The Seattle Seahawks have already gotten one preseason test out of the way, and it came with a loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. The result itself does not carry weight in August, but head coach Mike Macdonald still had reasons to be unhappy with the execution.
Now the attention shifts to Sunday’s matchup with the Tennessee Titans, which comes two days after a joint practice with the same team. For Macdonald and general manager John Schneider, this stretch is a major part of sorting through a 90-man roster and getting it down to 53.
Seattle has enough depth to make the exercise tricky. Based on what’s known right now, here’s how the roster picture can shake out.
At quarterback, the Seahawks keep all three: Sam Darnold, Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe. Darnold has settled into the role of steady leader, Lock gives them a veteran backup option, and Milroe’s rough preseason opener does not put him in immediate danger. Seattle has too much invested in him to move on now.
The backfield gets more complicated. Jadarian Price is safe, and George Holani and Emanuel Wilson both hang on as well, while Velus Jones Jr., Jacardia Wright and Anthony Hankerson are cut.
Zach Charbonnet starts the year on IR. When he eventually returns, Wilson could be the odd man out.
At fullback, Brady Russell stays and Brock Lampe is waived, with Robbie Ouzts landing on IR after the injury that pushed Seattle toward a one-man setup at the position.
Wide receiver is one of the more interesting calls. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, Tory Horton and Jake Bobo are in, and Emmanuel Henderson grabs the last spot over Ricky White III, Irv Charles, Cody White, Julian Hicks, Rashad Rochelle and Montorie Foster Jr.
That group could still change if Seattle decides it needs help elsewhere, and Rochelle in particular remains a name to watch after another strong performance this weekend. Foster also made things interesting.
Tight end stays deep, but the Seahawks only carry three: AJ Barner, Elijah Arroyo and Eric Saubert. Nick Vannett and Nick Kallerup are the cuts. Seattle has five tight ends with roster-level talent, but Saubert gets the final nod.
The offensive line is where the biggest concerns sit. Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford, Abraham Lucas, Josh Jones, Mason Richman, Beau Stephens and Olu Oluwatimi make it, while Bobby Hart, Logan Brown, Christian Haynes, Amari Kight, Bryce Cabeldue and Federico Maranges are cut.
Hart and Haynes are the most notable names there, and Brown could be a practice squad candidate. Even with the group settled for now, the line remains Seattle’s biggest concern entering the 2026 season.
Up front on defense, Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed and Rylie Mills are locked in, with Brandon Pili taking the final spot over Mike Morris, Deven Eastern, J.R. Singleton, Bubba Thomas and Uso Seumalo. It’s another position group with real strength, but Pili has the edge at the moment.
Edge rusher has a clear top group: DeMarcus Lawrence, Derick Hall, Uchenna Nwosu and Dante Fowler Jr. all stay, while Aidan Hubbard wins the last spot over Jared Ivey, Jamie Sheriff, Connor O'Toole, Jalen Gaines and Marvin Jones, Jr. Lawrence is entering his final season and wants to finish strong, while Hall is the player most likely to take a step forward.
Inside linebacker, Ernest Jones IV, Drake Thomas and Tyrice Knight are in, and Chazz Surratt gets the final place. Patrick O'Connell, Chris Paul Jr., Power Echols and Aaron Smith are the cuts, though O'Connell could still make a push before the preseason ends.
The secondary keeps Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, Julian Neal, Nehemiah Pritchett and Noah Igbinoghene, with Andre Fuller, Michael Dansby, Jordan Washington and Shemar Jean-Charles cut. Terrion Arnold is on the exempt list. Fuller and Dansby still have a chance to climb past Igbinoghene or Pritchett, but they have not done it yet.
At safety, Julian Love and Ty Okada hold the starting jobs, with Nick Emmanwori and D’Anthony Bell also making the roster. Bud Clark and AJ Finley are the primary reserves, while Maxen Hook and Rodney Thomas II are cut. Emmanwori is projected to start in the slot, and Bell’s nickel versatility helps him stick.
Special teams are the easiest call of all. Jason Myers, Michael Dickson and Chris Stoll all stay, with no competition at kicker, punter or long snapper unless an injury changes the picture.
In Other News...
Seahawks Fans Will Understand DK Metcalfs New NFL Label
DK Metcalfs name is still easy to spot on NFL conversation lists, and the latest one is not flattering. Once the rare blend of size and speed that made him one of the leagues most imposing receivers in Seattle, Metcalf has again been labeled inconsistent even as his physical traits remain impossible to ignore. A FanSided poll recently placed him fifth among the NFLs most overrated players, a reminder that his reputation has long been tangled between highlight-reel talent and the expectation that should come with it.
Seahawks fans know the arc of that story as well as anyone. Metcalf requested a trade after the 2024 season and was dealt to Pittsburgh, where he signed an extension through 2029, while Seattle moved on and won the Super Bowl the following season. For Metcalf, the new setting brings fresh pressure and a longer runway, but the debate around him has followed him from one team to the next, and it is not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Hit With Brutal Injury Setback As Backfield Questions Linger
The Cardinals backfield picture is getting harder to read by the day, and the latest injury update only adds to the uncertainty. Arizona confirmed that Chase Bisontis has a torn MCL and will need surgery, while tight end Elijah Higgins is still working back from a concussion. The club also said running backs Trey Benson and James Conner are making progress, though there is still no specific return timeline for either player.
For a division race that already figures to be shaped by health as much as talent, that leaves Arizona trying to piece together answers on the fly. Seattle has its own news to manage after locking up cornerback Devon Witherspoon and issuing updates on fullback Robbie Ouzts and Terrion Arnold, but the Cardinals situation is the one that most directly keeps the Seahawks watching the depth chart across the field. [Read more 🡒]
ESPN Just Put The Seahawks At The Top Of The NFL Future
ESPNs latest future power rankings give the Seahawks a pretty flattering long-view snapshot, placing Seattle No. 1 through the 2029 season when it comes to overall roster strength outside the quarterback spot. The evaluation also reflects well on the people building and coaching the team, with the Seahawks staff and front office both landing high in the league-wide outlook.
The one area that keeps the picture from looking completely finished is at quarterback, where Seattle was ranked 16th. That split between a strong supporting cast and a more modest view of the most important position is what makes the ranking so interesting for Seahawks fans, since it suggests the organization has done a lot right everywhere but the most obvious place still leaves some room for debate. [Read more 🡒]