Seahawks reshape defense with new signings and roster moves
The Seattle Seahawks made several roster changes Wednesday, adding two players while cutting two others. The team signed undrafted rookie cornerback Jordan Washington and fullback T.J. Harden while releasing veteran cornerback Brandon Johnson and outside linebacker Garrett Nelson. Seahawks writer Ari Horton confirmed the moves at 1:45 p.m. PST, with Ian Rapoport initially reporting Harden’s signing 11 minutes earlier.
Jordan Washington comes from Stanford after four years at Dartmouth. He spent time in the Seahawks' rookie minicamp. Though his academic background from two top U.S. schools helped him stand out, he played just 155 snaps in his draft year. His athletic traits, including arm length and hand size, don’t set him apart, and he lacks top-tier speed or agility for scouts to label him a standout. Washington went undrafted after spending the 2025 season at Stanford, where he appeared in nine games, according to the Seahawks. Before transferring to Stanford, Washington played four seasons at Dartmouth. He appeared in 28 games over his final three seasons there and accumulated 72 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 20 passes defensed. He also recorded his first college interception in Dartmouth’s 2024 finale against Brown and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. Stanford listed Washington at 6 feet and 200 pounds, giving him useful size for an outside cornerback. Available 2025 statistics credit him with eight tackles and two pass breakups during his final college season.
T.J. Harden, expected to back up fullback Robbie Ouzts during his absence, is an unheralded talent. He played high school ball in Southern California, then attended SMU after initially committing to UCLA. Harden may offer depth on special teams and as a fullback, but he must prove his value soon.
With the release of Brandon Johnson and Garrett Nelson, the Seahawks are shifting to younger, more flexible options. Johnson had been a consistent presence in the secondary, while Nelson served as an outside linebacker. Their departures free up room for new players to compete. The Seahawks waived Johnson with an injury designation in the corresponding round of roster moves, effectively exchanging one developmental defensive back for another during training camp.
Nelson was waived just one day after being signed, with the Seahawks citing an injury designation for Johnson. The former Nebraska captain was signed to the 90-man roster Tuesday after working out earlier in the week, only to be waived less than 24 hours later. Though Nelson showed flashes during his 2023 preseason stints with Miami and Denver, he faced a steep climb in Seattle's deep and competitive outside linebacker room. The Seahawks had returned DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall from last season's Super Bowl-winning defense, while also adding free-agent acquisition Dante Fowler Jr., who brings 58.5 career sacks.
Washington and Harden both began their football journeys in Southern California. Washington attended IMG Academy and JSerra Catholic before Dartmouth and Stanford, while Harden played at Narbonne and Inglewood High. Now, both face a tough challenge to stand out in a competitive roster with a team that recently won the Super Bowl. Their chances depend on strong performances in training camp and the preseason. Washington is joining the Seahawks after training camp has already begun, leaving him less time than most of his competitors to earn practice repetitions and preseason snaps. That makes his previous audition valuable. Rather than beginning completely from zero, Washington should have some familiarity with Seattle’s terminology, coaching expectations and practice structure. The Seahawks also know more about him than they would about a player receiving a first workout in August. Still, the timing creates an uphill climb. Washington must first demonstrate that he can absorb the defense quickly enough to practice without costly assignment errors. He then has to show coverage ability and special-teams value, typically essential for a reserve defensive back fighting for one of the final roster positions. Seattle had already been exploring its options at cornerback before the signing. The team recently worked out multiple defensive backs while looking for more clarity behind its established players, making Washington’s addition part of a broader attempt to strengthen the bottom of the depth chart. Johnson’s departure also gives the move an immediate football purpose. Washington is not arriving because a starting job suddenly became available; he is replacing an injured depth candidate and inheriting the opportunity to compete for those developmental repetitions. For Washington, the path is straightforward even if it is difficult: use the familiarity established at rookie minicamp to get onto the field, challenge throws and prove he can help on special teams. The Seahawks have already seen him once. His return gives Washington a chance to make their second evaluation count.