Seahawks Sign Massive Rookie DT Gary Smith III to Practice Squad, Release Uso Seumalo

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. From Duke to UCLA to the NFL: Gary Smith III’s path
4. What Seattle saw in the workout: traits and tape that matter
5. What the Seahawks gave up: the release of Uso Seumalo and roster calculus
6. How Seattle can use Smith: realistic roles and timelines
7. Technical priorities for Smith: what he must improve to stick
8. The developmental model: practice squad as a bridge
9. Comparisons and precedent: how other undrafted or late-added interior linemen have progressed
10. Fit within Seattle’s defensive front: schematic considerations
11. Health history and risk assessment
12. What Smith must show to earn game-day opportunities
13. Practically, what a promotion would mean—and how teams use elevations
14. The broader picture: what this says about Seattle’s priorities
15. The human element: reunions and continuity
16. What to watch next: practical indicators of progress
17. Conclusion: measured optimism and the reality of roster churn
18. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• Seattle signed undrafted rookie defensive tackle Gary Smith III to its practice squad on September 29 after a one-day tryout, releasing nose tackle Uso Seumalo to open the spot.
• Smith profiles as a powerful early-down interior defender with standout run-defense metrics at UCLA and a brief preseason impact with the Las Vegas Raiders; Seattle views him as a developmental option for the middle of its defensive line.
• The move signals Seattle’s preference to test a younger, high-upside run-stopper on the practice field and gives Smith a path to learn the scheme, improve his pass-rush toolkit and compete for rotational snaps or short-yardage duties.

Introduction

A single workout changed Gary Smith III’s 2026 season. Hours after visiting the Seattle Seahawks for a tryout, the 24-year-old defensive tackle who went undrafted this spring landed on the team’s practice squad. The quick decision offers Smith another chance to translate the size and run-stopping profile that made him a regular starter in college into an NFL role, while prompting the Seahawks to part ways with another interior option, Uso Seumalo.

The transaction is small in roster terms but revealing in strategic intent. Seattle did not simply add another body; it swapped one nose-tackle option for another with different developmental upside. Smith’s resume—50 college games with 25 starts at Duke and UCLA, a preseason flash with the Raiders and a 2025 season in which he graded as one of the nation’s stronger run defenders among interior linemen—creates a clear picture of what the Seahawks now have on their practice field: a high-mass, gap-taking interior lineman who can anchor early downs and give coaches a live canvas to teach technique, conditioning and situational deployment.

This move deserves attention beyond the transactional ledger because it highlights how teams use practice squads to retool identity pieces quietly during the season. It also frames the immediate questions Seattle faces: how quickly can Smith learn a new schematic environment, what is his realistic ceiling as a pass rusher and rotational interior player, and how might his presence alter Seattle’s short-yardage and run-defense plans? The answers will come through practice reps, preseason film review and eventual in-game opportunities if injuries or performance open the door.

The following examines Smith’s background, his fit in Seattle, the roster calculus behind releasing Seumalo, and the practical pathway from practice-squad developmental prospect to active-roster contributor.

From Duke to UCLA to the NFL: Gary Smith III’s path

Gary Smith III’s collegiate arc combined two Power Five programs and a degree of resilience that appeals to NFL coaching staffs. He began his career at Duke in 2020 and 2021 before transferring to UCLA. Across five college seasons he played 50 games and made 25 starts, accumulating 111 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Those figures are not eye-popping, but they represent a consistent presence in the middle of defensive fronts and a steady accumulation of experience against high-level competition.

Smith’s most productive season statistically came in 2025. Starting all 12 games for UCLA, he recorded 39 tackles, which led the Bruins’ defensive linemen, along with 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. More telling than raw numbers was how evaluators graded him on specific responsibilities. Pro Football Focus assigned Smith an 82.3 run-defense grade for his final season, a mark that indicates elite-level play against the run among interior defenders. His pass-rush grade, by contrast, sat at 54.7—respectable for a young interior piece but signaling an area that requires technical growth.

A missed 2024 season due to injury followed by a full comeback in 2025 adds context. The 2024 absence raises questions about durability and medical history, but returning to start every game in 2025 showed physical recovery and a capacity to retain a high level of play. Teams often weigh that kind of comeback heavily: a player who can return after injury and perform consistently demonstrates medical improvements and mental toughness.

After going undrafted in 2026, Smith signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and saw limited live action. He flashed in the preseason, teaming with Patrick Johnson on a sack of Gardner Minshew II during the Raiders’ August 13 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Las Vegas waived him ahead of the regular season, leaving him available for workouts; Seattle brought him in and quickly decided to add him to the practice squad.

The path—from undrafted free agent to practice squad—fits a familiar NFL template. Smith’s raw attributes, especially his size and run-defense aptitude, make him an attractive developmental player. The Seahawks will evaluate whether refining his pass-rush tendencies, pad level and play recognition can convert him into a reliable early-down interior presence or even a situational disruptor on passing downs.

What Seattle saw in the workout: traits and tape that matter

Seattle’s quick signing suggests the team saw specific traits during Smith’s tryout and in his film that fit a defined need. The attributes that jump off from his college and preseason tape are straightforward: mass, power at the point of attack, gap integrity and a nose-for-contact in run-stopping situations.

• Size and anchor: Listed at 6-foot-2 and roughly 340 pounds during his final college season, Smith offers brute strength at the point of attack. That size helps him collapse gaps, soak up double teams and hold his ground against lead blocks—critical skills in early-down and short-yardage scenarios.
• Run-defense instincts: The 82.3 run-defense grade is the clearest quantitative backing for his profile. That grade reflects not only his ability to defeat blocks but also his positional discipline—maintaining gap responsibility, reading pulling linemen and shedding blocks to make tackles.
• Versatility from college experience: Smith’s 50-game experience across Duke and UCLA exposed him to multiple schemes and blocking styles. That experience smooths the transition to new playbooks and teaching techniques.
• Youth and upside: At 24, Smith still projects as a player who can improve his motor, conditioning and technique with consistent coaching and repetitions.

Seattle likely also noted areas for development, which shaped the nature of the roster move:

• Pass-rush toolkit: His lower pass-rush grade points to limited moves and less bend at the point of attack. Converting that raw power into consistent interior pressure will require technical work—hand fakes, footwork, timing and combination moves to separate from blockers.
• Conditioning and stamina: A player of Smith’s mass needs tailored conditioning to sustain effort across downs and throughout games at the NFL level.
• Game-speed processing: The jump from college to NFL offensive lines requires quicker reads against complex blocking schemes; repetition in practice will be essential.

In a tryout setting, coaches evaluate not only movement and technique but also coachability, effort, and how quickly a player absorbs instruction. Seattle’s decision implies that Smith impressed on those fronts enough to merit a roster spot for development.

What the Seahawks gave up: the release of Uso Seumalo and roster calculus

The Seahawks opened the practice-squad slot by releasing nose tackle Uso Seumalo. The move reads as a calculated switch rather than a simple waiver transaction. Teams rarely remove one interior lineman in favor of another unless they see a potential upgrade, a better developmental timeline, or a clearer schematic fit.

Several factors likely contributed to the decision:

• Long-term upside: Smith’s age, recent playing time and demonstrable run-defense metrics present a clearer developmental upside than a veteran who may not project forward in the same way. Teams balancing immediate depth and future upside will accept short-term risk for longer-term potential.
• Role differentiation: Smith profiles primarily as an early-down run defender. If the Seahawks wanted to emphasize run-stopping depth and create competition at the nose/two-gapping spot, Smith fits that specification.
• Financial and transactional practicality: Practice-squad slots are finite. Teams often prefer to rotate younger players they can develop over the course of the season rather than hold veterans who might occupy the same role but offer less room to grow.
• Special teams and scheme fit: While practice-squad players don’t always contribute heavily to special teams, a player’s ability to step in for short-yardage or goal-line packages can be decisive. Smith’s size positions him as a logical candidate for those packages.

This was not a critique of Seumalo’s ability—teams make personnel shifts constantly based on immediate roster needs and long-term planning. For Smith, the release created an opening that the Seahawks chose to fill with a player whose on-field profile aligns with the team’s run-defense priorities.

How Seattle can use Smith: realistic roles and timelines

Practice squad membership does not guarantee an immediate elevation, but it puts a player in the best position to earn one. There are realistic, tiered roles that Smith can aim for over the coming weeks and months.

Short-term (practice-squad acclimation, 0–4 weeks)

• Learn the scheme: Mastering Seattle’s gap assignments, stunts, and leverage expectations is the immediate priority. Practice reps and meetings will test his ability to pick up line calls and responsibilities.
• Physical conditioning: NFL-level endurance for a 340-pound interior player requires specific training. The team’s strength and conditioning staff will tailor programs to maximize snap sustainability.
• Technique refinement: Emphasis on pad level, hand placement, quickness off the snap, and finishing through contact.

Near-term (rotational snaps, spot duty, 4–12 weeks)

• Short-yardage and goal-line packages: Smith’s mass is ideal for packaged snaps on third-and-short or goal-line opportunities where a pure run-stuffer is needed.
• Rotational early-down duties: As a substitute to give starters rest, Smith could handle early downs, freeing more mobile tackles for passing situations.
• Spot elevations: Coaches may elevate a practice-squad player for a game or two to cover injuries or to test his readiness in live action. How he responds in real-game situations will shape longer-term decisions.

Long-term (active-roster target, 12+ weeks or next season)

• Active-roster promotion: Demonstrated improvement in assignment reliability and technique can lead to a full active-roster signing, particularly if injuries hit the interior line.
• Expanded role as pass-rush develops: If Seattle’s coaching staff successfully refines his interior pass-rush moves, Smith could become a two-down interior presence who can also generate occasional interior pressure.

This timeline is not fixed. Each player’s trajectory depends on performance in practice and how the broader roster evolves. For Smith, the immediate goal is to show consistency and readiness when given opportunities.

Technical priorities for Smith: what he must improve to stick

NFL coaches evaluate interior defensive linemen on a set of interrelated traits. For Gary Smith III, the following technical priorities should take center stage:

• Pad level and leverage: Lowering his center of mass and winning with leverage is essential against NFL interior offensive linemen. Smaller or more compact players can succeed if they control leverage.
• Hand usage: NFL linemen win with precise hand strikes, club-and-swim counters, and the ability to redirect linemen’s momentum. Developing a reliable set of hand moves will help Smith extend his pass-rush effectiveness.
• Footwork and quickness: Two- and three-step burst off the snap is crucial. Improving first-step quickness allows an interior lineman to penetrate gaps before blocks can be fully set.
• Gap discipline and play recognition: Maintaining assigned gaps, reacting to pulling linemen, and diagnosing run-versus-pass in real time separate dependable rotation players from liabilities.
• Conditioning and effort through the whistle: NFL snaps are faster and more frequent. Improved conditioning keeps him effective across drives.

Each of these areas is coachable. Practice squads exist to provide the repetition necessary to refine these skills without the immediate pressure of regular-season snaps.

The developmental model: practice squad as a bridge

The NFL practice squad functions as a bridge between the college game and the active roster. For players like Smith, the space it provides allows for focused development:

• Time and structure: Practice squads keep players in daily team routines—meetings, walkthroughs, positional coaching—while exposing them to professional expectations.
• Game-planning exposure: Even without active-game reps, practice-squad players see weekly game plans, which accelerates their football IQ.
• Opportunity for temporary elevation: Coaching staffs can elevate players for single games to address immediate needs, offering short windows to prove readiness in live games.
• Competitive pressure: Internal competition on the practice field is real. Smith must out-push both veterans and younger peers to climb the depth chart.

The practice squad is also a showcase. Other teams can sign practice-squad players to their active rosters, so consistent improvement can generate external interest and opportunities.

Comparisons and precedent: how other undrafted or late-added interior linemen have progressed

NFL history contains many examples of players who began as undrafted prospects, spend time on practice squads, and ultimately carved out roles. The precise arcs vary, but the pattern of learning, incremental opportunity and eventual contribution is common.

Two broad models emerge:

1. The short-term plug-and-play: A player develops enough to become a reliable situational option—short-yardage specialist, rotational run-stopper—and remains productive in a limited role. Success here depends on a clear role and consistent performance.
2. The long-term developmental breakout: A player refines his technique and expands his toolkit to earn a permanent active-roster role and more snaps. Development may take a season or longer, with training emphasis on pass-rush moves, conditioning and play recognition.

Specific named examples of non-first-day contributors who built careers through persistence exist across league history. Those players shared traits with Smith: work ethic, adaptability, and a capacity to learn new techniques under coaching staffs.

For Seattle, the ideal is the former—bringing in a player who can quickly provide early-down strength—but the latter remains possible if Smith develops a pass-rush element or exceptional playmaking against blocks.

Fit within Seattle’s defensive front: schematic considerations

Successful integration depends on scheme fit. Smith’s strengths align with several defensive scenarios:

• Two-gapping fronts: In schemes that ask interior linemen to control two gaps and occupy blockers, Smith’s mass and run-defense instincts are assets. He can anchor the middle, freeing linebackers to make plays.
• Early-down rotation: If the Seahawks prioritize lighter, quicker personnel on passing downs, a heavier player like Smith becomes a strategic early-down substitution to shore up run defense.
• Short-yardage and goal-line packages: Smith’s size naturally fits package situations where thickness at the point of attack increases the chance of defending or producing tackles for loss.

Seattle’s coaching staff will balance these choices against the need for interior pass rush. If the scheme demands interior pressure from both interior spots on passing downs, Smith will need a demonstrable uplift in pass-rush technique to increase his snap counts.

The roster decision to replace one nose tackle with another suggests the staff values Smith’s potential contribution to the run front more than whatever experience Seumalo provided on the practice squad. Over time, how Seattle deploys Smith in practices, simulated game reps and (if elevated) regular-season snaps will reveal the staff’s longer-term schematic vision for him.

Health history and risk assessment

Smith missed the 2024 season due to injury, then returned to start every game in 2025. That sequence demands a two-fold assessment:

• Medical clearance and durability: The team’s medical staff would have reviewed his recovery, range of motion, strength and susceptibility to recurrence. Signing him to the practice squad indicates the Seahawks are comfortable with his current medical profile.
• Risk versus reward: Any player with a significant missed season carries some uncertainty. The upside—size, run-defense ability and age—appears to have outweighed the risk in Seattle’s calculation.

Ongoing monitoring will be part of his development. How he holds up under NFL-level repetitions and against heavier training loads will inform future roster decisions.

What Smith must show to earn game-day opportunities

Every practice-squad player who makes an active roster follows a performance path. For Smith, the immediate evaluative factors that can lead to elevation include:

• Reliable assignment play: Coaches prioritize players who consistently execute their role without creating matchup liabilities.
• Practice competitiveness: Winning one-on-one and competitive drills against starters or fellow rotational players raises his stock.
• Special teams potential: Even interior linemen can contribute on certain special-teams packages, notably field-goal protection or short-yardage units. If Smith can carve out special-teams value, he increases his immediate utility.
• Situational excellence: Dominance in short-yardage drills, breakaway push in goal-line scenarios, or standout snaps in scrimmages will make a compelling case.
• Improvement in pass-rush moves: Even a small uptick in interior pressure production—push for a few QB pressures in practice—can change a coaching staff’s view on deploying him third down.

Demonstrating these traits in a compressed timeframe will determine how quickly Smith receives live-game opportunities.

Practically, what a promotion would mean—and how teams use elevations

Practice-squad elevations are a practical way teams bridge temporary needs. Elevations offer:

• Game-day testing: Coaches can evaluate a player under real-game conditions without committing a full roster spot long-term.
• Flexibility: A player can be elevated for a single game, then return to the practice squad, allowing coaches to manage the roster week-to-week.
• Path to a permanent role: Consistent readiness during elevations often leads to a full active-roster signing, either by the same team or another club.

For Smith, a successful elevation would provide the first tangible evidence of his transition from developmental prospect to contributing NFL player. The nature of his snaps—short-yardage defense, rotational early-down series, or occasional pass-rush downs—will indicate how the coaching staff envisions his role.

The broader picture: what this says about Seattle’s priorities

The Smith signing carries broader implications beyond one practice-squad spot. It suggests Seattle is prioritizing:

• Run-defense depth: Adding a player with a high run-defense grade signals an emphasis on interior run-stopping quality, potentially reflecting opponent matchups or a desire to reinforce the middle against power rush systems.
• Youth and development: Choosing an undrafted rookie over a veteran practice-squad member indicates a tilt toward developmental upside and long-term roster construction.
• Tactical flexibility: A heavier interior piece allows the Seahawks to swap personnel by down and situation without drastically changing scheme concepts.

These priorities align with roster building principles that value depth, specialized packages and continuous competition. Practice-squad moves like this produce benefits that are often invisible in box scores but crucial in sustaining competitive depth across a long NFL season.

The human element: reunions and continuity

A smaller but meaningful detail: Smith reunites with a familiar locker-room face in Jake Bobo, a Seahawks wide receiver who overlapped with him at both Duke and UCLA. That prior relationship can ease transition stresses—familiar faces help acclimate newcomers to locker-room culture and city life, and they can provide informal mentorship through the daily grind of practice and meetings.

Additionally, Smith’s comeback from injury speaks to resilience. Teams weigh not only athletic ability but also intangible qualities—work ethic, persistence, and team-first demeanor. Those traits often determine whether a practice-squad player takes full advantage of the developmental window offered by an NFL staff.

What to watch next: practical indicators of progress

For observers tracking Smith’s development and his prospects with the Seahawks, several indicators will reveal his trajectory:

• Practice reports and beat coverage: How local beat reporters describe Smith’s presence in drills, one-on-ones and practice competitiveness provides a near real-time read.
• How coaches deploy him in practice: Repetition against starters, inclusion in game-plan work vs pure scout-team reps, and participation in short-yardage packages are meaningful.
• Temporary elevations: Any game-day elevation is a strong signal the staff sees immediate value.
• Special teams contributions: Earning a visible special-teams role fast-tracks roster opportunities.
• Consistency in conditioning and injury prevention: Appearing fresh and productive late in practice or during consecutive practice days reduces medical worries.

Tracking these signs will inform fans and analysts whether Smith is preparing for a longer NFL career or simply occupying a developmental spot.

Conclusion: measured optimism and the reality of roster churn

Seattle’s signing of Gary Smith III to the practice squad expresses a conservative optimism that a young, massive interior defender can be coached into a reliable early-down disruptor. The team replaced one nose-tackle option with another—this time prioritizing age, upside and run-defense prowess over veteran familiarity.

Smith’s path will not be linear. He must translate college instincts and raw power into the refined technique the NFL requires. The practice squad buys time and structure for that conversion. For Seattle, the move enhances depth and offers an intriguing project at a position where the margin between effective run defense and vulnerability can determine the course of games.

Players like Smith often thrive or falter based on the quality of coaching, the opportunity to practice against top-level competition week after week, and the durability to sustain a season’s workload. If he succeeds, the Seahawks gain an affordable, situationally valuable interior lineman. If not, roster churn will continue until another profile fits the desired equation.

The immediate takeaway is straightforward: Seattle moved deliberately and decisively after a tryout, choosing a developmental, high-mass run defender to occupy a practice-squad role and possibly beyond. Observers should watch practice reports, any temporary elevations and the speed at which he assimilates Seattle’s defensive language to assess whether Gary Smith III’s NFL story will progress beyond a developmental footnote to a durable contributor.

FAQ

Q: Who is Gary Smith III? A: Gary Smith III is a 24-year-old defensive tackle who played at Duke and UCLA. He went undrafted in 2026, spent the offseason with the Las Vegas Raiders and was signed to the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad on September 29 after a tryout.

Q: Why did the Seahawks sign him? A: Seattle signed Smith for his run-stopping profile, size and developmental upside. Pro Football Focus credited him with an 82.3 run-defense grade in his final college season, which suggests he can anchor early downs and plug running lanes. The Seahawks likely see him as a project who can develop into a reliable interior option.

Q: What did the Seahawks do to make room for him? A: The Seahawks released nose tackle Uso Seumalo from the practice squad to open a roster spot. The move reads as a swap of one interior option for another with different developmental potential.

Q: What are Smith’s strengths and weaknesses? A: Strengths: extensive size and mass (around 340 pounds), gap discipline, strong run-defense grade, experience as a multi-year starter at the Power Five level. Weaknesses: less-developed pass-rush moves and lower pass-rush grade, questions about sustained NFL-level conditioning and the missed 2024 season due to injury (though he returned in 2025).

Q: How can a practice-squad player be used during the season? A: Practice-squad players can be elevated for game-day needs, signed to active rosters by their current team or other teams, and used as developmental depth through practice repetitions. Elevations allow coaching staffs to test players in live games without immediately committing a long-term roster spot.

Q: What must Smith show to make the active roster? A: He must demonstrate consistent assignment execution, improved pass-rush techniques, reliable conditioning, strong practice competitiveness, and ideally contribute to special teams or short-yardage packages. A standout temporary elevation performance can accelerate a permanent promotion.

Q: Does the missed 2024 season hurt his chances? A: Missing a season is a consideration, but Smith’s return to start every game in 2025 suggests a successful recovery. Teams will continue to monitor his health and durability under the full demands of NFL practices and games.

Q: How quickly could he play for the Seahawks? A: Timelines vary. If he learns the scheme quickly and performs well in practice, temporary elevations for situational play could come within weeks. A full active-roster promotion typically requires sustained demonstration of readiness or an injury to a rostered player.

Q: How common is it for undrafted players to succeed from the practice squad? A: It is common for undrafted or late-added players to develop via the practice squad into meaningful contributors. The practice squad provides time, coaching and exposure to NFL systems—a necessary bridge for many players whose skills translate with refinement.

Q: Who else at Seattle could be affected by this move? A: The signing directly affected Uso Seumalo, who was released to open the spot. It also creates competition for other interior linemen on the practice squad and active roster by injecting a new, size-oriented option into the mix. Coaches will decide how to integrate Smith into rotation plans and package deployments as the season progresses.