NFL roster cuts: Top Practice Squad candidates for the Seattle Seahawks

(Editor’s note: Everyone welcome Jer’rel Coleman to the Field Gulls staff!)

The shock and revelation of the initial 53-man roster is all but ingested for many of us at this point. That doesn’t mean that’s the end of the story for many of us fans, and especially not for the team itself. The cutdown day to 53 players is but a step in the forging of this roster. There is a good chance that there will be roster promotions, further cuts and possibly waiver claims before the season starts.

Whether or not the Seattle Seahawks makes any claims or signings from other teams’ cuts, the next important step will be the formation of a practice squad. This will be a fluid and changing list during the season, as the Seahawks have a number of players within their orbit who take part in their yearly sojourn. One example is that 4th/5th string UDFA TE (Nick Kallerup) may be on this list in the future, but for now, he made the initial 53-man roster. We should expect to see bottom of the roster churn, as that’s what good teams do to aid with injuries, motivation and weekly game plan changes.

Even if they aren’t on the primary roster, many of these guys will be integral in the preparation and attitude of this team. A good portion will get a chance to play, at least on special teams, during the season. This is a group of 16 players (17 if you have an International Pathway Player (IPP)), six of whom can have any more than 2 years of NFL experience. That last stipulation doesn’t seem like it would be a stressor for this young crew. Let’s take a look at strong candidates from this offseason, to become selections to the Seattle Seahawks 2025 practice squad.

Candidates who could get claimed

Reed was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in his first year, but had his first couple years marred by injuries. This year, he scored the 3rd-highest grade from Pro Football Focus among all Seahawks defenders this preseason. A strong special-teams contributor… if he doesn’t sprint over to Vegas and the HC who selected him. Pete Carroll said of him, after he was drafted: “He’s a runner and a hitter.” Martinez and White were both draft picks this year, so both hold some intrigue for eyes around the NFL. George Holani simply would not be denied the final running back roster spot this year.

Candidates who ‘should’ make it to the practice squad

O’Connell was one of the more surprising cuts, after looking solid at times manning the middle during the preseason slate. Seattle has slipped him through waivers before, so that may have been the thought process. Pili is the 333+-pound man who got a safety this past preseason and was tag team partners with an even bigger dude in Bohanna. With Johnathan Hankins battling injuries, these two may be needed for run clogging duties. Smith was a 2022 5th-round pick who was all over the field in the preseason’s first matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Laumea is a 6th-round sophomore who beat out a 3rd-rounder from his draft class to start in six games last year. He is one of the few true guards left over. Sherriff racked up 4.5 sacks over the last two preseasons in Seattle, split between ILB and OLB as a versatile and tantalizing piece. Let him earn it Mike, the production is there!

Candidates who are on the fringe, with league-wide competition

I was higher on Kight than most pundits, as it seemed like he was mostly solid on both sides of the line. Singleton earned the second-highest PFF grade on the Seahawks defense (91) in the preseason Week 2 game against the Green Bay Packers (behind only Okada and his questionable INT), so he could be of interest. Wright certainly had some flashes as a piece of the Seahawks’ (preseason) league-leading rushing attack. Since Seattle only included three off-ball linebackers in its initial 53-man roster, I could see going heavy there on the Practice Squad. Tuputala was a late entrant to the competition but comported himself somewhat well in a quick turn preseason finale. Williams may have earned a spot with his versatility in the secondary, and the fact that Tyler Hall and Shemar Jean-Charles both dealt with injuries.

The above listed names of 17 players would give Seattle coverage on all three levels of both the offense and the defense. There will undoubtedly be some upsets (as we learned with the roster) and new additions entering the mix, but based on game performance and camp reports, this young group could be ready to contribute in their unique own ways. The 12’s are getting closer and closer to a full view of the cast of characters that will usher us along the river of this year’s NFL season. It’ll inevitably get rough at points, but it is encouraging to see Mike Macdonald’s vision for the team and its key rowers coming together more fully in his second year at the helm.