Former Viking Joins Sam Darnold in Seattle
Dial your Minnesota Vikings fandom back to four years, and you might remember inside linebacker Chazz Surratt.
The Seahawks are apparently a popular destination for former Minnesota Vikings. Another ventured to Seattle this week after NFL roster cuts.
Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman pulled Surratt from Round 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft, Spielman’s final draft in charge.
Surratt didn’t stay attached to Minnesota’s roster orbit for long, and four years later, he’ll try on the Seattle Seahawks for size.
Ex-Vikings Defender Picks Seattle
Surratt should fill a special teams role in the Emerald City.
LB Chazz Surratt Chooses the Seahawks
The San Francisco 49ers dropped Surratt, 28, on Tuesday, and he didn’t marinate in the unemployment line very long.
NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted Wednesday, “The Seahawks are signing LB Chazz Surratt to their active roster, per his agents Ness Mugrabi and David Canter of Aura Sports Group. A day after he was released by the 49ers, Surratt lands elsewhere in the NFC West after fielding multiple offers for a spot on an active roster.”
Surratt went from 49ers roster cut to possibly San Francisco practice squad candidate — to a member of the Seahawks active regular season roster. Quite the plot twist.
Surratt’s NFL Resume to Date
Surratt was not a hot commodity in 2025 free agency, ignored by all NFL teams for about 2.5 months. Then, the 49ers took the plunge in late May, giving the North Carolina alumnus a full summer audition.
When that didn’t work out, the Seahawks swooped, marking Surratt’s fourth NFL team. Here’s his pro resume to date:
- Minnesota Vikings (2021)
- New York Jets (2022–2024)
- San Francisco 49ers (2025)
- Seattle Seahawks (2025)
The man has played 146 defensive snaps in four seasons. He’s mostly a special teamer, a role probably awaiting him on Mike Macdonald’s squad.
The Seahawks’ LB Corps in 2025
This is Seattle’s off-ball linebacker group, with the NFL regular season one week away on the nose:
- Ernest Johnson IV
- Tyrice Knight
- Uchenna Nwosu
- Boye Mafe
- Drake Thomas
- Chazz Surratt
- Connor O’Toole
Seattle’s defense ranked 10th in the NFL last year per EPA/Play, Macdonald’s first in charge.
Surratt’s Time in Minnesota
Vikings fans had high hopes for Surratt once upon a time, a common feeling for all 3rd-Round picks. But the new Seahawk experienced head coach turnover right away in his career, with Minnesota’s transition from Mike Zimmer to Kevin O’Connell. When O’Connell arrived in 2022, Surratt was not a priority to retain.
Surratt played nine games in Minnesota, all as a rookie, and exclusively saw action on special teams that season, 2021.
In total, he’s appeared in 41 contests (five starts) and recorded 19 tackles on defense to go along with 18 special teams tackles. Last season, he saw playing time in a career-high 17 games, and recorded 18 tackles on defense and 10 special teams tackles in New York.
Seahawks-Themed Media on Surratt
Seahawks pundits appeared to welcome the transaction with open arms.
Seahawk Wire‘s Justin Melo remarked, “One of the bigger concerns on the Seattle Seahawks’ initial 53-man roster was the lack of depth at inside linebacker behind starters Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight. General manager John Schneider understandably went light at the position, given the lack of talent.”
“Drake Thomas was the only reserve linebacker on the first 53-man iteration. Naturally, Schneider continued looking around for potential upgrades. Well, The Seahawks found their fourth linebacker, and it’s an experienced one they needed. Veteran Chazz Surratt was signed following his release from the San Francisco 49ers. Surratt was a vested veteran, having four accrued NFL campaigns under his belt.”
Surratt played 137 defensive snaps for the 2024 Jets and saw action on 272 special teams plays.
Melo continued, “That means he wasn’t subject to the waiver claims process, and could sign with a team of his choosing right away. Surratt had ‘multiple offers,’ according to Mike Garafolo, but chose the Seahawks. A 2021 third-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings, Surratt has bounced around the league a bit. After disappointing in Minnesota as a rookie, he joined the New York Jets for the previous three seasons (2022-24).”
“Surratt signed with the 49ers earlier this offseason, but was released at final cuts. Surratt earned a career-high 137 defensive snaps for the Jets last year. He earned an overall defensive grade of 72.7 from Pro Football Focus. Surratt’s addition made the Seahawks better at off-ball linebacker.”
The Seahawks are expected to win eight or nine games this season. They’ll play Minnesota at the end of November.
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