Seahawks bet on Ricky White III's upside with a futures contract, signaling belief in the young receiver's potential beyond his late-round draft status.
In the wake of Seattle’s Super Bowl run, the Seahawks aren’t just celebrating a championship — they’re already turning their attention to building the next contender. One of the key offseason roster moves was locking up promising young talent, and one name Seahawks fans should be watching closely is Ricky White III.
White, a 24-year-old wide receiver out of UNLV, was Seattle’s final pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, taken in the seventh round with the 238th overall selection. While that late-round status meant he faced long odds to make an immediate impact, Seattle clearly likes what they see in his potential, enough to give him another shot by signing him to a reserve/futures contract this offseason.
Futures contracts are a staple of NFL offseason roster building. They allow teams to retain the rights to developmental players — usually practice squad standouts or young draft picks — and bring them into offseason workouts and training camp with a chance to compete for a roster spot. While these deals aren’t guarantees of a place on the Week 1 active roster, they show a club’s belief in a player’s long-term upside.
For White, this contract is a meaningful vote of confidence from the Seahawks. In the 2025 season, he appeared in two regular-season games and was used sparingly, with 13 offensive snaps and nine on special teams, but he didn’t record a catch. He also spent significant time on the practice squad, and at one point was called up to the active roster during the season to provide depth amid injuries.
But one look at his college stats show just how much potential the young receiver has.
In three seasons at UNLV, White racked up over 3,100 yards and 23 touchdowns on over 200 receptions. This past season he was also returning punts, one of which he took all the way back to the house.
This offseason signing is also part of a larger Seahawks strategy of retaining continuity and competition after a championship season. Alongside veterans and other young players, White will have every chance to stake his claim in a receiver room that’s shaping up to be both talented and deep.
For Seahawks fans, this futures contract shouldn't just be small-print roster micromanagement — it should be a reminder that Seattle is investing in youth and development, and that Ricky White’s journey with the franchise is far from over. Keep an eye on him as the offseason progresses and camp battles begin.