The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up their offseason program on Thursday and will open training camp at the end of July at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Wa. Here’s a 53-man roster projection.
Quarterbacks (2): Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin
There's a decent chance that Tarvaris Jackson signs back with the Seahawks before training camp and assumes the backup job to Wilson. But the coaches have raved about Boykin, and if he doesn't make the roster, he seems like a good candidate for the practice squad.
Running backs (5): Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, Christine Michael, Brandon Cottom
Pete Carroll said he "absolutely" expects Rawls (ankle injury) to be ready for Week 1. Rookies Prosise and Collins should be locks to make the roster. Prosise, at a minimum, will be a third-down back and pass-catching option, but he has an opportunity to earn a larger role.
Michael is on the bubble, but given Rawls' injury uncertainty, he sticks. In five games (playoffs included) with the Seahawks last season, Michael averaged 4.37 YPC on 60 attempts. Zac Brooks was a seventh-round pick and has a chance to stick if he makes a positive impression in the summer.
The fullback competition is wide open, but Cottom appears to be the frontrunner.
Tight ends (3): Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Nick Vannett
Carroll said that Graham is ahead of Rawls in his rehab and will be ready for the regular season, so for now we'll assume that to be the case. Willson has shown he's a capable No. 2 tight end. The coaches raved about Vannett all spring, and he should see some playing time as a rookie.
Wide receivers (5): Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett, Paul Richardson, Kasen Williams
The top four spots appear to be locked down. The fifth spot will be determined by special teams, and it will likely come down to Williams, Kevin Smith and Kenny Lawler. Williams had a nice spring, so he gets the nod here, but the fifth and potentially sixth spots are up for grabs.
Offensive line (10): Garry Gilliam, Mark Glowinski, Justin Britt, Germain Ifedi, J'Marcus Webb, Patrick Lewis, Rees Odhiambo, Bradley Sowell, Terry Poole, Joey Hunt
This is probably the most difficult group to project. Gilliam, Glowinski, Britt, Ifedi, Webb and Odhiambo all seem like good bets to make the team. Sowell and Poole could be competing for the swing tackle spot. Hunt could have a hard time sticking and could be a practice-squad candidate, but he makes it here as one of the final men on the roster. Kristjan Sokoli has the athleticism, but he needs to take steps forward this summer.
Defensive line (8): Cliff Avril, Michael Bennett, Jarran Reed, Ahtyba Rubin, Frank Clark, Quinton Jefferson, Jordan Hill, Chris Clemons
If an undrafted pass-rusher like David Perkins impresses this summer, he could beat Clemons out for a roster spot. The Seahawks signed Sealver Siliga to play nose tackle, but with the addition of Reed in the second round, he could have a tough time making the team.
Linebackers (7): Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Mike Morgan, Cassius Marsh, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Eric Pinkins, Brock Coyle
Wagner and Wright are starters, but beyond that there's a lot of uncertainty. Morgan, Marsh, Pierre-Louis and Pinkins are all candidates to win the starting SAM job. Depth spots will come down to special-teams performance.
Cornerbacks (5): Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lane, DeShawn Shead, Tharold Simon, Tye Smith
Lane and Shead both have the versatility to play outside and in the slot. Simon and Smith will have to win roster spots, but they're the favorites over the other players in this group.
Safeties (5): Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Kelcie McCray, Steven Terrell, Brandon Browner
Thomas and Chancellor are the starters. The coaches like what they saw out of McCray last season. Terrell can play special teams and back up at the free safety spot. All indications are that the team is carving out a role for Browner, and he will stick. Tyvis Powell, an undrafted free agent, has a chance to steal a spot this summer.
Specialists (3): Jon Ryan, Steven Hauschka, Drew Ferris
The Seahawks could bring in someone to compete with Ferris for the long-snapper job.