Kelcie McCray, a 6-foot-1, 202-pound backup safety with the Kansas City Chiefs, was acquired Saturday for a fifth-round draft pick as the Seahawks cut their roster to the league-mandated 53-man limit. The Seahawks may be bolstering the position ahead of a potential trade of holdout SS Kam Chancellor.
Rumors swirled that the Seahawks are making inquiries about a deal for their All-Pro safety:
Rumblings among NFL execs and agents about Kam Chancellor perhaps seeking a trade. He hasn’t been granted permission to speak to other clubs
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) September 5, 2015
Dion Bailey, a 2014 undrafted free agent out of USC, has been a fill-in starter for Chancellor during his holdout.
Below is the list the Seahawks released about the cuts:
Waived
LB Tyrell Adams
TE RaShaun Allen
QB R.J. Archer
DE Obum Gwacham
S Keenan Lambert
DT T.Y. McGill
CB Douglas McNeil III
S Ronald Martin, Jr.
G KeaVon Milton
S Ryan Murphy
G/C Will Pericak
LB Eric Pinkins
T Terry Poole
LB Alex Singleton
WR Kevin Smith
RB Rod Smith
DE Julius Warmsley
WR Kasen Williams
Placed on injured reserve
CB Mohammed Seisay
RB Robert Turbin
Placed on reserve/non-football illness
DT Jesse Williams
Perhaps the biggest surprise was the cut of Blackmon, a free agent signing in March who looked to be the nickel DB in the injury absence of Jeremy Lane. That job likely will go to Marcus Burley or fifth-round pick Tye Smith.
Blackmon tweeted his farewell earlier in the day:
It’s been real Seattle. Thank you 12’s.
— Will Blackmon (@willblackmon) September 5, 2015
DT Williams, the garrulous Australian who had a cancerous kidney removed earlier in the season and returned to play 10 weeks later, earlier tweeted he had been cut.
Appreciated Every Moment. https://t.co/83ATe7aqga
— Jesse Williams (@ThaMonstar) September 4, 2015
The most noteworthy development on the 53-man roster is keeping five running backs, including fullbacks Derrick Coleman and Will Tukuafu, but not including Robert Turbin, placed on injured reserve, or Fred Jackson, the free agent who is not yet on the roster but has agreed to a one-year contract.
The expectation is that Turbin, whose ankle sprain is likely to keep him down for several weeks, will be cut after his return to health. Speculation is that the Seahawks are attempting to trade Christine Michael to get some value, instead of cutting him to make room for Jackson. The preseason performance of undrafted rookie free agent Thomas Rawls has helped make Michael, who hasn’t lived up to expectations, expendable.
If they choose to keep Michael, Tukuafu could be cut, or the third-string tight end, Cooper Helfet.
Some of the players cut, perhaps such as the two ex-Huskies receivers, Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams, will return to the Seahawks’ 10-man practice squad if they pass through waivers over the next 24 hours. The Seahawks also can place waiver claims on other team’s cuts.
The roster as it stands now:
Quarterback (2): Russell Wilson, Tarvaris Jackson
Running back (5): Marshawn Lynch, Christine Michael, Thomas Rawls, Derrick Coleman, Will Tukuafu
Receiver (6): Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett, Ricardo Lockette, Chris Matthews, B.J. Daniels
Tight end (3): Jimmy Graham, Luke Willson, Cooper Helfet
Offensive line (9): Russell Okung, Justin Britt, Garry Gilliam, J.R. Sweezy, Drew Nowak, Alvin Bailey, Mark Glowinski, Patrick Lewis, Kristjan Sokoli
Defensive tackle (4): Brandon Mebane, Ahtya Rubin, Jordan Hill, David King
Defensive end (5): Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril, Frank Clark, Cassius Marsh, Demarcus Dobbs
Linebacker (6): Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Bruce Irvin, Kevin Pierre-Louis, Mike Morgan, Brock Coyle
Cornerback (5): Richard Sherman, Cary Williams, Tharold Simon, Tye Smith, Marcus Burley
Safety (5): Earl Thomas, Dion Bailey, Kelcie McCray, DeShawn Shead, Steven Terrell
Special teams (3): Steven Hauschka, Jon Ryan, Clint Gresham
9 Comments
Did you actually hear that Schneider has been shopping Chancellor? Because ‘rumblings’ could have just as easily come from Chancellor’s agent to try and force a trade seeing how Schneider has not granted other clubs permission to talk to him.
Exactly. Precision is vital in this context. Could be the Hawks are soliciting offers. Could be that Kam’s agent is saying that the Hawks are soliciting offers, in order to create a market for his client. Actually, if I am that agent right now, I am starting to sweat…
Luxury having a wide receiver backup quarterback combination two spots in one.
I thought either Kasen Wlliams or Kevin Smith would be kept based on their play. Not surprised about Turbin. If you aren’t healthy and there’s other options the team will go that route. Ask Michael Robinson. Kam will have Percy to hang out with in NY soon enough.
I’m very disappointed that the Hawks cut both Kasen Williams and Kevin
Smith. I strongly expect that another team will grab them up in a heartbeat. If
they end up playing against the Hawks and do some damage, PC and JS will
be engaging in some well-deserved wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth.
other rumors have him getting more up front cash and an extension. hope he stays
I thought Kam got his money. Didn’t they have a press conference with him a couple weeks ago?
Bam Bam the Giant just sounds like some low budget sat morning kids matinee to me…. I hope it just isn’t so. Still if the Giants offer Odell and a 1st rounder the saturday matinee might roll…..poof! Ok that is never going to happen. Which is just fine.
I’m hoping the Hawks let him sit out all year. Make him honor his deal. Life’s hard in the real world Kam.