The Seattle Seahawks open training camp on July 30 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Washington. Here’s a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACKS (2): Russell Wilson, Trevone Boykin
Wilson has never missed a game in his NFL career but battled through three injuries last season. Boykin will compete with Austin Davis for the backup job during training camp and the preseason.
RUNNING BACKS (4): Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins
The first three are locks to make the roster. How Lacy and Rawls divide the workload on early downs will likely be determined by how they perform in camp and the preseason. Prosise will be the third-down back and figures to be a big factor in the passing game if he can stay healthy. Collins is competing for a roster spot and will have to hold off guys like seventh-round pick Chris Carson.
FULLBACK (1): Algernon Brown
The Seahawks had success running out of two-back sets at times last season, and it seems likely they'll keep a fullback on the roster. Brown and Kyle Coleman will compete for the job.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett, Paul Richardson, Amara Darboh, David Moore
The first five here are locks. Other than Baldwin, the wide receivers will be competing for roles and playing time. Kearse has to show he can bounce back from a down 2016 campaign. Lockett is coming off of a serious leg injury. Richardson played well down the stretch last season and is in a contract year. Darboh and Moore are rookies. Others, such as Kenny Lawler, Cyril Grayson, Kasen Williams and Tanner McEvoy, will be competing with Moore to make the team.
TIGHT ENDS (3): Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Nick Vannett
Graham and Willson are scheduled to be free agents after this season, and the Seahawks will be looking for Vannett to be more involved than he was as a rookie. It's possible Seattle will keep a fourth tight end like Marcus Lucas or Tyrone Swoopes if it makes sense for special-teams purposes.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): George Fant, Luke Joeckel, Justin Britt, Mark Glowinski, Germain Ifedi, Ethan Pocic, Rees Odhiambo, Oday Aboushi, Jordan Roos
As always, there will be plenty of moving parts with Tom Cable's group as the offensive line coach looks for the best five-man combination. Joeckel will get a shot at left tackle or left guard. Glowinski (left guard to right guard) and Ifedi (right guard to right tackle) are switching positions, and the Seahawks are hoping Pocic can contribute as a rookie. Seattle has more options than it did a year ago, but whether this group improved enough in the offseason remains to be seen.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9): Cliff Avril, Jarran Reed, Ahtyba Rubin, Michael Bennett, Frank Clark, Malik McDowell, Nazair Jones, Cassius Marsh, Quinton Jefferson
This may be the strongest group on the roster. Avril, Bennett and Clark all have double-digit sack potential. Reed and Rubin will key the Seahawks' always consistent run defense. McDowell and Jones will look to contribute as rookies. Marsh brings versatility and special-teams value. And the team has high expectations for Jefferson, who has to get healthy after missing the spring with a knee injury.
LINEBACKERS (5): Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Michael Wilhoite, Terence Garvin, Kevin Pierre-Louis
Wagner and Wright are coming off spectacular seasons and are true three-down linebackers. Wilhoite or Garvin will likely win the strongside job, but that's a part-time position that is replaced when Seattle goes to nickel. Pierre-Louis will likely be competing for a roster spot.
CORNERBACKS (6): Richard Sherman, Jeremy Lane, Shaquill Griffin, Neiko Thorpe, DeAndre Elliott, Mike Tyson
This projects that last year's starting right cornerback, DeShawn Shead, will start this season on the physically unable to perform list. Lane, Griffin and Thorpe will be competing for Shead's spot until he gets healthy. Tyson and Elliott will have to compete for roster spots.
SAFETIES (5): Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Bradley McDougald, Delano Hill, Tedric Thompson
Last year, the defense fell apart when Thomas suffered an injury. In the offseason, the Seahawks added McDougald, who will serve as the top backup at both strong and free safety. Seattle could also use some three-safety looks with him. Hill and Thompson -- both rookies -- will look to earn roles on special teams.
SPECIALISTS (3): Blair Walsh, Jon Ryan, Nolan Frese
The kicking game is probably the biggest under-the-radar question mark on this team. If Walsh struggles in camp and the preseason, the Seahawks will have to scramble for other options. Frese will have to hold off Tyler Ott for the long-snapper job.