MAJOR UPDATE: The Seahawks' cuts are in. They are as follows:
Terminated Veteran Contracts
CB Phillip Adams
T Eric Winston
Waived
TE RaShaun Allen
CB Akeem Auguste
RB Demitrius Bronson
WR Arceto Clark
QB B.J. Daniels
G Caylin Hauptmann
T Nate Isles
C Patrick Lewis
WR Chris Matthews
DE Benson Mayowa
S Terrance Parks
TE Morrell Presley
QB Terrelle Pryor
DT Andru Pulu
FB Kiero Small
DT Jimmy Staten
S Steven Terrell
LB Korey Toomer
WR Bryan Walters
RB Spencer Ware
Placed on Injured Reserve
DT D'Anthony Smith
The team is now at the requisite 53. Check out the final 53-man roster right here.
The Seahawks have until 1:00 PM PST today to finalize their 53-man roster I'll be tracking their remaining 20 cuts in this post this morning. Track NFL-wide roster cuts around the league at SBNation's Tracker here.
Running updates:
6:00 AM: We saw last night that QB Terrelle Pryor and FB Kiero Small have reportedly been released. Not a huge surprise on either front, as Pryor had struggled with accuracy and turned the ball over twice in preseason action, and Small was never able to get in front of Derek Coleman for the fullback job.
10:30 AM: Offensive tackle Eric Winston has reportedly been released. This is a bit surprising, but means the Seahawks must feel okay about going with Justin Britt, Alvin Bailey, and Garry Gilliam as their tackle depth (with of course, Russell Okung).
11:21 AM: The Seahawks have reportedly released WR Arceto Clark. This is no surprise, as he was fairly low on the depth chart all preseason. Clark spent some time on Seattle's practice squad last year so that could be an option again this season.
12:02 PM: The Seahawks are reportedly waiving CB Phillip Adams. Adams was in competition for that fifth cornerback spot with Akeem Auguste, so it looks like Auguste has a chance for the roster.
12:28 PM: Seahawks release DE Benson Mayowa and LB Korey Toomer. I had these moves on my roster prediction but it's still a little strange to see them come down the pike. Both are developmental types with excellent athleticism so perhaps Seattle can sneak them onto the practice squad.
2:52 PM: Tom Pelissaro is reporting that DT Jimmy Staten and QB B.J. Daniels have been cut. Both are practice squad candidates.
3:59 PM: Bryan Walters released, per his agent. This means Ricardo Lockette is probably in.... we shall see.
Released from Seahawks:
-- QB Terrelle Pryor (note, apparently this is not official quite yet, it's being reported the Hawks are still shopping him)
-- FB Kiero Small
-- OT Eric Winston
-- WR Arceto Clark
-- CB Phillip Adams
-- DE Benson Mayowa
-- LB Korey Toomer
-- DT Jimmy Staten
-- QB B.J. Daniels
-- WR Bryan Walters
Noteworthy (as in, interesting for Seahawks) releases from around the NFL:
-- WR Kris Durham, Lions
-- DT Kelcy Quarles, Giants
-- OG Tyler Shatley, Jaguars
-- SS Duke Ihenacho, Broncos
-- OT Vinston Painter, Broncos
-- DT LaKendrick Ross, Bengals
-- WR Vincent Brown, Chargers
-- RB Mikel Leshoure, Lions
-- DT Deandre Coleman, Jaguars
-- DL Zach Thompson, Jets
-- DL Jerel Worthy, Patriots
-- RB Lache Seastrunk, Redskins
-- RB Chris Thompson, Redskins
-- RB Jeff Demps, Buccaneers
-- LB Nate Askew, Buccaneers
-- QB Tajh Boyd, Jets
-- OG Jon Halapio, Patriots
-- DE Jake Bequette, Patriots
-- DE Jack Crawford, Raiders
-- DE Emmanuel Acho, Eagles
-- LB Phillip Steward, Rams
-- WR Brandon Coleman, Saints
-- DT Devon Still, Bengals
-- DT/FB Nikita Whitlock, Bengals
-- OL Ryan Seymour, 49ers (former Seahawks' draft pick)
-- LB Adrian Hubbard, Packers
-- WR Kevin Dorsey, Packers
-- TE Orson Charles, Bengals
-- WR Soloman Patten, Buccaneers
-- LB John Simon, Ravens
-- TE Michael Egnew, Dolphins
-- CB Shaq Richardson, Steelers
-- C Mike Brewster, Jaguars
-- LB Howard Jones, Steelers
-- OG Ryan Groy, Bears
-- TE Nic Jacobs, Saints
-- WR Greg Little, Raiders
-- TE Ted Bolser, Redskins
Friday's 53-man roster prediction:
Here's my 53 man roster prediction from Friday. I'm 6-for-7 so far (missed on Winston), but I'm sure it will be wrong in several more areas. Just use this a little guide to depth chart battles.
Quarterbacks (2)
Keep:
QB1 Russell Wilson 5'10, 215
QB2 Tarvaris Jackson 6'2, 215
Practice Squad:
QB4 B.J. Daniels 5'11, 217
Cut/trade:
QB3 Terrelle Pryor 6'4, 233
Notes: Terrelle Pryor's athleticism is sexy and B.J. Daniels is really exciting as a long-term developmental backup option to Russell Wilson, but ultimately I think the Seahawks will lean on Tarvaris as the backup quarterback. They could always keep three here, but I think at the end of the day they'll end up with two. They should try to trade Pryor, but that probably won't happen. B.J. Daniels is a great practice squad quarterback candidate, so let's hope no one needs a guy like him as a backup this year.
Running Backs (5)
Keep:
RB1 Marshawn Lynch 5'11, 215
RB2 Robert Turbin 5'11, 220
RB3 Christine Michael 5'10, 221
FB1 Derrick Coleman 6'0, 240
RB4 Spencer Ware 5'10, 225
Cut/Trade/Ghost Roster:
n/a
Practice Squad:
RB Demitrius Bronson 5'10, 212
FB2 Kiero Small 5'8, 244
PUP/Injured Reserve:
n/a
Notes: This is one of the hardest groups to guess. I think the Hawks will roll with five at the running back/fullback group and to be honest, I've thought that Bronson has looked better than Spencer Ware this preseason. That said, the team did just release Bronson last week, where he went unclaimed, so he makes a nice practice squad candidate.
I think Kiero Small has looked pretty good as a fullback, but Derek Coleman seems to have a solid grip on the starting job. There's always the outside chance the Hawks keep two fullbacks, as they did last year for parts of the season.
Either way, I can easily see Bronson making it over Ware, and having them switched on this list.
Wide Receivers (6)
WR Percy Harvin 5'11, 195
WR Doug Baldwin 5'10, 189
WR Jermaine Kearse 6'1, 215
WR Paul Richardson 6'1, 183
WR Kevin Norwood 6'2, 200
WR Bryan Walters 6'0, 190
PUP/Injured Reserve:
WR Taylor Price 6'1, 195
WR David Gilreath 5'10, 170
Practice Squad:
WR Phil Bates 6'1, 220
Cut/Trade/Ghost Roster:
WR Ricardo Lockette 6'2, 211
WR Arceto Clark 5'10, 180
WR Chris Matthews 6'5, 218
Notes: Another extremely, extremely tough group to guess. I think that Bryan Walters, despite his fumble last night, played himself into a role on this team as the punt returner and part time kick returner. Ricardo Lockette is an excellent gunner -- maybe one of the best in the NFL -- but is he so much better at it that it's worth carving out a roster spot for him? Maybe! As for Kevin Norwood, I could see the team give him a red-shirt year and put him on the IR, but from what I've heard, he's ready to go, so that seems a little unlikely. He's also a 25-year old rookie that looked really good in practices early on, so will the Hawks really want to put him on the IR? These are the questions.
However you cut it, at least one good receiver will be on the outs. It's going to be either Walters, Lockette, or Norwood I think.
Tight Ends (3)
Keep:
TE1 Zach Miller 6'5, 255
TE2 Luke Willson 6'5, 260
TE3 Morrell Presley 6'3, 225
PUP/Injured Reserve:
TE Anthony McCoy 6'5, 275
TE Cooper Helfet 6'4, 240
Practice Squad:
n/a
Cut/Ghost Roster:
TE Rashaun Allen 6'5, 250
n/a
Notes: Throwing a curve ball here -- picking TE Morell Presley above Rashaun Allen -- and I think the Hawks could put Cooper Helfet on the injured reserve with a knee injury that has hampered him lately. Whatever happens here (and, they could keep only two here and run with ten offensive linemen), it's tough to really guess at it, because none of the three have really separated themselves in the preseason action.
So yeah, honestly, this is just a guess. Tight end will be a position group to really watch.
Offensive Line (9)
Keep:
LT1 Russell Okung 6'5, 315
LG1 James Carpenter 6'5, 320
OC1 Max Unger 6'5, 305
RG1 J.R. Sweezy 6'5, 320
RT1 Justin Britt 6'6, 325
T/G Eric Winston 6'7, 302
T/G Alvin Bailey 6'3, 320
C/G Lemuel Jeanpierre 6'3, 305
T/TE Gary Gilliam 6'6, 306
PUP/Injured Reserve:
LT Garrett Scott 6'5, 305
OG C.J. Davis 6'3, 303
Practice Squad:
OG Nate Isles 6'5, 348
C/G Patrick Lewis 6'1, 311
Cut/Ghost Roster:
T/G/C Caylin Hauptmann 6'3,305
G/T Stephen Schilling 6'5,312
Notes: The offensive line starters are pretty much set, and I think that Alvin Bailey, Eric Winston, and Lemuel Jeanpierre are locks for the most part. Garry Gilliam looks like a lock. I think the Hawks will throw a couple of linemen on the practice squad, and those two could be Isles and Lewis.
Schilling and Hauptmann have been in the competition but to my eye haven't shown anything that has really set them apart. That said, it wouldn't surprise me if Seattle feels differently and chooses one of them over the guys I've selected here.
Defensive Line Interior (6)
Keep:
5T1b Tony McDaniel 6'7, 310
NT1b Brandon Mebane 6'1, 305
3T1b Kevin Williams 6'5, 311
3T/5T Michael Bennett 6'4, 275
3T/NT/5T Greg Scruggs 6'3, 310
DTn Jordan Hill 6'1, 300
PUP/Injured Reserve:
3T/NT/5T Jesse Williams 6'3, 315
3T/5T Michael Brooks 6'3, 275
Practice Squad:
NT2 Andru Pulu 6'1, 322
3T/5T Jimmy Staten 6'4, 304
Cut, IR, Ghost Roster:
3T D'Anthony Smith 6'2, 300
Notes: Seems fairly cut and dried. Pulu and Staten make good practice squad candidates.
Edge rushers/SAM (5):
LEO/DE Cliff Avril 6'3,260
LEO/LB O'Brien Schofield 6'3, 242
LEO/DTn Cassius Marsh 6'4, 265
SLBb1 Bruce Irvin 6'3, 255
SLB2 Mike Morgan 6'3, 226
PUP/Injured Reserve:
n/a
Practice Squad:
LEO/DE Benson Mayowa 6'3, 267
SLB Korey Toomer 6'2, 244
Cut/Ghost Roster:
n/a
Notes: I know that some have been impressed with Benson Mayowa this preseason but I don't see a spot for him on the 53 man roster, unless Marsh's hip flexor injury is serious. Schofield and Morgan will make this team, I think, and Seattle will hope that Bruce Irvin can get back soon. I've penciled him in as a part of the 53, so keep that in mind. '
Toomer flashed yesterday, to my eye, but that injury that kept him out all preseason just didn't do him any favors. Also, the amount he's been injured over the last three years doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in using a valuable spot on him. I'd try to get him to the PS.
Linebackers (5)
WLB1 K.J.Wright 6'4, 246
MLB1 Bobby Wagner 6'0, 241
SLBn1 Malcolm Smith 6'0, 230
MLB2 Brock Coyle 6'1, 235
WLB2 Kevin Pierre-Louis 6'0, 232
PUP/Injured Reserve:
LB Heath Farwell 6'0, 235
LB Horace Miller 6'0, 235
Practice Squad:
n/a
Cut/Ghost Roster:
Notes: Fairly cut and dried again, with Toomer on the outs as an edge player. I think that with Farwell and Miller on the IR, the Hawks will keep Wright, Wagner, Smith, Coyle, and KPL.
Defensive Backs (9)
Keep:
CB1 Richard Sherman 6'3, 195
CB2 Byron Maxwell 6'1,2 07
FS1 Earl Thomas 5'10, 202
SS1 Kam Chancellor 6'3,232
NB1 Jeremy Lane 6'0, 190
NB2 Akeem Auguste 5'10, 185
CB3 Tharold Simon 6'2, 205
FS2 DeShawn Shead 6'1, 225
SS2 Jeron Johnson 5'10, 212
Practice Squad:
SS Terrance Parks 6'2, 218
PUP/Injured Reserve:
NB2 A.J. Jefferson 6'1, 190
CB/S Eric Pinkins 6'3, 220
Cut/Ghost Roster:
CB Phillip Adams 5'11, 195
FS Steven Terrell 5'10, 197
Notes: I think the Hawks may troll the waiver wire for their fifth cornerback behind Sherman, Maxwell, Lane, and Simon. I thought that Deshawn Shead looked really good as a corner last night too, so maybe the Hawks look for depth at safety instead and use Shead more as a corner again this year. He's played both spots over the past few seasons.
I think that Parks will go to the Practice Squad if he clears waivers.
Specialists (3)
P Jon Ryan 6'0, 217
LS Clint Gresham 6'3, 240
K Steven Hauschka 6'4, 210