Ranking Seahawks: Emmanuel Henderson Jr. Aims to Impress With Elite Speed, Special Teams Traits Atop No. 55-51
With the calendar recently flipping to July and offseason workouts wrapped up league-wide for the summer, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will soon descend upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the start of training camp, kicking off a much-anticipated 2026 season.
To celebrate the new incoming season, I will be ranking every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks leading up to report day, providing detailed profiles, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and breaking down what to expect from each player entering the 2026 campaign.
Continuing with No. 55-51 on my annual rankings, a dynamic rookie receiver hopes to cut his teeth on special teams as he did at the college level, while three veterans entering the final year of their contract will face pressure to stick on the 53:
55. Emmanuel Henderson Jr., WR
2025 Stats: 45 receptions, 766 receiving yards, five touchdowns (at Kansas)
Originally starting his college career at Alabama as a four-star running back recruit, Henderson transitioned to receiver upon arrival in Tuscaloosa and played three seasons for the Crimson Tide, mostly starring on special teams as a gunner on punt coverage with a handful of kick and punt return opportunities, producing 10 tackles during that span. However, while his contributions on special teams earned the respect of former coach Nick Saban, he struggled to see the field on offense given the immense amount of talent at receiver for one of the nation’s most prestigious blue blood programs, recording only five receptions in those three seasons.
Seeking more snaps on offense with eyes on getting a shot in the NFL, Henderson transferred to Kansas before his senior season and posted career-highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns with the Jayhawks while adding a kick return for a touchdown and continuing to be one of the top gunners in the country on punt coverage. One of the Big 12’s most dangerous downfield weapons, he did the majority of his damage in Kansas’ offense as a vertical threat, snagging 11 receptions on passes that traveled 20-plus yards for 415 yards and three touchdowns. Seeing enough juice from him as a pass catcher to go with his special teams prowess, the Seahawks invested a sixth round pick in the speedy gadget player, thrusting him into the mix competing for one of the final spots at a deep wideout group.
Best Case Scenario: Proving once again that speed kills, Henderson snags a few downfield passes and recording a pair of exciting special teams tackles as a gunner during exhibition games, outshining the likes of Ricky White III and Cody White with a strong all-around month of August to secure a spot on the 53-man roster and carve out an early role in the third phase of the game for Seattle.
Worst Case Scenario: Continuing an unfortunate trend from offseason practices, Henderson struggles with consistency as a pass catcher during team drills and preseason games, dropping multiple catchable passes after managing to get open. Without offering much offensive value, his special teams talent isn’t enough alone to beat out a more well-rounded Cody White, and he gets cut with hopes of retaining him on the practice squad.
What to Expect: As an offensive player, Henderson fits the bill of a late round flier possessing quality athletic tools and a still unpolished skill set. But that’s not the case on special teams, as Alabama didn’t redshirt him as a true freshman because of how effective he was as a gunner on special teams. From that perspective, with the Seahawks needing to replace Dareke Young on the punt team, he has a potential advantage working in his favor going into his rookie season. But it won’t be easy competing in one of the deepest position groups on the roster, especially with Ricky White III and Cody White both having special teams talent themselves and several cornerbacks battling for roster spots with gunner capabilities as well. Performing well on special teams during the preseason will help his cause, but if he wants to stick on the roster, he will have to demonstrate better reliability as a pass catcher, or practice squad may be his most likely landing spot to open his career.
54. Connor O’Toole, EDGE
2025 Stats: Five tackles, one fumble recovery
O’Toole was a notable track athlete coming out of New Mexico and came to the University of Utah as a receiver prospect weighing under 215 pounds. He had a hard time cracking the lineup on offense and posted just one reception for five yards in his first year on campus, however, so he switched to outside linebacker/EDGE rusher after his freshman season with the Utes. Adding weight to his frame, he collected 41 tackles in 2022, his first year as a defensive player in Salt Lake City, showing promise as a pass rusher on defense that generated plenty of excitement for the coaching staff.
Unfortunately, O’Toole’s final two seasons at Utah were marred by injuries. He played in 16 games combined in the final two years. However, there was enough production there when healthy to garner some interest from NFL teams with seven sacks in that span and he put on a display during the Big 12’s combined Pro Day in Dallas. With a high Relative Athletic Score (RAS), the Seahawks were intrigued enough to give him a sizable deal for an undrafted rookie with extensive guaranteed money, and he wound up earning a spot on the initial 53-man roster. By midseason, he took on a significant role on special teams, recovering a fumble and tallying five tackles on kick/punt coverage teams and adding two tackles during the team’s playoff run.
Best Case Scenario: Benefiting immensely from a full offseason in an NFL weight room, O’Toole looks like a different player on defense, holding up much better as an edge-setter against the run while utilizing his intriguing athleticism more effectively as a pass rusher, pitching in a pair of tackles for loss and a sack in the preseason to snag one of the final roster spots with a chance for increased snaps on Sundays.
Worst Case Scenario: While continuing to tantalize with his quick first step and upfield burst, O’Toole doesn’t show enough progress technique-wise to turn those athletic gifts into on-field production in the preseason, enduring a quiet August that culminates with his release with Jared Ivey and undrafted rookie Aidan Hubbard beating him out for a roster spot and another team plucking him off waivers.
What to Expect: While Ivey didn’t get to play much at all as an undrafted rookie, the same can’t be said for O’Toole, who saw his role on special teams dramatically increase in the second half. He made the most of those chances, tallying a bunch of tackles and being in the right place at the right time for a fumble recovery, turning that success into 28 defensive snaps later in the season as a reward for his efforts. The pathway to more defensive playing time in his sophomore season isn’t an ideal one, as the Seahawks welcome back Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall while also bringing in veteran Dante Fowler Jr. as a replacement for Boye Mafe. However, his athletic tool box rivals anyone on the roster at the EDGE position and if he can take a big step forward defending the run, executing a pass rush plan, and developing a few steady counter moves, he could force the team’s hand to keep him on the roster again and utilize him as a third down specialist in some capacity. Even if that doesn’t happen, his special teams value could warrant a fifth EDGE spot on the roster once again, but he will have game competition to deal with that makes that far from a given.
53. Eric Saubert, TE
2025 Stats: Four catches, 31 yards
Originally a fifth-round pick by the Falcons back in the 2017 NFL Draft after playing collegiately at FCS program Drake, Saubert has bounced around during the course of his eight-year NFL career, playing for seven teams in eight seasons. He played his first two years in Atlanta, catching five passes for 48 yards with one start in 30 games played, before being traded to New England for a conditional seventh-round pick in August 2019. He lasted just three weeks with the Patriots before being waived and signing with the Raiders practice squad.
By November, Saubert had been signed off of Las Vegas’ practice squad by Chicago, appearing in two games with two catches for 21 yards. After one season in Jacksonville, he enjoyed his best professional success in Denver, including catching a career-high 15 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown in 2022. He played in 10 games for Dallas and Houston in 2023 before seeing action in all 17 games in San Francisco last season, reeling in 11 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Signing with the Seahawks in March 2025, the veteran proved to be invaluable as a reserve tight end, including catching the game-winning two-point conversion to stun the Rams in Week 16, earning himself a second one-year contract in the Pacific Northwest.
Best Case Scenario: Always happy to do the dirty work, Saubert remains an impactful third tight end coming into games as an inline blocker while adding a handful of receptions as a check down option for Sam Darnold and continuing to deliver on special teams, staying on the active roster for the entirety of the season with an opportunity to potentially sign another one-year deal next spring.
Worst Case Scenario: Now in his 30s and on a relatively inexpensive one-year deal, Saubert gets pushed more than expected in camp by second-year tight end Nick Kallerup and surprising undrafted rookie Lance Mason, who both outperform him in the preseason while starring on special teams, leading to his release at the end of camp and a return to the practice squad.
What to Expect: Receiving a much-deserved one-year extension in the middle of the season last fall, the Seahawks clearly have the utmost respect for Saubert, who has overcome plenty of adversity in his career to become a viable rotational tight end in the league. When he was called upon to catch a pass last year, he delivered. When the team needed him to come in and block a defensive end, he delivered. There’s not any flash to his game and he’s never going to be a frequent target in the passing game, but his ability to mix it up with defensive linemen and scrape out linebackers at the second level along with being a plus-special teams player gives him far more value than would ever be presented in a box score. For that reason, it’s unlikely he’s going to be bounced from the roster with new coordinator Brian Fleury having worked with him in San Francisco, though it’s not out of the question he could be released briefly coming out of camp to allow the team to keep a younger player through initial waiver claims.
52. Mike Morris, DE
2025 Stats: 18 tackles, two tackles for loss, one pass defensed
Ranked as a three-star recruit coming out of American Heritage High School in Delray Beach, Florida, Morris racked up 173 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in his last two prep seasons, putting himself on the radar for several Power 4 programs. Committing to Michigan in 2018, he didn’t see his first game action until 2020 as a sophomore and appeared in 13 games as a junior in 2021, playing for Mike Macdonald interestingly enough, who was Michigan’s defensive coordinator at the time. But his breakout season came as a senior in 2022 when he amassed 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and a forced fumble, ending his time in Ann Arbor on a strong note.
Despite the big numbers in the backfield, however, Morris had just 23 combined tackles in his final season with the Wolverines, which coupled with poor athletic testing led to his draft stock plummeting. Seattle selected Morris in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and he made the Seahawks’ initial 53-man roster after a solid training camp and preseason. But after recording three tackles in Seattle’s Week 1 game versus the Los Angeles Rams, a shoulder injury led to season-ending surgery. Coming back from the injury, he remained on the roster as a rotational defender, contributing five tackles in 15 games in 2024. Statistically, Morris had his best season in 2025, recording 18 total tackles on defense and special teams with his first two tackles for loss and first two quarterback hits.
Best Case Scenario: Building off of a positive third season, Morris continues to quietly make an impact as a stout run defender with an occasional flash rushing the passer while logging snaps at multiple positions along the defensive line, using incremental improvements coupled with a growing set of roles on special teams to ensure he stays on the 53-man roster as a key reserve.
Worst Case Scenario: While a better player than his first two seasons, Morris’ lack of pass rushing juice comes back to bite him with second-year defender Rylie Mills emerging as a potential breakout star and rookie Deven Eastern impressing out of the gate, leading to a difficult decision for Macdonald and the coaching staff to waive him at the end of camp with hopes he can be re-signed on the practice squad.
What to Expect: Though it hasn’t shown up necessarily on the stat sheet, Morris has made significant strides over the past two years with a clean bill of health, particularly as a run defender. Per Pro Football Focus, he ranked first on the team in run stop rate (9.9%) for players with at least 65 run defense snaps during the regular season and playoffs, tallying seven stops on just 72 such snaps. He also had only one missed tackle on those opportunities, regularly finishing when he got his hands wrapped around ball carriers. He hasn’t done much as a pass rusher to this point, however. While he did get to the quarterback for two hits last year, he posted a dismal 8% pressure rate and 8.8% Pass Rush Win Rate on 97 pass rush snaps. The Seahawks value run defense as much as any team in the league, so Morris’ ability to eat up blocks and occasionally penetrate gaps for a tackle for loss likely keeps him in the mix for a roster spot. But unless he shows a bit more as a pass rusher going into the final year of his rookie deal, with Mills primed for a bigger role and other competitors in the wings, it’s not a guarantee he sticks on the 53 either.
51. D’Anthony Bell, S
2025 Stats: 15 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one blocked punt
Starring at Division II West Florida, Bell impressed at his pro day workout to put his name on the map for NFL teams, running the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds with a sub-7.0 3-cone drill. Still, coming from a smaller program, he went undrafted in 2022 and signed with Cleveland, making history by earning a spot on the 53-man roster out of training camp to become the first player in school history to make it in the league. As a rookie, he didn’t see much action on defense, contributing five tackles on 72 snaps. But he emerged as one of the Browns’ key cogs on special teams, logging 249 snaps in the third phase of the game and racking up six total tackles on kick and punt coverage, proving the team’s decision to keep him on the active roster as an undrafted rookie was the right move.
The 6-1, 211-pound Bell nearly equaled those numbers in 2023 while seeing an uptick in defensive action with his first four career starts, recording 29 combined tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups to make the most of 226 defensive snaps. While he reverted back to a reserve role in 2024 with fewer than 100 snaps on defense, he continued to excel on special teams by tallying 11 combined stops on kick and punt coverage units. Signing with the Seahawks as a free agent, he blocked a punt and added a partial sack while appearing in 14 games before being waived and unexpectedly being claimed by the Panthers, preventing him from contributing to the team’s playoff run. Receiving a Super Bowl ring for his efforts, he re-signed with Seattle in March, adding more depth to a stacked safety position.
Best Case Scenario: Reaffirming his place as one of Seattle’s best all-around special teams players and an underrated defender with plenty of versatility in his repertoire entering his second stint with the team, Bell turns in a fine training camp and preseason with seven combined tackles and a pass breakup, beating out Rodney Thomas II and AJ Finley for the last safety spot on the final 53-man roster.
Worst Case Scenario: Not offering quite as much positional flexibility as some of his competitors, while the Seahawks value Bell’s talents on defense and special teams, just as they did in 2025 on multiple occasions, they feel he’s a safer bet to sneak to the practice squad and waive him at the end of camp before re-signing him to the “ready” squad as a veteran insurance policy.
What to Expect: There’s no question Bell received a bad hand when Carolina claimed him off waivers last December, as Seattle simply needed a roster spot for another position and didn’t want to lose him. Showing how much they valued his contributions during a title season, they signed him early in free agency, thrusting him back into the competition at a loaded position full of experienced talent and high-upside youth. A splendid all-around special teams player, his ability to do everything from open field tackles on kick coverage to blocking punts will be his calling card to winning a spot on the 53 this time around. But the arrival of rookie Bud Clark and fellow free agent signee Rodney Thomas II will make the climb to making the roster a challenging one for him. While it’s not impossible that the team could keep as many as six safeties with Clark and Nick Emmanwori offering slot corner flexibility, a case in which he would have a good chance to stick around, rostering fewer than that number would make the practice squad his likely landing spot as a reliable veteran injury policy regardless of what he does in camp and the preseason.
Previous 90-Man Rankings
