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Once 2017 training camp gets under way, the Seattle Seahawks will be faced with some difficult decisions that could result in veteran players being shown the door.
The offseason is rolling along quickly, with free agency and the 2017 NFL Draft now in the rear-view mirror. The Seattle Seahawks have made some strides in the last couple of months, and appear to have put themselves in position to make another deep playoff run.
However, before we can speculate on Super Bowls, let's start with figuring out what the Seahawks' 2017 roster will look like. With OTAs and training camp just around the corner, Seattle will soon be faced with the daunting task of trimming their roster down to 53 players. When that time comes, some difficult decisions will need to be made.
So who will go when that time comes? The general assumption is the undrafted rookies and little-known prospects will be the guys to get cut. However, as we see on an annual basis, the veteran players are never immune. In fact, based on the current look of this roster, several established NFL talents could be given the ax by the Seahawks.
With that in mind, let's take a look at five Seahawks veterans who won't survive 2017 training camp. It's never easy letting the experienced ones go, but these guys simply don't deserve a roster spot for one reason or another.
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5. Dion Jordan, DE
Okay, did anyone actually believe that Dion Jordan would last in Seattle when he was originally signed? The washed-up former No. 3 overall pick has been a train wreck since entering the league, and his off-field and health concerns haven't helped.
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So I'm sure it's easy to understand why I don't believe he's going to survive training camp. Once touted as a high-upside edge rusher, Jordan amassed only three sacks in his first two seasons before falling off the map with the Miami Dolphins. Now set to return, there's little reason for us to expect anything different.
Even within Seattle's sensational defense, Jordan likely doesn't have what it takes to carve out a role for himself. He'll be battling with the likes of Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and Frank Clark for a spot on the defensive end depth chart. However, between what he's shown so far and the weight he's put on, I don't believe he'll offer enough upside to stick around.
It's a solid flier for a defense that loves to give busts a second chance. Unfortunately, even as a former top pick, Jordan doesn't bring enough to the table to last all the way to Week 1. We could soon watch the Oregon product's NFL career come to a merciful end.
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4. Mike Davis, RB
Two weeks ago, the Seahawks claimed Mike Davis off waivers after the San Francisco 49ers threw in the towel on the former fourth-round pick. It wasn't a bad move considering his theoretical potential, but he landed in one of the worst situations for a young running back.
The Seattle backfield is currently bursting at the seams. The depth chart looks something like this right now: Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls, C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins, Troymaine Pope, Chris Carson, etc. There are more names on that list, including Davis, but it's pointless to write them all out considering only three or four will make the 53-man roster.
As much upside as Davis may possess, there's no way he's going to crack that depth chart. Lacy, Rawls and Prosise are locks when healthy. That means he'll be battling with at least a handful of other backs to win that final spot. Considering Collins was a 2016 fifth-round pick and the Seahawks just spent a seventh-round pick on Carson, Davis is already at a disadvantage.
Not long ago, Davis looked like a rising star while playing at South Carolina. However, injuries and lackluster athleticism have hindered his ability to develop as an NFL-caliber talent. Even if he was worthy of one of the final spots on Seattle's roster, there's too much competition.
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3. Neiko Thorpe, CB
Last season, Neiko Thorpe proved to be a capable backup cornerback for the Seahawks. Although not a starting-caliber talent by any means, he's got the skills to at least hold his own in subpackages. Still, that doesn't mean he's worthy of a spot on this roster in 2017.
The Seahawks are set with Richard Sherman and DeShawn Shead as their starters. Although Sherman's time in Seattle may be running out and Shead is coming off a torn ACL, both should spend most of the season locking down opposing receivers. Between Jeremy Lane, Pierre Desir and rookie Shaquill Griffin, the rest of the depth chart should be set.
That means Thorpe will likely be on the outside looking in when the 53-man roster is set. He may be a decent backup option with significant experience, but his limited skills in coverage make him a liability. Just ask Pro Football Focus, which gave him miserable makes as a pass defender during the 2016 campaign.
If it wasn't for the addition of Griffin and potential emergence of Desir, Thorpe may have been safe. However, there's just too much talent in this secondary to keep an average veteran around. He should get an opportunity elsewhere, but Thorpe's stay in Seattle is nearing its end.
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2. Blair Walsh, K
It almost seemed ironic when the Seahawks signed Blair Walsh this offseason. They let Steven Hauschka walk, replacing him with the guy who shanked a chip shot to keep Seattle alive during the 2015 NFL Playoffs. They've seen what he does in the clutch, but still.
Do they really think they're going to get anything different out of Walsh than what got him cut by the Minnesota Vikings? Chances are they won't, but here they are with him serving as the only kicker on the roster. However, I believe that could change sooner rather than later.
When training camp gets under way, the Seahawks are going to get a rude awakening. They're suddenly going to see the same kicker that routinely hurt Minnesota's chances of winning. The same guy who allowed Seattle to temporary keep their playoff hopes alive. It's going to be painful when that time comes, but they'll simply let him go and find another veteran leg to take his place.
Walsh showed serious promise early in his NFL career, but it's clear he's lacking the mental toughness to get the job done. After years of the reliable Hauschka, the Seahawks will quickly realize the mistake they made by pinning the hopes of their kicking game on Walsh. Expect him to be gone before August is over.
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1. Jermaine Kearse, WR
I'm not going to lie — Seattle's receiving corps is pretty underrated right now. Doug Baldwin is a tough, reliable No. 1 who simply gets the job done. Tyler Lockett is a sparkplug when healthy, and we saw in January the type of damage Paul Richardson can do when he gets an opportunity.
Factor in the drafting of Amara Darboh in the third round, and that receiver room is starting to get crowded. So where does Jermaine Kearse fit? Right now, it's starting to look like he may not have a place when all is said and done. That seems a tad exaggerated, but it really isn't when you consider what he did in 2016.
Put simply, Kearse was a mess last season. He was extremely inefficient as a pass catcher, failing to haul in almost half of his targets while earning miserable grades from Pro Football Focus. His production also took a step backwards after a career year in 2015. Overall, it was a poor showing from a player who has always been a bit underwhelming.
That's why it seems possible he gets the ax during training camp. ESPN's Sheil Kapadia considers the chances "slim" of Kearse being let go, but I'm starting to think it's more likely than most would prefer to believe.
Especially with Jimmy Graham and Prosise making their marks on the passing game, it's not like the Seahawks need a ton of talent at wide receiver. Instead, they can let Kearse go while giving Darboh more opportunities to see the field as a rookie. Even with the $1.8 million dead cap space it would create by designating him as a post-June 1 cut, it's time for him to go.
