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Seahawks Mailbag: Rookie Contributions, WR Speed & More

You had Seahawks questions; we have answers.

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The Seahawks are in offseason mode, with players wrapping up minicamp earlier this month before enjoying some well-deserved downtime ahead of the start of training camp. But while players are off, the mailbag is always open, so it's time once again to answer some questions from you, the fans.

As always, thanks to everyone who asked questions this week, and apologies if I wasn't able to get to yours this time around. And remember, the mailbag is always open for submissions at Seahawks.com/mailbag.

Jojo from Hampton, Virginia asks, "Aside from Grey Zabel, which rookies have the chance to be Day 1 starters, and who do they replace?"

A: As Jojo's question implies, Zabel is the frontrunner to start at left guard, which would put in him position to play a big role as an every-down player. So if exclude this conversation, we're talking about 10 draft picks, plus undrafted rookies, who could potentially contribute in their first year with the team.

When it comes to starting roles, fullback Robbie Ouzts has a real shot competing against Brady Russell, and while tight end Elijah Arroyo might not be considered the No. 1 tight end in his first season, the Seahawks will use enough multiple tight end sets that he could very well still have a big role. Another name to watch as training camp unfolds is fifth-round pick Tory Horton, a receiver who likely would have been selected sooner if not for the fact that he's coming off an injury. Will Horton push Jaxon Smith-Njigba or Cooper Kupp for a starting spot? Doubtful, but if fully healthy in camp, Horton does have the speed and skillset to be in the running for a real role on offense and special teams. Then there's quarterback Jalen Milroe, who while not expected to push for the starting job in Year 1, could be an exciting part of the offense in some sub packages that highlight his athleticism.

But the name that intrigues me most when it comes to rookie contributions, aside from Zabel, is second-round pick Nick Emmanwori. With Julian Love and Coby Bryant on the team, Emmanwori probably won't be asked to start and play every down right away, but his combination of size, athleticism and playmaking ability means Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald should have plenty of ways to get Emmanwori on the field.

Already in offseason workouts, we've seen Emmanwori line up in multiple spots all over the defense, and Macdonald has used plenty three-safety looks in his defenses over the years when that position is a strength on the roster, which it appears to be for the Seahawks.

Andy from Bellingham asks, "With three rookie O-linemen coming in in the draft, several holdovers from last year, including the "old guy" Charles Cross with three years of experience, are the Seahawks confident in who they have and in John Benton's ability to mold them?"

A: The Seahawks will likely have at least two returning starters in tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas, while three other returning players, center Olu Oluwatimi and guards Anthony Bradford and Sataoa Laumea are competing to win the starting roles they held for part of last season. With Zabel added to the mix at left guard, the Seahawks are counting on a mixture of incoming talent, the growth of young players like Bradford, Christian Haynes and versatile lineman Jalen Sundell to make that an improved group from last season. There's also the consideration that Lucas, who returned late last season and was far from 100 percent, is healthier than he's been for most of his NFL career, meaning he should be a better version of himself at right tackle.

But beyond those personnel improvements, the Seahawks are also expecting changes in scheme and coaching to make a big difference. As players and coaches have discussed since Klint Kubiak was hired as offensive coordinator, the Seahawks plan to run the ball more effectively and more often than they did last season, which always makes life easier on a lineman compared to when an offense is as pass-heavy as Seattle's 2024 offense was.

Offensive line coach John Benton, run game coordinator Rick Dennison and run game specialist/assistant offensive line coach Justin Outten all bring considerable NFL experience, particularly Dennison and Benton, and are well respected teachers of line play, so regardless of who is on the field, the Seahawks will expect coaching to help get more out of that position group.

@seasidejoenews asks, "How many wide receivers will the Seahawks keep an who is the lead for the last spot?"

A: Traditionally the Seahawks have kept five or six in most seasons, so that's a good starting point. As is always the case, the final number can hinge a lot on special teams play, as well as health heading into the roster cut deadline. This season could see the Seahawks go a little bit lighter at receiver than they have in recent years given that Kubiak's offense relies on more multiple tight-end sets and fewer three-receiver sets than recent Seahawks offenses have, but again, those final spots could very easily come down to who is doing the most on special teams at multiple position groups.

As for who earns those spots, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp are secure in the top two spots, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling currently looks like the frontrunner for the No. 3 spot, though Jake Bobo or rookie Tory Horton could push for that spot. Beyond that, it's too soon to say how things shake out, though two names to remember when it comes to special teams contributions are players who have shined in that phase already in their NFL careers, Dareke Young and Cody White, then there's also as Steven Sims, a free-agent signing who will compete for the kick and punt return jobs, as well as rookie Ricky White III, who was a special teams standout at UNLV.

Already that's eight players who could make a case, and there are others who could always pop in the preseason and training camp, which is why these roster decisions are always so tough.

@curtis93969 asks, "How do you think the Seahawks will handle three quarterbacks on the gameday roster? It would appear Milroe will get snaps in packages, so do they make Lock the emergency third QB, or use a gameday roster spot?"

A: This is an interesting questions, particularly because the Seahawks have more often than not only carried two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster in recent years, meaning the third-quarterback question wasn't one they had to consider very often.

As a reminder for those not familiar with the rule, teams can declare an emergency third quarterback on gameday if that player is on their 53-man roster, meaning he doesn't count towards the limit of 48-active players, but that he can only play in the event that the other two quarterbacks become unavailable. That means if the Seahawks want to use Jalen Milroe in some special packages, he has to be active on gameday and can't be that third quarterback. The question then would become whether the Seahawks feel comfortable that Milroe is ready to be the No. 2 quarterback who could be an every-down player were something to happen to starter Sam Darnold, or whether they prefer Drew Lock in that role. If it's the former, then the Seahawks could have another spot available on the gameday roster by making Lock the emergency third quarterback, but if it's the latter, then they'd just need to make room for three quarterbacks on the gameday roster.

LeeAnn from Walla Walla asks, "I really like videos like "The Sound," will there be more episodes coming soon?"

A: Indeed, there will be more exclusive behind-the-scenes videos coming from our creative team later this summer. Returning this year will be both the "Before The Noise" series, featuring a look at the people who help build the roster, and "The Sound" which will focus on off-the-field stories as well as in-depth game coverage.

I have nothing to do with those video features, so this is not a self-serving plug, but thank you, LeeAnn, for giving me the chance to remind folks to check out the outstanding work done by some of my talented co-workers.

@rosebug22.bsky.social asks, "Will we ever see retro uniforms becoming the regular ones?"

A: Ever? I can't really answer that. This year? Sorry, throwbacks will remain an alternate uniform, not the team's primary one. It is worth noting here, however, that the league changed its rules on alternate uniforms this year, allowing teams to wear alternates a total of four times, so there could be room for more throwback games after the Seahawks wore them twice each of the past two seasons. It has already been announced that the Seahawks, along with other NFC West teams, will wear new "Rivalries Uniforms" at some point in 2025, so that will take up one of the four alternate uniform games, but the Seahawks could still wear their throwback three times if they wanted to.

@juttski.bsky.social asks, "Do the Seahawks need another speed threat outside to have a top 15 offense?"

A: As general manager and president of football operations John Schneider noted after the Seahawks signed Valdes-Scantling, the idea was to get a player who can take the top off a defense to help open things up for Smith-Njigba and Kupp, so the Seahawks understood speed was a need after trading DK Metcalf. Whether Valdes-Scantling is the player to provide that, or perhaps rookie Tory Horton, who ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine despite limited time to train due to knee surgery during the 2024 season, the Seahawks have some legit speed options. There's also tight end Elijah Arroyo, who has the speed to be a legitimate vertical threat to stress defenses.

While none of those speed options will be expected to replace Metcalf's production, the Seahawks hope would be that those players can all make contributions while also stretching the defense to allow Kupp and Smith-Njigba to work. And while neither Smith-Njigba nor Kupp blew scouts away with their 40 times coming out of college, both have shown plenty of ability to get open and make plays on deep balls even if they aren't considered elite speed threats, a good reminder that there is a lot more to being productive at receiver than straight-line speed.

erocy.world asks, "What kind of realistic scenario is there for two fullbacks to be rostered and what other roster implications would that bring?"

A: While carrying two fullbacks in today's NFL might seem unusual at first glance, it wouldn't be that shocking to see the Seahawks do it in 2025. For starters, Kubiak has made it clear that a fullback will be a significant part of the offense, so having some depth there is important. And another big factor will be special teams play. Brady Russell has been on the roster the past two seasons as a tight and, and now he is listed as a fullback, but his main contribution in games have come on special teams, so regardless of what position he is listed at, he very well could be viewed as worthy of a spot even if rookie Robbie Ouzts is the starting fullback. And the same could be said if the roles are reversed—if Russell wins the starting job, a physical, athletic player with good size like Ouzts could certainly prove his worth on special teams even if he's not a big contributor on offense right away. It's worth remembering when it comes to roster building that, when it comes to a fifth or sixth receiver or cornerback, or a fifth linebacker or fourth safety, those players are often competing with each other based on their special teams play as much as they are with players at their own position group. So if Ouzts and Russell are both top special teams players, the Seahawks could easily keep a second fullback and have one fewer player at another spot.

@NicBodifordNFL asks, "If both Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet are both healthy, how do you see the backfield roles and touches to shakeout?"

A: To borrow a running gag from former coach Pete Carroll… very well.

Which is to say, if the Seahawks have their top two running backs healthy all season, given how much they plan on running the ball, that would be great for the offense.

Given how productive he has been when healthy, Walker will presumably be the starter when the season kicks off, but Charbonnet has also been really effective, and should see plenty of action if the Seahawks are able to run the ball the way they expect to this season. There's no way to predict the division of touches and play time this early, but again, both should be plenty busy in Kubiak's offense, and if any injuries do happen, the Seahawks feel really good about their options having two proven starting-caliber players in Walker and Charbonnet, as well as strong young depth options like Kenny McIntosh, George Holani and rookie Damien Martinez.

Check out the best photos from the Seahawks offseason workout program that began in April and ended after the team's mandatory minicamp in June.

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