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Our Defending Champs Just Waived Derrick Graham, And This 3.5-Point Favorite Has Only Days To Nail It

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New England Patriots logo on gradient background — Created by the Sports On Tap desk | Source : Sports On Tap (team logos property of their respective owners)

The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks just waived offensive lineman Derrick Graham, officially kicking off the frenzied, high-stakes final push to trim a staggering 38 players from their massive 91-man roster. This isn’t just routine paperwork, 12s; this is General Manager John Schneider’s ultimate test before our regular season officially kicks off. He’s got until 6 PM New York time on Sunday, August 30, to pare things down, and the entire Emerald City is holding its breath, watching every rumored and reported move as our champions shape their roster for another epic run.

Schneider’s Roster Juggling Act Is In Full Swing

That first move, letting go of Graham, was just the opening shot in what’s going to be a whirlwind few days. Immediately following that decision, our squad signed Terrion Arnold, showing Schneider isn’t wasting a second in optimizing the roster. This isn’t about simply cutting dead weight for a Super Bowl-winning team; it’s about meticulous roster construction. Schneider has to decide on waiving players, outright releasing others, potentially moving some to injured reserve, or even swinging trades to ensure every single fringe spot on this 53-man squad is as competitive and battle-ready as possible. We’re talking about reshaping almost half the team in less than a week, a truly monumental task for our GM as he works to build the deepest, most resilient roster possible to defend that title.

Kicking Off 2026 By Thumping The Pats

All this intense roster drama is happening while the Hawks are locked in on the goal of kicking off the 2026 campaign with a bang on Wednesday, September 9. And what a bang it promises to be: a chance to go out there and absolutely thump the New England Patriots! Our Seahawks are already tabbed as 3.5-point favorites over the Pats at FanDuel Sportsbook, which isn’t just a betting line; it’s a testament to the league’s belief in our squad’s dominance. Coach Mike Macdonald, the mastermind behind our recent Super Bowl victory, will be looking to secure his third straight win against the Patriots in his three seasons at the helm, proving he still owns that matchup. Even during the preseason, we saw glimpses of that competitive fire. Just yesterday, at Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs, our boys battled hard to a 9-9 tie. Remember Chiefs cornerback D’Arco Perkins-McAllister breaking up that pass intended for our wide receiver Julian Hicks? That was a reminder that even in a meaningless game, our guys are fighting for every inch, for every play, knowing the real stakes are just around the corner.

So, get ready, Seattle! With the final roster cuts coming down to the wire and the regular season opener against the Patriots just days away on September 9, this is where the foundation for another championship run is laid. Our defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks are primed to open 2026 exactly how they closed 2025: with a statement win. We’re all eagerly anticipating who makes that final 53 and watching our beloved champs lay down the law against the Pats to start what we all hope is another legendary season in the Emerald City!

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.

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