All 32 NFL teams have until 4:00 p.m. Eastern time tomorrow afternoon (1:00 p.m. Pacific) to trim their 90-man offseason rosters down to 53 players in preparation for the start of the 2024 regular season. The Seattle Seahawks are no exception to the rule - and they've gotten a head start on announcing their roster cuts, with their first one just having come in.
Here's where we will be tracking reports and announcements of roster cuts until the deadline passes tomorrow.
The Seahawks just announced that undrafted rookie cornerback Willie Roberts has been released. Roberts played the last two years of his college career at Louisiana Tech, where he totaled five interceptions and 18 pass breakups in 24 games. Roberts always had an uphill battle to make the roster at this position group, which is one of the team's deepest. So deep that the Seahawks felt comfortable enough to trade Michael Jackson to the Carolina Panthers a few days ago for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett.
It appears that Roberts was considered the 90th man on the roster, as he had already been released and then re-signed earlier this week after Darrell Taylor was traded to the Chicago Bears. The Seahawks have since made another trade for Trevis Gipson with the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending a sixth-round pick back following Uchenna Nwosu's injury.
After a long delay, our second roster cut has come in. According to ESPN Seahawks beat reporter Brady Henderson, rookie cornerback D.J. James will be among the team's announced roster cuts later today. James was a sixth-round pick out of Auburn but proved to be the weakest link on defense during the preseason. As Henderson noted, he is a good candidate to return on the practice squad.
Our first surprise cut of the day comes courtesy of Tom Pelissero at NFL Network. He reports that the Seahawks intend to waive undrafted rookie running back George Holani, despite a strong preseason showing. Holani was projected to be the fourth back on the depth chart behind Ken Walker, Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh, who was just a little bit better this month and clearly has won the RB3 competition.
The Seahawks have also waived undrafted rookie Jamie Sheriff out of South Alabama. Sheriff also had a pretty solid preseason, especially the finale against Cleveland. He posted two sacks and three quarterback hits. However, it was a tough battle trying to beat two other highly-regarded UDFAs in Nelson Ceasar and Sunny Anderson for what may be the last edge spot on the roster.
The theme of quality preseason performers getting cut continues here with backup safety Ty Okada, who will also be waived according to Brady Henderson at ESPN. Okada made a brilliant dive for an interception against the Tennessee Titans two weeks ago and posted the team's third-highest overall defensive grade in the preseason according to PFF.
Seattle is also planning to waive linebacker Jon Rhattigan, per Henderson. Rhattigan went undrafted out of the Army and spent the last three years as a core special teamer for the Seahawks. However, the recent trade for rookie linebacker Michael Barrett meant that Rhattigan's roster spot was in jeopardy. With Rhattigan officially out of the picture, Barrett should be fourth on the depth chart behind Tyrel Dodson, Jerome Baker and Tyrice Knight.
Undrafted rookie linebacker Easton Gibbs out of Wyoming also tells ESPN that he's getting waived. Gibbs had already been cut once this summer, spent a minute with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and then returned to the roster. Gibbs should be a practice squad candidate.
Second-year off-ball linebacker Patrick O'Connell is also getting cut, per Henderson. O'Connell spent last season on the practice squad as a rookie.
Tom Pelissero at NFL Network is reporting wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. is also getting waived. Winston showed a good chemistry with backup quarterback Sam Howell in preseason but making the cut at wide receiver this year is going to be exceptionally tough.
Backup tight end Michael Ezeike has also been waived, per ESPN. Ezeike was really just a camp body in any case, as Seattle went into last week dealing with three separate injuries at the tight end position. He was never a realistic shot to make the initial 53-man roster.
Another undrafted rookie out of Virginia Tech, Kendricks is also getting waived, according to NFL Network. Kendricks posted seven sacks and 16 tackles for a loss in five years with the Hokies, but Seattle's interior defensive line is one of the best in the league and the only rookie who makes the cut there will be Byron Murphy II.
Eskridge gave it a good battle in his final preseason performance, but the Seahawks have finally cut ties with their former second-round draft pick, according to Jordan Schultz. Eskridge's only hope was to make the team as a return specialist, but despite scoring on a punt return touchdown over the weekend he'll lose out to Laviska Shenault and likely Dee Williams at those spots.
Former Houston edge rusher Nelson Ceasar is another borderline surprise cut. He was one of the most highly-ranked undrafted free agents in the class of 2024 and Seattle is a bit thin at this position group right now, but Tom Pelissero says he's getting waived.
Levelson is also getting the boot, according to Brady Henderson at ESPN. Levelston played his college career at SMU, totaling 11 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss. He was a long shot to make the roster at this spot but might be a practice squad candidate.
Tight end Tyler Mabry has also been waived, according to Henderson. Mabry has been with the team since 2020, on and off the practice squad mostly. He has appeared in eight games, mostly on special teams.
And in what is probably the least surprising cut of the day, third-string quarterback P.J. Walker is getting released, according to ESPN. Walker did not throw one touchdown pass in three preseason games. Meanwhile, Sam Howell had at least one very promising preseason performance, so he gets the nod to backup Geno Smith.
The team has now announced all of their cuts. Here's everybody who got waived:
- LB Sundiata Anderson
- LB Michael Barrett
- DT Kyon Barrs
- CB Lance Boykin
- LB Nelson Ceaser
- T/G McClendon Curtis
- WR Dee Eskridge
- TE Michael Ezeike
- TE Devon Garrison
- LB Easton Gibbs
- T Garret Greenfield
- WR Hayden Hatten
- RB George Holani
- CB D.J. James
- CB Carlton Johnson
- DT Mario Kendricks
- DT DeVere Levelston
- RB Kobe Lewis
- TE Tyler Mabry
- G Ilm Manning
- LB Patrick O'Connell
- S Ty Okada
- T Raiqwon O'Neal
- T Max Pircher
- LB Jon Rhattigan
- RB Kairee Robinson
- WR Ty Scott
- LB Jamie Sheriff
- WR Cody White
- WR Easop Winston Jr.
- TE Jack Westover (injured)
And here are a few vets who got released.
- S Marquise Blair
- CB Artie Burns
- LB Blake Lynch
- QB P.J. Walker
The team also placed the following players on the PUP list:
- RT Abe Lucas
- S Jerrick Reed II
- NT Cameron Young
You can find the full initial 53-man roster here.
