The Seattle Seahawks have turned the page on offseason workouts and with less than three weeks until training camp opens, competition for roster spots will soon be heating up.
For stars such as Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, there’s no doubt they’ll be suiting up for the season opener against the Broncos. But elsewhere on the roster, multiple spots will be up for grabs. That includes starting vacancies such as those created by the departures of defensive end Michael Bennett and safety Kam Chancellor.
With 90 players currently on the roster, which Seahawks could surprise everyone and emerge as threats to survive final roster cuts in September?
It’s still quite early and this list could change over the course of the first few weeks of training camp, but these three players have a legitimate shot to make the Seahawks roster heading into the 2018 season.
Skyler Phillips, Guard
Undrafted free agents have consistently thrived in Seattle since Pete Carroll took over as head coach in 2010. The offensive line has been no exception to this rule, as players such as Alvin Bailey, Garry Gilliam, and most recently Jordan Roos earned roster spots after going undrafted.
Known for his versatility, Phillips could be the next unheralded lineman to carve out a backup role for the Seahawks. A five-year starter at Idaho State, the 318 pound mauler started games at both tackle and guard spots. Physical at the point of attack, he used heavy hands and a powerful lower body to consistently drive defenders to the ground while also displaying light feet and adequate technique in pass protection.
Standing only 6-foot-3 with 33-inch arms, Phillips likely doesn’t have the height or length to play tackle at the next level. He will also have to adapt quickly jumping from FCS level competition to the NFL, as he’s used to manhandling inferior opponents in the Big Sky conference.
Still, Phillips provides Seattle with a fundamentally sound lineman who packs a mean punch in the run game and offers moderately polished skills as a pass protector. His ability to play multiple positions with competency gives him a fighting chance competing against Roos, guard Rees Odhiambo, and center Joey Hunt for one of the final roster spots.
Joshua Perry, Linebacker
Seattle hopes to see its undisputed leader Wagner on the field healthy for all 16 games this season. But the Seahawks learned the hard way during a gut-wrenching loss at Jacksonville last year that they need to find a reliable backup in case he goes down for any length of time.
Enter in Perry, a 2016 fourth round pick for the Chargers who could provide a quality insurance option behind Wagner. Prior to entering the NFL, the 254 pound linebacker led Ohio State with 124 tackles as a junior in 2014 and again surpassed the 100 tackle mark as a senior. Despite playing behind Denzel Perryman and Nick Dzunbar at inside linebacker as a rookie in 2016, he recorded 22 tackles in 15 games.
His second season, however, didn’t pan out as planned. A head injury landed him on the waived/injured list on September 3 and the Chargers subsequently waived him one week later after reaching an injury settlement. He quickly latched on with the Colts, but only appeared in two games before finishing the season on the practice squad and eventually being released in May.
Due to athletic limitations and issues in coverage, Perry hasn’t been able to stick with a team to this point and will be fighting for his NFL life when camp opens on July 25. But if he can contribute on special teams during the preseason, he’s a high-character tackling machine with the potential to become an upgrade over D.J. Alexander as a reserve inside linebacker for the Seahawks.
Mike Tyson, Cornerback/Safety
While the decimation of the “Legion of Boom” stings for Seahawks fans, the stage has been set for young players like Tyson to rise from the ashes and make a name for himself in Seattle’s secondary.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Tyson transitioned to cornerback as a rookie but struggled to earn snaps during the preseason. As a former college safety, Seattle viewed him as a developmental project and he spent most of the season on the practice squad until being promoted to the active roster in December.
He didn’t play a single snap as a rookie, so what gives Tyson a chance to make the team entering his second NFL season?
For one, Carroll indicated during OTA practices that Seattle had moved Tyson back to safety, his natural position. At Cincinnati, he spent a lot of time near the line of scrimmage and played at his best functioning like an extra linebacker against the run. With Kam Chancellor walking away from the game and Earl Thomas in the midst of a holdout, Tyson could receive extended preseason snaps and snag a reserve safety role.
Secondly, Seattle has plenty of question marks at cornerback after losing three former starters, including Richard Sherman. Shaquill Griffin will be penciled in as the Seahawks new No. 1 corner, but it remains to be seen who will start across from him. With so many depth questions, Tyson’s indoctrination to the position a year ago coupled with his ability to also play safety could serve him well if he’s battling for one of the last roster spots.
