RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks open training camp July 25 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington. Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Russell Wilson, someone not on the roster
The Seahawks traded a sixth-round pick for Brett Hundley last preseason despite already being short on 2019 draft capital, showing how intent they were to fortify the backup spot even though Wilson has never missed a game. They have 10 picks next year and neither Paxton Lynch (zero guaranteed money) nor Geno Smith (only $25,000 guaranteed) distinguished himself during the offseason program. There's a surprise move made around every cut-down day. The guess is that it's at quarterback this year.
TAILBACK (4): Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, Travis Homer, J.D. McKissic.
Penny appears to be in better shape than he was as a rookie, but Carson will be the starter as long as he's healthy. Homer and McKissic are good pass-catchers and will thus compete for third-down reps. C.J. Prosise's extensive injury history makes it difficult to project him staying healthy enough to make the team.
FULLBACK (1): Nick Bellore.
Bellore is the only fullback on the roster and got $600,000 guaranteed in his two-year deal, so you can write him onto the roster in Sharpie.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, David Moore, Jaron Brown, Gary Jennings, Keenan Reynolds.
This group presents a lot of questions: Can Lockett match his 2018 production without Doug Baldwin commanding defenses' attention? Will Metcalf's strong spring carry over into actual games? Can Moore develop into more than a deep threat? Baldwin's departure makes it more likely the Seahawks keep Brown, who was their No. 4 receiver last season and carries a $3.725 million cap charge.
TIGHT END (3): Ed Dickson, Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister.
Maybe the toughest position group to predict. Trading for Hollister right after the draft put everyone except for Dissly on notice. The guess here is that Nick Vannett is the odd man out, though Dickson doesn't seem like a lock as a 32-year-old vet with a non-guaranteed salary of $3.3 million. Even with Dissly coming off a serious knee injury, the Seahawks could get away with only keeping three true tight ends because George Fant is effectively an oversized tight end in heavy packages.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Duane Brown, Mike Iupati, Justin Britt, D.J. Fluker, Germain Ifedi, George Fant, Ethan Pocic, Phil Haynes, Jamarco Jones.
The Seahawks swapped out J.R. Sweezy for Iupati at left guard and return their other four starters from last season. It's a big year for Ifedi, who improved in 2018 and will be a free agent at season's end with Seattle declining his 2020 option. Pocic has been underwhelming, but the 2017 second-round pick could end up replacing Britt at center in 2020.
DEFENSIVE LINE (10): L.J. Collier, Demarcus Christmas, Al Woods, Ezekiel Ansah, Cassius Marsh, Barkevious Mingo, Rasheem Green, Poona Ford, Jacob Martin, Quinton Jefferson.
Jarran Reed's suspension could force 2018 UDFA standout Poona Ford into a starting role on early downs, and it should help rookie sixth-round pick Demarcus Christmas' chances of making the team. Expect the Seahawks to add a veteran defensive tackle to compete for snaps there as well. Mingo started at strongside linebacker last season and seemed like a candidate to be released when the Seahawks re-signed K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks. But the plan, in coach Pete Carroll's words, is to "specialize" Mingo as an edge rusher. The Seahawks will take whatever pass-rush production they can get with Frank Clark gone, Reed suspended for six games and Ansah recovering from shoulder surgery that could keep him out past Week 1.
LINEBACKER (6): Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Mychal Kendricks, Cody Barton, Ben Burr-Kirven, Shaquem Griffin
Carroll said the team expects Kendricks, he of the unresolved insider trading case, to be available this year. Carroll believes Wagner, Wright and Kendricks could be the best trio of linebackers he has had in Seattle. The Seahawks drafted Barton (third round) and Burr-Kirven (fifth). All of that puts Griffin squarely on the roster bubble. Showing that he can add some pass-rush would greatly help his case.
SECONDARY (9): Shaquill Griffin, Tre Flowers, Bradley McDougald, Marquise Blair, Delano Hill, Tedric Thompson, Neiko Thorpe, Ugo Amadi, Akeem King.
Blair, a rookie second-round pick, will compete with Hill and Thompson to start at safety alongside McDougald, who can play strong or free. Amadi, a rookie fourth-rounder, will battle King for nickelback duties. With Earl Thomas gone, the Seahawks could use some Pro Bowl-caliber players to emerge in their post-Legion of Boom secondary.
SPECIALISTS (3): K Jason Myers, P Michael Dickson, LS Tyler Ott.
The Seahawks brought Myers back on a big contract a year after cutting him, only to see him go on to a Pro Bowl season with the Jets. They expect their special teams to better than the past two seasons, but that will require Myers staying on the upswing.