The Seahawks added one of the NFL’s largest draft classes this year with 11 rookies selected last week. After there was a heavy focus on offense in the draft (nine offensive players to just two defensive), Seattle announced a 17-man undrafted free agent signing class that leaned much more heavily towards defense (11 players) than offense (six players). Here are the 17 newest additions to the team’s 28-man rookie class:
- Zy Alexander, CB (LSU)
- Tyrone Broden, WR (Arkansas)
- Seth Coleman, OLB (Illinois)
- Jalan Gaines, OLB (Illinois State)
- Jared Ivey, OLB (Ole Miss)
- T.J. Jackson, DT (West Virginia)
- Nick Kallerup, TE (Minnesota)
- Amari Kight, T (UCF)
- Marshall Lang, TE (Northwestern)
- Federico Maranges, C (Florida Atlantic)
- Connor O’Toole, OLB (Utah)
- Demeco Roland, DT (Southern Mississippi)
- J.R. Singleton, DT (Iowa State)
- Bubba Thomas, DT (South Alabama)
- Isas Waxter, CB (Villanova)
- Jackson Woodard, LB (UNLV)
- Jacardia Wright, RB (Missouri State)
The Seahawks are bringing in four names at edge rusher, a position of need they failed to address in the draft. They felt so strongly about O’Toole that they gave him $234K guaranteed on his undrafted rookie deal, including a $30K signing bonus, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. O’Toole was a mildly impactful defensive end during his time with the Utes, logging only 8.5 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss over his four years in college.
Ivey was projected to be an early-Day 3 selection before falling out of the draft. A former Georgia Tech transfer, his last two years with the Rebels were extremely productive, seeing him tally 12.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss. Coleman was a three-year starter in six years with the Fighting Illini. Over his three years as a starter, Coleman logged 13.5 sacks, 21.0 tackles for loss, and 13 batted passes.
Woodard was projected to be a late-Day 3 pick but just slipped out. His final two years with his Rebels were extremely disruptive as he had 26.0 tackles for loss (17.0 in 2024), 21 passes defensed (16 in 2024), and five interceptions (four in 2024). His elite production in coverage could help him land a role as a pass defending linebacker in today’s pass-happy NFL.
At cornerback, Alexander was another projected early-Day 3 pick. After a couple elite seasons at Southeastern Louisiana, Alexander transferred to LSU and became an immediate starter. Though a knee injury limited him in 2023, he tallied an impressive 44 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions. He kept that production alive in 2024, as well, with six passes defensed and two more picks and was rewarded by Seattle with $249K in guaranteed money, including a $15K signing bonus, per Wilson. Waxter has a chance to be an impact defender out of Nova. After elite production in 2023 that saw him log 11 passes defensed and three interceptions, quarterbacks threw his way a lot less in 2024, but that didn’t stop him from leading the team in forced fumbles and earning first-team All-CAA honors.
On offense, Maranges showed enough during his time with the Owls to earn $250K in guarantees, per Wilson. A Puerto Rico-native, Maranges qualifies for an international roster exemption as a participant of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program. The IPP program stipulates that NFL teams can include a 17th player to their practice squad (normally capped at 16 players) as long as that player qualifies for the international roster exemption.