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Why LB Ja’Markis Weston's versatile past gives Seahawks roster value
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- Why LB Ja’Markis Weston's versatile past gives Seahawks roster value
On December 2, 2025, the Seattle Seahawks signed linebacker Ja'Markis Weston to the practice squad. He was an undrafted free agent who appeared in three games for the New York Jets , but failed to make an impact. He didn't have standout athletic testing and wasn't an all-conference player. If he doesn't follow the typical blueprint, what does Seattle see in him enough to keep him around, and what use could he have to the team in 2026?
The answer is multifaceted but the logic is ordinary. One of the Seahawks' most important and irreplaceable players is Nick Emmanwori , one of the best 'star' defenders in the NFL. He's listed as a safety, but to answer his position with one word is almost a disservice, because he does so many things well and lines up in so many different spots that to evaluate him just as a safety sells him short. He's fast enough to line up as an outside cornerback, big enough to play linebacker, fluid enough to patrol the nickel, and even rushes the passer sometimes. There are very few other athletes in all of football who can play his position the same way.
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If he were to be unavailable, the Seahawks' would have to fill his role with other players from each individual position group to make it up in the aggregate. When filling his pass-specialist-but-also-linebacker assignment duties, Tyrice Knight would typically be the only option. Weston provides depth behind them as a linebacker who can cover well, and doesn't sacrifice quite as much size as Knight.
Weston provides one more big similarity to Emmanwori. He has experience playing in different position groups. The first thing the Seahawks list on their website's bio of him is that he "contributed at wide receiver, safety, EDGE, and special teams during his career at Florida". His experience lining up all over gives the Seahawks' extra layers of star defender depth. It's also easy to see this being massively useful on scout teams and in practice.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Versatile Florida LB Ja'Markis Weston gives Seahawks great value
