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Seattle Seahawks’ Post-Draft Depth Chart

By James Silberman

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The Seattle Seahawks lost a lot of talent this off-season including Byron Maxwell, Max Unger, Malcolm Smith, James Carpenter and Kevin Williams. They then added eight players in the 2015 NFL Draft and signed 12 undrafted free agents. Here is what their depth chart currently looks like.

QB: Russell Wilson, B.J. Daniels, R.J. Archer

Nothing has changed at QB1, and hopefully nothing will for a long time. However, a veteran should be added between now and September 13th. I like B.J. Daniels as a prospect, but not as a legitimate plan B if something should ever happen to Russ. Both Tarvaris Jackson and Matt Flynn are still available.

RB: Marshawn Lynch, Robert Turbin, Christine Michael

Others: Demetrius Bronson, Thomas Rawls (UDFA), Rod Smith (UDFA)

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) grabs his crotch as he leaps into the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Nothing new here either. Marshawn will again be one the best two or three backs in the league, if not the best, and Turbin and Michael will give Lynch an occasional breather.

Rawls is an interesting prospect, and someone that I think will surprise a few people in training camp. Ultimately, the practice squad is the best case scenario for Rawls, Bronson or Smith with Marshawn, Turbin and Michael cemented at the top of the depth chart.

FB: Derrick Coleman/Will Tukuafu 

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This will be an interesting training camp battle. Coleman has done everything asked of him and more in his Seattle career thus far, and is the more versatile player. But a backfield of Tukuafu and Lynch is probably the most intimidating in NFL history.

It would hard to justify keeping two fullbacks, unless they have plans for Tukuafu at DT or Coleman on special teams.

Z WR: Jermaine Kearse, Chris Matthews

X WR: Paul Richardson (Will likely start season on PUP list), Ricardo Lockette

Slot WR: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Norwood

Others: Kevin Smith, Austin Hill (UDFA), Neil McDouglas

If Paul Richardson isn’t ready for week one, look for Kearse to move to the X and Baldwin to be the Z. Chris Matthews and Tyler Lockett are the guys to watch here. Both have the potential to play well enough to force the coaches to find ways to get them on the field.

TE1: Jimmy Graham

TE2: Luke Willson/ Cooper Helfet/Anthony McCoy

TE5: RaShaun Allen

Nov 9, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) catches the ball to score a touchdown in front of San Francisco 49ers cornerback Perrish Cox (20) during the fourth quarter at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

This will be another battle for roster spots. There isn’t much separating Willson from Helfet from McCoy, although the Seattle Seahawks have carried a lot of tight ends in recent years. It will be hard to cut any of them, although Helfet has been the best all-around tight end in my opinion. This battle will ultimately be decided by who blocks best in the running game.

Oh wait, did I mention Jimmy Graham? He’s pretty good.

LT: Russell Okung, Gary Gilliam

LG: Alvin Bailey, Mark Glowinski, Terry Poole

C: Patrick Lewis, Lemuel Jeanpierre, Mark Glowinski

RG: J.R. Sweezy, Mark Glowinski, Kristjan Sokoli

RT: Justin Britt, Gary Gilliam, Terry Poole

Others: C.J. Davis, Nate Isles, Drew Nowak, Keavon Milton, Jesse Davis (UDFA)

It is fairly safe to assume that this will be the Seattle Seahawks’ starting lineup week one, but it seems inevitable that someone will get hurt or play poorly. If it’s an interior lineman, I expect Glowinski to step in. If it’s a tackle, it would be Gilliam. Sokoli will be interesting to watch. He is an athletic freak, who looks like he has a lot of guard qualities.

LDE (5-Tech): Michael Bennett, Frank Clark, Demarcus Dobbs/Greg Scruggs

RDE (LEO): Cliff Avril, Cassius Marsh

Others: Obum Gwacham, Tory Slater (UDFA), Ryan Robinson, Will Pericak, David King 

Jan 11, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril (56) and defensive end Michael Bennett (72) tackle New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) during the second half of the 2013 NFC divisional playoff football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Depth will be the key. Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril’s numbers went wayyyyy down in 2014 when they had to play about 15 more snaps per game. Hopefully Frank Clark and Cassius Marsh can stay healthy and keep Bennett and Avril fresh.

There might be a battle between Dobbs and Scruggs for the last spot, depending on how many D-linemen they want to carry. Gwacham is athletically on another level, but has no polish at this point. Look for him to be stashed on the practice squad.

DT (1-Tech): Brandon Mebane, Ahtyba Rubin

DT (3-Tech): Tony McDaniel, Jordan Hill

Others: Jesse Williams, Jimmy Staten, D’Anthony Smith 

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Health is the key with this group. Mebane, Hill and Williams are all coming off of season-ending injuries. For now Seattle is OK on depth, but an injury or two would put the Seahawks back into scramble mode.

They did not add a defensive tackle in the draft, which is very surprising. This is by far their oldest position group, and they will need to find a couple good ones in the next few drafts.

SAM: Bruce Irvin, Kevin Pierre-Louis

MIKE: Bobby Wagner, Brock Coyle

WILL: K.J. Wright, Mike Morgan

Others: Mister Alexander, Quayshawn Nealy (UDFA), Alex Singleton (UDFA)

Nov 27, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) and middle linebacker Bobby Wagner (54) react after the Seahawks made a defensive stop on third down against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Levi

We don’t know what the long-term future of Bruce Irvin is, but he is signed through the 2015-16 season. And without Malcolm Smith, we will see even more of him than in past seasons.

The depth chart is pretty much set with the main six. The ‘Hawks have great starters and great depth. If Alexander, Nealy or Singleton wants to make the team, they had better play well on special teams.

LCB: Richard Sherman, Tharold Simon, Will Blackmon

RCB: Cary Williams, Tharold Simon, Will Blackmon

Slot CB: Jeremy Lane (Likely to start on PUP list), Marcus Burley

Others: Tye Smith, Eric Pinkins, Trovon Reed (UDFA)

This group isn’t what it used to be. Take out Sherm, and you are looking at a well below-average collection of corners. A lot is riding on Tharold Simon’s development and Jeremy Lane’s health.

FS: Earl Thomas, Steven Terrell, Dion Bailey/Ryan Murphy/Triston Wade (UDFA)

SS: Kam Chancellor, Deshawn Shead, Keenan Lambert (UDFA)/Ronald Martin (UDFA)

Pencil in Kam and Earl into the starting lineup (and All-Pro lineup), and Shead in as a utility DB. After that it’s a six-way battle for one of two spots. And four of them are rookies.

Fun fact: Keenan Lambert is Kam’s half-brother.

Feb 1, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka (4) kicks during warm-ups with punter Jon Ryan (9) and long snapper Clint Gresham (49) prior to the game against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

LS: Clint Gresham, Nate Boyer (UDFA)

K: Steven Hauschka

P: Jon Ryan

Nate Boyer is a fantastic story, and appears to be a fantastic guy. But Clint Gresham is really good at his job (and also is a fantastic guy), and just got payed. There just isn’t room for two long snappers on the 53-man roster.

Hau$ch-Money and the Canadian Cannon are as solid as it gets in the kicking game. Don’t expect that to change any time in the near future.

Next: Seattle Seahawks: Grading The Entire 2015 Draft Class

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