Seahawks final 53-man roster for 2014 announced as part of NFL Roster Cutdowns

The Seahawks have released their final (initial, really) 53-man roster for the beginning of the 2014 NFL season. This roster, as per usual, will be fluid for the next couple days as teams pick up waiver wire players and veteran free agents.

The "upsets," if you want to call them that, could be that the Stephen Schilling edged out Caylin Hauptmann at the guard position, that Garry Gilliam beat Eric Winston out at tackle, and Phil Bates beat out special teams ace Bryan Walters for the roster at receiver. It's also a little bit surprising that the team kept seven receivers and four running backs.

Without further ado, here it is:

Quarterbacks (2)

QB1 Russell Wilson 5'10, 215
QB2 Tarvaris Jackson 6'2, 215

Cuts:

QB4 B.J. Daniels 5'11, 217
QB3 Terrelle Pryor 6'4, 233

Notes:

It would've been nice if the Seahawks could've traded Terrelle Pryor but his inconsistent play during the preseason apparently scared any potential suitors off. Here's to hoping he doesn't end up in the NFC West and somehow become really crazy good. B.J. Daniels got very limited snaps in the practice and games this preseason behind T-Jack and Pryor, so hopefully that will mean teams won't notice him too much. If he can get to the practice squad again this year, that would probably be ideal.

Running Backs (4)

RB1 Marshawn Lynch 5'11, 215
RB2 Robert Turbin 5'11, 220
RB3 Christine Michael 5'10, 221
FB1 Derrick Coleman 6'0, 240

Cuts

FB2 Kiero Small 5'8, 244
RB Demitrius Bronson 5'10, 212
RB4 Spencer Ware 5'10, 225

PUP/Injured Reserve:

n/a

Notes:

Somewhat surprising that the team decides to go with four here but it makes sense with how the receiver corps has been competing. I'm guessing that both Ware and Bronson are practice squad candidates if they pass through waivers, as is Kiero Small. Ware was a favorite of mine coming out of college but he just didn't show enough this preseason to hang on to. That said, he probably didn't show enough to get claimed elsewhere either. We'll find out soon.

On the other hand, Bronson looked good -- so he's a guy they could potentially develop.

Wide Receivers (7)

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 Ricardo Lockette 6'2, 211
WR Phil Bates 6'1, 220

Cuts:

WR Bryan Walters 6'0, 190
WR Arceto Clark 5'10, 180
WR Chris Matthews 6'5, 218

PUP/Injured Reserve:

WR Taylor Price 6'1, 195
WR David Gilreath 5'10, 170

Notes:

The Seahawks ended up keeping seven receivers, just not the receivers I would have guessed. In this case, Phil Bates edged out Bryan Walters for the final spot, and Ricardo Lockette's ability as a gunner is likely why he was deemed valuable here. The departure of Walters likely means we'll see Earl Thomas returning pu--

Wait. Hold on -- the departure of Walters likely means we'll see Earl Thomas returning punts. Wow. Hold on to your butts.

Tight Ends (3)

TE1 Zach Miller 6'5, 255
TE2 Luke Willson 6'5, 260
TE3 Cooper Helfet 6'4, 240

Cuts:

TE Rashaun Allen 6'5, 250
TE Morrell Presley 6'3, 225

PUP/Injured Reserve:

TE Anthony McCoy 6'5, 275

Notes:

Evidently Helfet is healthy enough for the roster. Good news for a guy that's battled the last couple of seasons to stay on this team. That said -- I wouldn't be surprised to see the Seahawks trawl the waiver wire for another tight end.

Offensive Line (9)

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
G/T Alvin Bailey 6'3, 320
C/G Lemuel Jeanpierre 6'3, 305
T/G Justin Britt 6'6, 325
T/TE Gary Gilliam 6'6, 306
G/T Stephen Schilling 6'5, 312

Cuts:

RT Eric Winston 6'7, 302
OG Nate Isles 6'5, 348
T/G/C Caylin Hauptmann 6'3,305
C Patrick Lewis, 6'1, 302

PUP/Injured Reserve:

LT Garrett Scott 6'5, 305
OG C.J. Davis 6'3, 303

Notes:

The Hawks roll with nine on their offensive line, and they go with the youth in Garry Gilliam over the veteranosity in Eric Winston. Stephen Schilling's versatility as a center likely earned him a spot over Caylin Hauptmann.

Defensive Line Interior (6)

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

Cuts:

NT2 Andru Pulu 6'1, 322
3T/5T Jimmy Staten 6'4, 304

PUP/Injured Reserve:

3T D'Anthony Smith 6'2, 300
3T/NT/5T Jesse Williams 6'3, 315
3T/5T Michael Brooks 6'3, 275

Notes:

Nothing surprising here. Smith hurt his bicep on Friday so he will head to the IR. Staten and Pulu were on my list as potential practice squadders.

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
SLBb Bruce Irvin 6'3, 255
SLB Mike Morgan 6'3, 226

Cuts:

SLB Korey Toomer 6'2, 244
LEO/DE Benson Mayowa 6'3, 267

PUP/Injured Reserve:

n/a

Notes:

Hopefully Toomer and Mayowa can clear waivers. Otherwise, this is an exciting group of athletes. Schofield is the big wild card and could really surprise a lot of people this year. Hopefully Cassius Marsh's hip injury isn't serious. Bruce Irvin is apparently close to returning.

Linebackers (5)

WLB1 K.J.Wright 6'4, 246
MLB1 Bobby Wagner 6'0, 241
SLB1 Malcolm Smith 6'0, 230
MLB Brock Coyle 6'1, 235
WLB Kevin Pierre-Louis 6'0, 232

Cuts:

n/a

PUP/Injured Reserve:

LB Heath Farwell 6'0, 235
LB Horace Miller 6'0, 235

Notes:

Brock Coyle makes the roster as an undrafted free agent -- pretty cool. He's got a shot to be a big contributor on special teams and in goalline packages, a la Heath Farwell.

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 Marcus Burley, 5'10, 189 (via trade)
CB3 Tharold Simon 6'2, 205
FS2 DeShawn Shead 6'1, 225
SS2 Jeron Johnson 5'10, 212

Cuts:

NB Akeem Auguste 5'10, 185
SS Terrance Parks 6'2, 218
CB Phillip Adams 5'11, 195
FS Steven Terrell 5'10, 197

PUP/Injured Reserve:

NB A.J. Jefferson 6'1, 190
CB/S Eric Pinkins 6'3, 220

Notes:

Instead of choosing between Akeem Auguste and Phillip Adams for the fifth cornerback spot, the Seahawks cut both and traded for Marcus Burley. Pretty excited to dig into tape on Burley, but so far all reports are that he had a very strong preseason. Could be a very nice pickup.

Specialists (3)

P Jon Ryan 6'0, 217
LS Clint Gresham 6'3, 240
K Steven Hauschka 6'4, 210

Notes:

Yawn.