Ricky White III’s grip on a roster spot with the Seattle Seahawks is slipping fast after a quiet preseason opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was brought in with a very specific job in mind: help on special teams. As a receiver, he was never projected to be a major factor. But the early problem for White is that he hasn’t flashed in the area that was supposed to give him a shot, and he didn’t do anything against Dallas to change that.
In preseason Week 1, while the Seahawks’ backups struggled overall, White was barely noticeable on special teams, which was the one part of the night that worked for Seattle. He also managed just one catch for four yards. Even against the Cowboys’ reserve players, he didn’t make an impact.
That leaves him with a narrow path. White would need to win a job through special teams value, and while he did block a bunch of punts in college, that kind of role is a tough one to build a roster spot around. It takes something unusual, and he hasn’t shown that yet.
To be fair, taking a swing on a seventh-rounder is exactly the kind of move teams should make. There’s little downside if it doesn’t work out. But in White’s second season, in a game full of backups, Seattle would have hoped for more from a player trying to prove he can contribute as a wideout.
A few other Seahawks did stand out in the third phase against Dallas. Brady Russell delivered a punishing hit on a ball-carrier, and Rashad Rochelle, an undrafted free agent this year, ripped off a 52-yard punt return. Rochelle’s teammates clearly loved it; the sideline reacted like he’d just won the game.
White’s competition only makes things harder. Seattle might keep just six wide receivers, and Jake Bobo and Cody White are both more useful on special teams. That squeezes Ricky White III’s chances even further.
If he does get cut, that may not be the end of the road with Seattle. He could land on the practice squad and be elevated on game days if injuries create a need for a gunner on punts and kicks.
That was the reason he was drafted in the first place. But with final roster cuts coming on August 30, White may be running out of time fast.
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