Seahawks UDFAs (Offense)
Let's familiarize ourselves with Seahawks undrafted free agents on offense: Seaside Joe 1926
There is a local video store—yes, a real place that I actually go to to rent physical media just like in the days of Blockbuster Video—and every time I’m there I also buy one or two extra items like a blu-ray, a poster, or even an album because they sell those too. I don’t “need” the things I’m buying, but I do need something: I need the video store to live! I want to support the video store, so I buy stuff while I’m there as a way to “donate” to their continued existence, just as I will buy overpriced popcorn, drinks, and food at the local cinema because I like going to the movies and am not ready for theatrical extinction.
In my opinion, it is better for the video store and the movie theaters to have a little bit of my money than for that money to sit in an account for years and do nothing. Movies give a lot more to me than I give back to them, but it took me a long time to realize how much it mattered that I always pay them for the work so that they continue to do more of the thing that entertains me for thousands of hours per life.
If you want to support Seaside Joe’s continued existence, it’s only $5 per month for Regular Joes and $10 per month for Super Joes. That’s like one year of Seaside Joe (400+ newsletters about your favorite NFL team) for the same price as one date at the movies. Also, think about this: If you read Joe for 5 minutes per day, that’s the same as watching 20 90-minute movies per year. What’s the price for being entertained by 20 movies? If you see those movies in theaters, it could be over $400. Even if you rent those movies for $3.99, that’s $80. That’s only if you read Seaside Joe for 5 minutes per day, which is a conservative, low estimate. This is a bargain:
And if you’re still unsure I’ll just add one more thing: I’m on vacation this weekend and you’re still getting a newsletter about the Seahawks!
Speaking of which…
QB - None
Thus far, the Seahawks have opted to keep just two quarterbacks on the roster, Geno Smith and Sam Howell. Theoretically, this will change because Seattle doesn’t want Geno to play in the preseason and definitely wants to have someone added who will probably even start at least one of the Seahawks preseason games.
(PJ Walker was added after the article was written)
RB
George Holani
He lost ground to teammate Ashton Jeanty, one of the top running backs in the country, and then missed six games due to injury after getting injured in Week 1 against (Ryan Grubb’s) Washington Huskies. But George Holani had a productive 5-year career at Boise State and in the L.A. Bowl against UCLA, outgained Jeanty 138-to-85 on the same number of carries, plus a 45-yard catch. He could push Kenny McIntosh to prove who is the third running back this season thanks to his backfield receiving skills.
If Holani isn’t RB3 though, he could still win a spot on the roster as RB4. However, with two capable starters already on the roster, Seattle never wants to be in position to have to hand the ball to McIntosh or Holani unless they really need to do it for bad reasons.
The Seahawks didn’t really keep a fourth running back in 2023, as Nick Bellore is really more of a comedic YouTuber than he is a fullback.
TaMerik Williams
A former three-star recruit who originally went to SMU, Williams transferred to North Dakota State (the Trey Lance/Carson Wentz school) in 2021 after he had been pushed out of a role at his first stop. At NDSU, Williams at least had a very consistent career:
NFLDraftDiamonds had this to say (for longer explanation, click the link):
1 yr full-time starter at RB in the gap/zone blocking scheme of NDST where he receives approximately 8-10 carries per game. He possesses good height with very good weight and ordinary speed with solid length and a muscular build. He is an average athlete showing a combination of good balance with average COD, explosiveness, acceleration, lateral quickness, and agility with average top-end play speed. He displays sufficient vision as he finds the open hole on IZ/OZ and exhibits solid patience in waiting for his blocks to be set up on power runs.
Without training camp and preseason, it’s tough to judge which if any of these undrafted running back could be standing out. It’s too easy to me to say that any one of them, including Holani, is at an “advantage” right now. It’s an uphill climb for all undrafted free agents.
Kobe Lewis
As you can see, it hasn’t been a smooth ride for Kobe Lewis:
At his pro day, the 5’9, 208 lbs Lewis ran a 4.56 with a 1.58 10-yard split and had a 35” vertical. Even making the practice squad would be impressive given that Lewis has not even rushed for 1,000 yards in the past four years combined.
WR
Hayden Hatten
Listed as a tight end coming out of high school, Hatten chose the University of Idaho over offers from Army, Brown, Columbia, and Louisville. Not sure how Louisville got in there. His last two seasons have been so impressive that a Vandals player is now “in” the NFL:
Hatten was named the ADA FCS Wide Receiver of the Year in 2022 after catching 16 touchdowns on 83 receptions with 1,209 yards. Hatten got a little of attention in Seattle’s rookie minicamp report by The Athletic:
"The quarterback play made it difficult to evaluate the wide receivers, but one of the guys who stood out was Idaho’s Hayden Hatten, who hooked up with [Chevan] Cordeiro (UDFA quarterback that was released from the team on Wednesday) a few times during the team periods. On Saturday, he created separation from [Nehemiah] Pritchett (Seahawks' rookie cornerback taken in the 5th round of the 2024 Draft) on a comeback route and caught a pass from Cordeiro for a decent gain. Seattle has plenty of talent at receiver, but there’s occasionally a guy who comes out of nowhere and makes an impression. Hatten might be that guy this offseason," Dugar said.
Hatten’s most impressive physical attribute wis a 39” vertical jump, but his 4.63 40-yard dash—while not as bad as Jake Bobo—is still pretty bad. Given that the Seahawks already have Bobo, it’s hard to find room for another possession receiver/special teamer like that.
Dee Williams
Dee Williams is making the transition to receiver after a career spent at cornerback, but the actual move here seems to be looking for Seattle’s kick returner under the NFL’s new rules.
If I was an undrafted free agent at ANY position, I would still prefer that my greatest attribute had to do with special teams in some capacity. For that reason, Dee Williams seems to have higher odds to make the Seahawks than literally any undrafted free agent who wasn’t added to compete on special teams. Williams may not get as much recognition or money if he’s successful in that role compared to an offensive or defensive position, but he’ll have the most important thing of all: A job.
He was recruited to the University of Tennessee as a defensive back but signed an undrafted free-agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks as a wide receiver. He went through rookie minicamp with the team, which is a good sign for him potentially returning for voluntary offseason activities if the team opts to bring him back.
While Tennessee couldn't find a consistent role for him on offense or defense, Williams was too athletically gifted to keep off the field. His change of direction skills were a major asset for Tennessee on special teams, and special teamers consistently find roles with NFL franchises, and Williams was one of the best in the country. Volunteer Country will continue to update Williams's NFL status as we learn more.
TE/FB
Jack Westover
Westover made the roster in my previous article, “What if the Seahawks constructed a 53-man roster like the Ravens?” because he’s the closest comparison for how Baltimore uses fullback Patrick Ricard.
His experience with Ryan Grubb is also considered an advantage. But I always keep in mind with situations like this is that keeping an unexpected player is a 1-for-1: Who won’t make the team so that Westover can make the team? Especially given that Seattle has three tight ends who seem like locks to make the 53, so is Westover going to be all that necessary unless he does hold down a fullback/special teams role?
OL
Garret Greenfield
Offensive linemen are still the hardest to quantify and understand via text, but here’s a rundown of Greenfield’s career accolades at South Dakota State:
Michael Novitsky
And Mike Novitsky’s career at Kansas:
Let’s be really rational about these offensive linemen—and all the undrafted free agents in general—by saying that nobody should get their hopes up until a player gives us a great reason to do so. That reason isn’t being signed by the team or even standing out in the offseason practices. It’s first by MAKING the 53-man roster (look at Kasen Williams in 2015 and all the preseason noise about the impact he was having, only to not make the roster and not have an NFL career to speak of) and then by hanging on for at least a couple of years.
The 2024 draft class was considered “weak” outside of the top-100 because NIL agreements were getting players paid and incentivizing typical day three picks to go back to school. This means that a lot of day three picks were graded as undrafted free agents, and therefore a lot of undrafted free agent signings might actually be tryout players—or no-tryout/XFL players—in previous years.
These players need to leap over a lot of other players before having a real chance at the 53-man roster, but at least now we know their names before we say if they do or don’t deserve that opportunity.
Share these posts with other Seahawks fans if you think they’d like Seaside Joe.
Since you're on vacation, I'll add this for you:
-UPDATE- QB P.J. Walker signs with the Seahawks, most likely as a camp arm, but possibly could stick on the practice squad. He is not to be confused with P.J. Washington who is playing for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals currently. Although his 3 point shooting percentage couldn't be any worse than Washington's is to this point, so maybe Seattle will flip him to the Mavs for cash and future considerations. Walker was a desperation spot fill-in for a couple of games for Cleveland last year. He has been a career backup and bounced around and into and out-of the league for the past 5-6yrs. QBR rating of 60 for his NFL career with 46% completion, although he was the XFL's leading passer before going to Cleveland.
I like Westover and have my fingers crossed he can make the roster. A few years experience he could develop into a useful utility player across the offence and ST. Tricky year for the offensice UDFA's to break through as the unit has a lot of strength and depth as it is, but someone always surprises! Based on the above Greenfield could be a real surprise, even if he doesn't make the roster, as a training squad player with eyes on next year.