Seahawks 90-Man Rundown: Steven Sims Jr. Adds Explosive Presence to Return Game
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Receiver Steven Sims Jr. returns a punt for the Baltimore Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Credit: Steven Sims Jr. [/caption]
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.
Previously making a splash as a kick and punt return specialist, can Steven Sims Jr. rectify his career in the Pacific Northwest as an all-around contributor for a rebuilt receiving corps?
Steven Sims Jr.
Height/Weight: 5-10, 190 pounds
2024 Stats: 21 punt returns, 122 yards
After racking up over 200 receptions and 2,500 receiving yards in four seasons at Kansas, Sims didn’t have a strong pro day workout, causing him to fall out of the draft completely before being signed by the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent. The Houston, Texas native not only made Washington’s roster out of training camp, but he managed to catch 34 passes for 310 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, flashing potential as a long-term piece in the team’s offense. In addition, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown, providing a spark on special teams for the Commanders. Unfortunately, his numbers dipped in 2020 and he hit the waiver wire during final roster cuts before the 2021 season.
Since leaving the nation’s capital, Sims has bounced around over the past four seasons, spending time with the Steelers, Texans, and most recently the Ravens. Though he only has three total catches over the past two seasons, he has continued to be an effective return specialist, including returning a 67-yard punt for a touchdown for Houston in a Divisional Round loss in January 2024. Previously working with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak when the two were at Kansas together in 2015, the Seahawks signed him to a one-year deal in March to compete for a reserve receiver spot as well as battle for kick and punt return duties.
Fun Fact: As an undrafted rookie back in 2019, Sims ranked in the top seven in kick return yardage and kick return average in the NFL as a focal point of Washington’s special teams, according to Pro Football Focus.
Best Case Scenario: Bringing a bit of familiarity with him to Seattle after previously playing for Kubiak, Sims surprises as a pass catcher and snags seven receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown during the preseason, securing himself a roster spot by beating out the likes of rookie Tory Horton and others for kick and punt return duty.
Worst Case Scenario: Far from the fastest receiver with a smaller build, Sims can’t build off of a strong offseason program and slowly loses out on reps to Cody White, Dareke Young, and rookies Horton and Ricky White III in training camp. Not able to justify keeping him on the roster as a return specialist only, Seattle cuts him in late August and signs with another return-needy team.
What to Expect in 2025: Unlike most journeyman returners who have hung around for five or more seasons in the NFL, Sims has produced solid numbers on offense when he has had opportunities to do so, evidenced by his 50-plus receptions in his first two years in Washington. Those skills as a receiver shined through in OTAs and minicamp, where he made the most of his targets with the second and third-team offenses, including catching three touchdowns in the final minicamp session to close out the offseason program. Shifty in space after the catch or as a returner, he has proven NFL experience that could be invaluable to the Seahawks on offense as well as special teams.
But it’s far from a guarantee that Sims has a roster spot waiting for him either. The Seahawks have two rookies in Horton and White that they are very high on who have prior return experience and in addition to Cooper Kupp coming over from the Rams, veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling also signed in free agency and Jake Bobo is back for his third season, creating a log jam in front of him on the depth chart. As exhibited with then-rookie Dee Williams winning a roster spot last summer for his return skills, the same could happen for Sims if he’s light years better than the rest of the competition. However, to stick around, he will likely have to beat out Ricky White, Cody White, and Dareke Young in the receiving competition, and otherwise may have a slot spotted on the practice squad or with another team.
