neal is likely to claim the fourth offensive tackle spot, but this position could potentially be upgraded via the wire while Lucas continues recovering.
