The Seattle Seahawks are rapidly approaching training camp in advance of the 2019 season, and they are carrying a full 90-man roster. That roster includes 23 first-year hopefuls – 11 who they selected in the 2019 NFL draft and 12 who they signed after as undrafted free agents.
The roster needs to be trimmed to 53 by September, so many of these new faces will have to fight hard to earn themselves a spot on Seattle’s roster.
One of those new faces is former Mississippi State tight end Justin Johnson, who was signed as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft.
Johnson had his best college season as a senior, racking up 17 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown. A converted receiver, the six-foot-three, 236 pound Johnson ran a 4.56 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 34 inch vertical leap at Mississippi State’s Pro Day.
Johnson’s blend of size and speed make him an intriguing tight end prospect, but Seattle is loaded at that position at the moment, making his path to a roster spot a very tricky one.
Will Dissly is expected to be Seattle’s primary tight end in 2019, but the team also has veteran Ed Dickson, 2016 third-rounder Nick Vannett, former UDFA Tyrone Swoopes, recently acquired Jacob Hollister and even George Fant, a converted tackle who played some tight end last season.
It’s hard to imagine Seattle keeping more than three tight ends next season, and Dissly, Vannett and Dickson are basically locked into roster spots. Hollister cost Seattle a 2020 seventh round pick, so the team will likely prioritize keeping him around if possible.
That’s not to say Johnson doesn’t have a chance of passing up some of these guys, but a spot on the practice squad seems more plausible for the tight end at this point.
