Seahawks practice squad candidates from across the NFL

After all 32 franchises cut their rosters down to 53 players from 90 for Saturday’s 1 pm deadline, they now switch their focus to waivers and filling out their practice squads.

The waiver claim period will end on Sunday morning at 9 am PST and then at 10 am PST, teams can begin to officially fill out their 10-man practice squads.

As always, the Seattle Seahawks’ initial practice squad will be made up of both players who were on the Seahawks’ preseason roster, and those who were waived across the league on Saturday.

Before we look around the league, here’s a few players who were on Seattle’s 90-man roster who impressed or are worth hanging onto, and could return on the practice squad: Alex McGough, Amara Darboh, Tyrone Swoopes, Jake Pugh, Akeem King, Jeremy Boykins, Lorenzo Jerome and Skyler Phillips.

Who from around the NFL might help fill out the group?

Christian Campbell, CB

A rookie from Penn State, Campbell has the exact kind of size and athletic profile Seattle targets in corners. Six feet, 195 pounds with 33 1/2” arms, Campbell had the second longest arm length among all corners on the Seahawks Draft Board this past spring.

Campbell was waived after being selected in the sixth round by the Arizona Cardinals, and they’ll likely attempt to bring Campbell back to their own practice squad. With Pete Carroll’s track record of developing corners, perhaps Campbell can be swayed to move on. You can read a further in-depth look at Campbell here.

Joe Williams, RB

Williams went from off the San Francisco 49ers’ draft board to being selected by them in the fourth round in last year’s draft. After suffering an ankle injury, Williams missed all of his rookie season.

At 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Williams has the body type of a Seahawks running back, and the explosiveness — with a 10’9” broad jump and a 35” vertical. However, with six backs on the active roster, Seattle may not be in the market for another, and following an injury to Jerrick McKinnon, Williams may be re-signed to the 49ers’ active roster.

Godwin Igwebuike and Natrell Jamerson, S

One of the most athletic safeties on the Seahawks Draft Board, Igwebuike had the best three cone among all safeties at the combine this past spring. After going undrafted, Igwebuike signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who guaranteed him a large a sum for a UDFA ($100k).

At 5’11” and 213 pounds, Igwebuike is a great candidate to come into Seattle’s program and be molded into a specific type of player Carroll has in mind. After trading for Shalom Luani, the Seahawks may be full in terms of developmental defensive back prospects. However, both Igwebuike and Jamerson have enticing physical profiles.

Jamerson, a 5’10”, 201 pound safety, was waived by the New Orleans Saints after being selected in the fifth round this past spring. Jamerson fits into Seattle’s profile for a safety, and the team dined with him following his Wisconsin pro day.

Donovan Olumba, CB

Olumba flew under the radar during the pre-draft process this year, overshadowed even by his own Portland State teammate Chris Seisay.

However, he’s a 6’1”, 200 pound corner with 32 7/8” arms, who just spent training camp and preseason with Kris Richard in Dallas. Olumba wouldn’t be entering Carroll’s system without a foundation of knowledge. Additionally, Seattle was on hand for his pro day this year.

Tarvarus McFadden, CB

Another Seahawk-y cornerback at 6’2” and 204 pounds, with 32 1/2” arms, McFadden was the victim of a brutal pre-draft process that left him as an undrafted free agent. However, McFadden was a productive, above-average starter on a good Florida State defense, and he was once viewed a potential day one or two selection.

After going undrafted, McFadden impressed in San Francisco, but the 9ers’ young, talented pool of cornerbacks pushed him out. It wouldn’t be suprising to see McFadden land on another team’s active roster, but he would be an attractive option in Seattle. You can read a further in-depth report on McFadden here.

Joe Ostman, EDGE

Another player too talented to have gone undrafted, Ostman landed in a great situation in Philadelphia, however the Eagles’ defensive front was simply too deep to break into. At Central Michigan, Ostman was highly productive, posting 14 sacks, four forced fumbles and 20.5 tackles for loss in 11 games in 2017.

Aside from height (6’2”), Ostman passes all of the Seahawks’ athletic thresholds for defensive ends. Among defensive ends in the NFL, Ostman is above the 80th percentile in three cone, broad jump and vertical jump. He’s productive, athletic and may draw the attention of Seattle on waivers.

Reports of the Seahawks’ practice squad signings should begin to come in on Sunday morning, between 9-10 am. The entire 10-man unit should be filled out and reported, officially or unofficially, by Sunday afternoon.