Hard Knocks brought back the finale segment of telling players they got cut but they did it in the 2026 way, which means that instead of showing Seahawks getting “bad news”, they framed it as John Schneider giving them good news. “Congratulations, you might make our ‘ready’ squad.”
Well, some of them did and not necessarily for long.
For example, Hard Knocks showed running back Justin Jones getting the news that he was not on the 53-man roster, but it didn’t feel like he was getting bad news. However, Jones wasn’t signed back to the practice squad and he’s still a free agent.
On the show we also saw players like Ricky White III, Aidan Hubbard, and Hard Knocks star Uso Seumalo find out that even if their time wasn’t now, they’d be on the “ready squad” and were still valuable members of the “70-man roster” (this irrationally bothered me because it’s actually a 71-man roster with the exception for Federico Marenges) going into Week 1.
I know that getting cut doesn’t mean that you won’t be brought back, but it took less than a week for Seumalo to get released. Seattle took Seumalo off of the ready squad to make room for Bobby Hart, the offensive lineman who the Seahawks released and didn’t sign to the initial practice squad on Monday.
Schneider and company reiterated several times throughout the episode that being cut doesn’t mean you’re off the team for good, that those players should always be ready for a call in the future (just ask Bobby Hart), but there is still a harsh reality (“hard knocks” so to speak) left on the cutting room floor of those claims: As I showed you from last year’s initial Seattle practice squad, most of those players are out of the league, whether they know it or not. They didn’t get another call.
Uso Seumalo isn’t out of the NFL.
That’s something I’m pretty sure about. Seumalo wasn’t drafted and he didn’t make the Seahawks 53-man roster and he’s already dealing with his first release from a practice squad before the first week, but there’s a very good chance he will be signing with a team soon, whether it’s Seattle or someone else.
Hart fills a much more obvious need for the Seahawks because Josh Jones is the only backup tackle on the roster. Seumalo fills no needs. Not right now.
But if Hard Knocks can bring back players who got cut, so can John Schneider.
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Samuel Garfield: Am I too late? I have questions.
No, you’re not too late. Thanks for the question.
(Just kidding. Pulling one of those “three wishes” jokes where the person uses up all their wishes on asking about wishes.)
Samuel Garfield: I already asked you for your “hottest take” earlier, but can we expand it to general “bold predictions” for the 2026 season? I trust Joe’s Bold Predictions more than any ESPN hack.
If I recall correctly, my hottest take was picking the Titans to make the playoffs. Something I already regret.
A quote usually attributed to Yogi Berra: "It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future."
A relationship I’m curious to see develop this season is the one between Saints head coach Kellen Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough. He could soon be the best quarterback in the division, but the loss of Jordyn Tyson for two months has depleted the receivers room to the nth degree.
I’m curious if we might see a team go 0-17. The Dolphins, the Jets, the Cardinals, the Browns, and (sigh) the Titans would all strike me as capable of it. Maybe the Raiders too.
If there’s a “Jaxon Smith-Njigba” leap somewhere, what do we think about Emeka Egbuka being a sleeper to get 1,700 receiving yards? And a sleeper to take a big step forward in rushing yards: Blake Corum. He’s not even the Rams starter, but Kyren Williams has somewhat of an injury history and Corum is just more talented anyway.
I’ve already gone on record with Byron Murphy II as a sleeper to get 15 sacks. It’s a stretch, honestly. Murphy would be going above and beyond if he just reaches double-digits. But we haven’t seen what Murphy is capable of if Mike Macdonald unleashes him like he unleashed Nnamdi Madubuike in 2023 (13 sacks). Jalyx Hunt of the Eagles is another name to watch for potentially doubling his sack total (6.5) from last year.
The hottest coaching name on the market in January? Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker. That’s my prediction for who will be widely regarded as the next Mike Macdonald. Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase is likely to be tabbed as the next branch from Sean McVay.
And a “surprise” contender to be in the AFC Championship? (Since I’ve already been adamant about my belief in the Lions as contenders in the NFC, alongside Seattle and L.A..) Most people would only make a half-hearted step like the Bengals, Jaguars, Chargers, etc.. Meh. We already know which teams are popular sleepers.
I don’t think I really believe this, but how about the Pittsburgh Steelers? I do think that Mike Tomlin was holding them back, if for no other reason than simply having too long of a run, which is exactly what happened to Pete Carroll. The Steelers just won the division last year and nobody really likes them at all. If there was ever a time for Pittsburgh, and similarly Aaron Rodgers, to break out of their playoff funk, it would be when nobody expects it.
What are your bold predictions?
Samuel Garfield: The Seahawks have their 2026 starting roster. What’s Seaside Joe’s starting all-time favorite players roster? Based on whatever criteria you use to decide who your faves are; doesn’t have to be on the Seahawks!
Well, I can’t do a whole roster but I’d never do a “personal favorites” team without Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback, Walter Jones at left tackle, and Mack Strong at fullback. I’d have to have Marcus Trufant for the double-whammy Seahawks-Cougars at cornerback, so let’s do the same for Abe Lucas at right tackle. Marshawn Lynch at running back, Doug Baldwin as a slot receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba on the outside and opposite of Joey Galloway. Few Seahawks fans could leave off Kam Chancellor from such a roster, and on that note Kenny Easley.
Leon Washington and Percy Harvin returning kicks. Brandon Mebane and Michael Bennett on the defensive line. Bobby Wagner and Lofa Tatupu at linebacker. Devon Witherspoon as the inside-outside option at corner. I don’t know why, but Chris Gray is the first name to come to mind at guard besides that obvious Hall of Famer. Gray played some center too, so maybe he could slot there and then you’d have Steve Hutchinson and Grey Zabel. Call the middle of the offensive line “The Gray Area”.
A.J. Barner is quickly ascending the franchise’s all-time tight end list. I know I’m leaving off players like Steve Largent, he was just slightly before my time.
I think what strikes me most about the history of the Seahawks is that they’ve always had this blind spot for edge rushers. Aside from Jacob Green, nobody has been very dominant for very long. To the point where DeMarcus Lawrence’s name popped in my head as an option after only one season. Cliff Avril is certainly in the running too, but I got Julian Peterson’s jersey at a Ross once so I could never forget him.
I said I couldn’t do a whole roster, that wasn’t quite true. And you said I didn’t have to only pick Seahawks, but I’m not crazy, I know what time it is.
IdahoFred: It seems like a bunch of the players we cut are signing with other teams. I seem to recall one or two signing with other teams but this year it seems like more than usual?
Here’s what I’ve seen:
Jared Ivey claimed by the Falcons (53)
Noah Igbinoghene signed with the Browns (53)
Cody White signed with the Raiders’ practice squad
Jamie Sheriff signed with the Rams’ practice squad
Does it seem unusual? Not really. There were 24 players claimed after final cuts, so that’s something that happened to more than half of the league. Then having a veteran sign with another team’s 53, it happens. White was picked up by Seattle’s former offensive coordinator on a team that might have the worst receivers room in the league. L.A. picked up one of Seattle’s leftovers, which isn’t much different than the Seahawks picking up Derion Kendrick last year.
“Unusual” would be if 3 or 4 players were actually claimed on the waiver wire. That feels like what happened to the Seahawks back in the 2013 era. This is more like the Seahawks didn’t like Igbinoghene as much as they hoped they would, but Cleveland is far more desperate. If the Seahawks had not gone out and signed Trevon Diggs and Terrion Arnold, Igbinoghene might have made the team, even though those other corners aren’t able to play yet.
Ryan: Should we expect any more contract news for current Seahawks in the next two weeks? Thinking of Nwosu, Darnold restructure (not needed?), Jason Myers
I could be telling tales out of school, I see no need for the Seahawks ($27 million in cap space) to restructure Sam Darnold’s contract. For those who don’t know, a restructure means taking a player’s salary and turning it into a signing bonus in order to save cap space. Seattle would have to take about $11 million of Darnold’s due salary and pay it to him today. They’ve already paid out nearly $400 million in cash in 2026. I don’t know if they want to do that for Darnold when they don’t have any reason to save cap space.
I’m not envisioning an extension for Myers coming off of his worst career preseason. Maybe let him get his confidence back first, if possible? Hopefully not hurting his confidence if they hesitate though.
I think so far I’m the only person who has broached the idea of extending Uchenna Nwosu, but perhaps Schneider reads Seaside Joe; I’m not going to lie, I kept praying that somehow we’d get a screenshot from Hard Knocks of Schneider reading Seaside Joe on his treadmill desk.
Alas…One of you will have to share it with him.
My bold prediction is that Jason missed more kicks in preseason than he will all year.
Not sure if that is a prediction so much as trying to speak it into existence.
GO HAWKS!
My bold prediction doesn’t seem bold to me, but was met with skepticism by most field gulls writers and readers. I think the Seahawks will be better than last year’s team. They have too many rookies, 1st and 2nd year players who are now 2nd, 3rd and 4th year players who will be better to significantly better than last year. I’m sticking with 15 wins and 2 losses, but I have my eye on week 6. If they are undefeated going into week 6 and can win a very tough game on the road in Denver on 4 days rest after a game against a division rival, I think the possibility of a historic 17 and 0 season is very possible. Despite what people are saying, the Seahawks are the best team in the NFL, and I believe Fleury will improve on the offense over last year, and no way MM’s defense in year three isn’t significantly better than last year’s top defense. Week one is always subject to wide variability - just look at last year’s Super Bowl champions in week one. But I see them beating to Pats by 3 scores or more (18+ points)