The Seattle Seahawks waived linebacker Chris Paul Jr. with an injury designation this week, a roster move that cleared a 90-man spot as they claimed offensive tackle Kellen Diesch off waivers from the Kansas City Chiefs.
If Paul goes unclaimed, he will revert to injured reserve. The timing comes days before the NFL’s final roster cutdown deadline, as Seattle continues to reshape its roster after a Super Bowl-winning 2025 season.
This is not the NBA’s Chris Paul, in case you wondering.
The Seahawks’ Paul — often called Pooh Paul — is a 23-year-old inside linebacker from Cordele, Georgia. The Los Angeles Rams selected him in the fifth round (No. 172 overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft after he transferred from Arkansas to Ole Miss.
In his lone season with the Rebels, he posted 88 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four passes defended and an interception, earning All-America honors and Butkus Award finalist status.
At 6-foot-1 and about 235 pounds with a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, he offered the profile of a potential three-down Will linebacker.
The Rams waived him during 2025 final cuts after a calf injury limited him in training camp. Undrafted rookie Shaun Dolac and veteran Troy Reeder won the roster spots ahead of him.
Seattle, looking for linebacker depth behind Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight, signed him to the practice squad the next day. He spent the entire 2025 season there — technically a Super Bowl champion without appearing in a regular-season or playoff game — then signed a reserve/future contract in February 2026.
An ankle issue interrupted his 2026 camp work, and he never climbed the depth chart in a crowded room that also includes Drake Thomas, Patrick O’Connell and others.
Claiming Diesch, a journeyman tackle with UFL experience who had just been released by Kansas City, was a low-cost way to add offensive-line insurance. Waiving Paul injured was the corresponding move.
For Paul, the next step is likely another practice-squad opportunity if he recovers and no team claims him.
The Seahawks have shown they value developmental linebackers, but roster math and health have so far kept him on the fringe.
The move is a reminder of how quickly draft-pick status can fade when injuries and competition collide — even for a player who once looked like a mid-round steal in the same division.
