Seahawks 90-Man Rundown: Converted QB John Rhys Plumlee Vying For Role in WR Room
With their offseason program all wrapped up, the Seattle Seahawks will open training camp at the VMAC on July 23, meaning the start of the upcoming season will be here before fans have a chance to blink.
In preparation for year number two under coach Mike Macdonald, I’ll be detailing every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks, dishing out fun facts, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and predicting what to expect from each player entering the 2025 campaign.
John Rhys Plumlee put himself on the map as a dual-threat quarterback in college. Now, as a receiver, with his athleticism and background, could he make Seattle’s roster for various roles?
John Rhys Plumlee
Height/Weight: 6-0, 200 pounds
2024 Stats: N/A (Practice squad)
Plumlee was a highly thought-of quarterback recruit heading into college, so much so that he earned a starting spot at Ole Miss, a power conference team in the SEC. A dynamic run-first signal caller, he tallied over 1,000 rushing yards for the Rebels in 2019, but he wasn’t able to maintain the starting job with the eventual arrival of future NFL draft pick Jaxson Dart. He eventually transferred to UCF, where he logged back-to-back seasons of at least 2,500 passing yards and at least 500 rushing yards while also playing on the baseball team.
Throughout the pre-draft process, it was clear most NFL teams valued Plumlee’s running ability and athleticism much higher than his ability as a thrower or all-around quarterback. After going undrafted in 2024, he signed with the Steelers as a quarterback. He bounced to the UFL and played for the Arlington Renegades briefly. He returned to the NFL with the Jaguars and eventually Seahawks, making the switch to wide receiver. He spent most of the season on the practice squad but was briefly signed to Seattle’s active roster on January 2.
Fun Fact: Plumlee excelled at baseball at Ole Miss and UCF as well as football. He hit 10 home runs for UCF in 2023 and even played in a baseball game as well as the football team’s spring game in one day.
Best Case Scenario: Plumlee’s athleticism and versatility provide him with a type of “Taysom Hill” role in former Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offense. They devise a few gadget plays where Plumlee throws the ball from his receiver spot for a big play. That could be enough for him to get the last receiver spot on the roster as well as to contribute on special teams.
Worst Case Scenario: There just is not room for him on the depth chart. Seattle has about six or seven receivers fighting for the last few open spots. Plumlee simply just gets lost in the shuffle down the depth chart and on his way to the practice squad or being waived.
What to Expect in 2025: Clearly valued by the coaching staff with him being signed to the active roster before the end of the 2024 season, Plumlee will get a long look at receiver in the preseason, especially with an offensive coordinator who has a history of utilizing former quarterbacks at other skill positions within the confines of his scheme. Given his athleticism, history as a quarterback, and versatility, the Seahawks may try him in a variety of roles on offense and special teams early on, and if he’s able to shine in a few of those roles, he has an outside shot to surprise.
Frankly, Plumlee has an uphill battle to make the team given the depth at receiver, a position that he remains raw at after only playing quarterback at the high school and college level. Maybe the Seahawks try a package or a trick play in August that is a hit and they find a role for him on special teams to merit him getting a 53-man spot. However, he will need to make a serious impression in August to merit a roster spot. If not, he likely will begin the year on the practice squad once again at best with the outside chance he might not be retained in that capacity if a few undrafted players outperform him this summer.
