Seattle Seahawks LB Chazz Surratt
Getty
Seattle Seahawks LB Chazz Surratt
Less than 24 hours after submitting their initial 53-man roster, the Seattle Seahawks have already made some changes. On Aug. 27, the team signed linebacker Chazz Surratt and placed him on the active roster. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo added that Surratt fielded “multiple offers for a spot on an active roster” before joining the Seahawks.
Surratt was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, Aug. 26, as part of the final NFL roster cuts. He was not subject to waivers, allowing the Seahawks to sign him immediately. Considering his placement on the active roster, the 28-year-old could receive significant playing time right away, whether it’s at linebacker or on special teams. And the team he’ll face first? The one that cut him. The Seahawks open the season at home against the 49ers on Sept. 7.
The Minnesota Vikings drafted Surratt in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After playing nine games in his rookie season, Surratt was waived by the Vikings and signed with the New York Jets in 2022. He appeared in 32 games for the Jets over three seasons, logging 37 tackles and two tackles for loss. Most of his experience is on special teams, where he has played over 600 snaps.
Surratt’s Unique College Career
Surratt followed a unique path to the NFL, starting as a quarterback at the University of North Carolina before converting to linebacker in his junior year. We’ve seen many college quarterbacks change position upon entering the league, but the most common route is quarterback to wide receiver. Notable examples include Terrelle Pryor, Julian Edelman, Hines Ward, and Antwaan Randle El. It’s rare to see a quarterback convert to linebacker, but Surratt’s size and athleticism made the transition successful and led to the Vikings drafting him at No. 78 overall.
Surratt tallied 116 tackles and 12.5 sacks during his two college seasons at linebacker. Primarily lining up as an inside linebacker, he added 23 tackles for loss and two interceptions in his UNC career.
He played 10 games at quarterback for the Tar Heels, nine of which were in his freshman year. Surratt threw for 1,342 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions as a freshman in 2017. Despite the solid numbers, disaster would, of course, have to befall the Seahawks for Surratt to play under center in 2025.
Adding Depth at Linebacker
The Seahawks kept eight linebackers on their initial 53-man roster: Ernest Jones IV, Tyrice Knight, Drake Thomas, Derick Hall, Jared Ivey, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, and Connor O’Toole. However, only three of those players (Jones IV, Knight, and Thomas) are inside linebackers. The rest are primarily considered pass rushers.
Seahawks’ insiders, such as Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, noted how thin the Seahawks were at inside linebacker, as well as on the interior defensive line. Surratt now adds depth and versatility to a Mike MacDonald defense that alternates between 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. He will likely receive significant playing time on special teams as well. In 2024, Surratt played 63 percent of the Jets’ special teams snaps.
The Seahawks will have to remove a current player from the active roster to accommodate Surratt. That move has yet to be announced.