Seattle moved quickly to sign TJ Harden after his release from Cleveland, giving the former SMU standout another opportunity to earn a roster spot before the regular season.
Former SMU running back TJ Harden's road to the NFL has taken another turn, but his opportunity remains alive. Harden signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, giving SMU's 2025 touchdown leader a fresh chance after a brief stint with the Cleveland Browns.
Harden's first few months as a professional have moved quickly. He went undrafted this spring, signed with Cleveland as an undrafted free agent in May, then was released Aug. 3 as the Browns cleared roster space. Two days later, Seattle added him to its roster, giving the physical running back another opportunity to compete for a job.
The production that earned Harden another chance was legitimate. In his lone season at SMU after transferring from UCLA, he played all 13 games with six starts, rushing for 787 yards while leading the Mustangs in rushing yards and total touchdowns with 10. At 6-foot and 218 pounds, Harden runs with power between the tackles and finishes through contact. That skill set gives him value as a short-yardage runner and depth option.
The challenge is the depth chart. Seattle reshaped its running back room this offseason after Kenneth Walker III left in free agency. First-round rookie Jadarian Price enters training camp as the expected lead back, while George Holani, Emanuel Wilson and several others are competing for roster spots. Harden joins a crowded competition with little margin for error.
One situation bears watching. Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in January and his status for the start of the season remains uncertain. If Charbonnet opens the year on the physically unable to perform list or has his workload managed early, Seattle will need additional depth at running back. A strong training camp and preseason would strengthen Harden's case for a roster spot.
Undrafted rookies rarely receive multiple opportunities in their first offseason. Seattle saw enough to give Harden another chance, and now he needs to take advantage of it.
Harden is expected to make his Seahawks preseason debut Saturday, Aug. 15, when Seattle opens the preseason at Lumen Field against the Dallas Cowboys.
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