The Seattle Seahawks finalized their 53 man roster Saturday after Head Coach Peter Carroll and General ManagerJohn Schneider made some classic riverboat gambler moves that caught pretty much everyone off guard.
DEFENSIVE REINFORCEMENTS
With Defensive lineman Jarran Reed suspended for the first six games their have been questions about the quality and depth of the Seahawks defensive line. With Reed out for nearly half of the season the Seahawk brought in Ziggy Ansah to aide first round draft pick L.J. Collier and Poona Ford. Collier suffered a high ankle sprain during the offseason and is racing to return for week One. Ansah has been rehabbing a shoulder injury and trying to be ready for Week One. With a lot of question marks surround the D-line it’s no wonder the Hawks pulled the trigger and went for the Texans Jadeveon Clowney.
HOW THE DEAL WAS DONE
 Seahawks sent the Texans a 2020 third-round pick, Barkevious Mingo and Jacob Martin in Saturday’s blockbuster deal. This a heist and a half for the Seahawks. Mingo was going to be cut so the team could save $4.1 in cap space and Martin was projected to be a role player. The drawback for the Seahawks is that they cannot negotiate with Clowney who is on his last year until the end of the season. If Clowney walks at the end of the season the Seahawks would be entitled to a compesatory pick.
PARRY NICKERSON PICKED UP TO ADD DEPTH TO DEFENSIVE BACKS UNIT
The Seahwks also aquired cornerback Parry Nickerson from the New York Jets for a conditional 2021 seventh-round pick. Nickerson was a sicth -round drafr pick out of Tulane in 208 and plaued all 26 games last year and started two. Nickerson will come in and compete for the nickle spot with Ugo Amadi and Akeem King.
53 MAN ROSTER
Quarterback (1): Russell Wilson
Comment: This will change in the next few days and with odds on the Seahawks resigning Geno Smith who is a free agent and does not need to go thru the waiver process.
Running Back (4): Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny, C.J. Prosise, Travis Homer
Comment: Carson and Penn were always going to be keepers with Homerâs ability to play special teams and Prosise finally shedding the injury bug landed them roster spots.
Receiver (6): Tyler Lockett, David Moore, DK Metcalf, Gary Jennings, John Ursua, Malik Turner
Comment: A bit of surprise here with news of Jaron Brown being released. Brownâs is a salary savings of $2.75 million He had a promising camp and looked to be neck and neck with Jennings , Ursua and Turner. Moore is expected to miss the early part of the season giving everyone behind Lockett a chance to prove themselves.
Tight End (3): Will Dissly, Nick Vannett, Ed Dickson
Comment: Dickson had knee surgery during training camp so he very well could end up on the injured reserve list which would allow the Hawks to bring in another tight end. Still surprised at the release of Jacob Hollister.
Offensive Line (9): Duane Brown, Mike Iupati, Justin Britt, D.J. Fluker, Germain Ifedi, Ethan Pocic, Joey Hunt, Jamarco Jones, George Fant
Comment: The starting five have been solid all camp with Pocic looking capable to step in for Lupati who has seen limited time at the left guard position
Defensive Line (8): Jadeveon Clowney Ziggy Ansah, L.J. Collier, Branden Jackson, Rasheem Green, Quinton Jefferson, Poona Ford, Bryan Mone, Al Woods
Comment: Clowney and Collier could catapult this group to be one of the best in the division and the return of a fit and healthy Jarran Reed could well give the team the fire power it needs to stop any team in the Conference.
Linebacker (7): Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Mychal Kendricks, Shaquem Griffin, Cody Barton, Ben Burr-Kirven, Austin Calitro
Comment: The starters are solid sort of. Kendricks legal situation is still not settled and Griffin has been battling a knee injury that kept him from full participation during Thursdayâs game against the Raiders.
Cornerback (5): Shaquill Griffin, Tre Flowers, Neiko Thorpe, Akeem King, Parry Nickerson
Comment:Â Starters are solid, and all eyes will be on the battle for the nickel spot. Thorpe is valuable special team contributor.
Safeties (5): Bradley McDougald, Tedric Thompson, Marquise Blair, Ugo Amadi, Lano Hill
Comment: Solid starters in McDougal and Thompson. Blair has been hobbled with a hip pointer but showed enough potential to make the team. Amadi is a keeper due to his special teams play and solid read of the game. Hill is solid as well.
Specialists (3): P Michael Dickson, K Jason Myers, LS Tyler Ott
Comment: The only unit that was etched in stone for good reason.
