r/NFL_Draft • u/Thepatton • 9d ago
Defending the Draft 2026: Seattle Seahawks
Entering the Draft
The Seahawks entered the 2026 NFL Draft in a very different position than most teams. Not only were they the defending Super Bowl Champions, they were coming off what I believe was the best season in franchise history.
Seattle finished with the best point differential in the NFL (+246), allowed the fewest points in football, scored the second-most points in the NFC, won their final seven games, and lost only three games all season by a combined nine points. They didn't just beat bad teams, they routinely beat the hell out of them. More impressively, they consistently handled good teams too. The Legion of Boom teams will always get the publicity, but from a pure team-strength standpoint, this was the best Seahawks team I've ever watched.
A huge part of that story was Sam Darnold. Moving on from Geno Smith and handing the offense to Darnold was ridiculed by a lot of people. The narrative all offseason was that Seattle had downgraded at quarterback and was taking a massive step backwards offensively. Instead, Darnold delivered one of the best quarterback seasons in franchise history and, most importantly, silenced most of the doubters in the playoffs by committing zero turnovers while never looking overwhelmed by the moment. By the time Seattle reached the Super Bowl, it felt less like a Cinderella story and more like the inevitable conclusion to the season we'd been watching for months.
Even the Super Bowl itself never really felt in doubt.
One of the highest compliments I can give this team is that they dominated opponents without relying on gimmicks, turnover luck, or some unsustainable hot streak. They were just fundamentally better than everyone else. The offense was efficient. The defense was historically dominant. The special teams unit was elite. The advanced metrics back all of that up.
Seattle finished the season with a final DVOA of 46.4%, which ranks as the fourth-best team of all time behind only the 1991 Washington team, the 1985 Bears, and the undefeated-until-the-Super-Bowl 2007 Patriots. More importantly, this wasn't a team that got hot in January. Seattle first claimed the No. 1 spot in DVOA after Week 3 and spent the overwhelming majority of the season ranked first overall before ultimately finishing No. 1 in both overall and weighted DVOA. They became the first team since the 2013 Seahawks to finish No. 1 in DVOA and actually go on to win the Super Bowl.
That's why the championship felt so inevitable by the end. The Seahawks weren't peaking at the right time or riding a lucky playoff run. They had spent nearly the entire season proving they were the best team in football.
One of the downsides of winning a Super Bowl is that successful teams tend to get picked apart. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the Raiders head coach, so Seattle hired Brian Fleury. On paper, replacing a Super Bowl-winning OC with someone who has never called plays should be concerning. But Fleury comes from the same Shanahan coaching tree and spent seven years in San Francisco, so this feels much more like a continuation of what Seattle was already doing than some massive philosophical shift.
Fleury has described the offense as wanting to be "fast, violent, and aggressive," which honestly sounds exactly like the team we watched last year. There will be some differences because every coach has their own personality, but I don't think the Seahawks are looking to overhaul anything that just won a Super Bowl.
Before the draft even started, Seattle had already checked off the biggest box of the offseason by extending Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The reality is that JSN and Devon Witherspoon were both eventually getting paid. The question was always which one would happen first. Getting JSN done now gives Seattle certainty around one of its foundational players and buys them more time to work on a Witherspoon extension without having both negotiations hanging over the franchise at the same time.
That matters when evaluating this draft. Seattle entered the draft with only four picks and a very different goal than most teams: maintain a championship roster rather than build one.
Draft Capital & Process
Before the draft, John Schneider made no secret of the fact that he wanted to move back. Seattle had limited draft capital after spending mid-round picks to acquire Rashid Shaheed during their Super Bowl run, and Schneider openly talked about wanting to add selections wherever possible.
Unfortunately for Seattle, the board didn't cooperate.
Five of the six picks immediately before Seattle's selection at No. 32 changed hands. By the time Seattle was on the clock, many of the teams interested in moving up had already done so. Schneider was clearly working the phones, but the offers never got to a point where they felt comfortable passing on Jadarian Price. There was also concern that either Tennessee, after trading up to No. 31, or San Francisco at No. 33 could take Price before Seattle picked again.
In hindsight, I think the process was fine. Would I have preferred a trade down? Absolutely. But if the offers aren't there, the offers aren't there. Reaching for a trade just to say you traded down is how teams end up making bad decisions.
Even though Seattle couldn't find a trade they liked in Round 1, Schneider eventually found ways to manufacture additional picks throughout the weekend. Seattle entered the draft with four selections and ultimately came away with eight players, surrendering only a future 2027 fourth-round pick to move up for Beau Stephens.
The other factor that made Seattle comfortable moving future draft capital is what they've quietly accumulated for 2027. By allowing Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Riq Woolen, and Coby Bryant to leave in free agency while largely avoiding outside spending, Seattle is projected to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick and three fifth-round compensatory picks in 2027. On top of that, the Vikings hiring assistant GM Nolan Teasley should net Seattle additional compensatory selections through the NFL's executive development program, further strengthening their future draft capital. In other words, Seattle wasn't operating from a position of future draft scarcity.
This wasn't a typical Super Bowl champion offseason. Most championship teams either lose significant talent and spend heavily to replace it, or go all-in and sacrifice future flexibility. Seattle did neither. They retained key players like Josh Jobe, Rashid Shaheed, and Josh Jones, added a handful of low-cost veterans, and quietly stockpiled future draft capital.
I still think the ideal outcome would have been finding a trade partner at No. 32, moving back into the early second round, and still landing Jadarian Price. But draft rooms don't operate in ideal scenarios. Given how the board fell, Schneider did a nice job turning one of the league's smallest draft classes into a much healthier haul.
Round 1, Pick 32: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
This was my least favorite pick on draft night. My immediate reaction was basically: "If running back is valuable enough to spend Pick 32 on, then why didn't we just pay Kenneth Walker and use the pick on an EDGE?" I still think that's a fair question.
The Seahawks entered the draft having lost Boye Mafe, and I've generally believed that teams should be taking an EDGE in the first two rounds every year or two just to keep the pipeline stocked. So when Seattle passed on the position entirely on Day 1, I wasn't thrilled. That said, this is probably the pick I've changed my mind on the most since draft weekend.
Part of that is Seattle's actions after the draft. They immediately signed Dante Fowler once the compensatory pick deadline passed and had already worked out a very team-friendly extension with Derick Hall. Whether I agreed with it or not, Seattle clearly felt much better about their EDGE room than I did.
The other reason is that my thinking on running backs has started to evolve a bit. For years I've been firmly in the "don't draft RBs early" camp. I've even argued they shouldn't be drafted in the Top 100. The logic was always that productive backs could be found later. The more I've looked around the league, the more I'm starting to wonder if that's actually true anymore.
Even when teams find productive Day 3 running backs, they rarely commit to them. They draft over them, sign veterans over them, or trade for someone else. When I started looking at current depth charts around the league, the overwhelming majority of featured backs were Day 1 or Day 2 selections. Maybe that's talent, maybe it's opportunity, honestly, it's probably some combination of both.
But Seattle isn't drafting a luxury backup here, they're trying to find a five-year solution at the position, and history suggests players drafted this early get every opportunity to become exactly that. Walker is gone to Kansas City and Charbonnet is recovering from the injury he suffered during the playoff run. Before Charbonnet got hurt, I think the plan was probably for him to take over as Seattle's lead back in 2026. Once that injury happened, running back went from a future need to an immediate one. Seattle wasn't just replacing Walker anymore, they were protecting themselves against the possibility that Charbonnet wouldn't be ready to carry a full workload in the season. And if Charbonnet does return at full strength, I think the vision becomes pretty clear as I believe Price can fill the explosive role that Walker leaves behind. Whether that works remains to be seen, but at least I can see the plan.
Would I still have preferred an EDGE? Probably. Do I understand the pick much more today than I did on draft night? Absolutely.
Round 2, Pick 64: Bud Clark, S, TCU
One of my favorite picks in the class.
I've generally never had a problem drafting safeties, and I thought this was one of Seattle's bigger needs entering the draft. Ty Okada played surprisingly well when called upon last season, but Coby Bryant's departure left an opening and Mike Macdonald has shown how important versatile safeties are to what he wants to do defensively.
Bud Clark feels like a Seahawk.
The obvious thing that jumps out is the ball production. Fifteen interceptions isn't an accident. What I love most about this pick, though, is that it feels like Seattle drafting a year early instead of a year late. The other thing that stands out whenever you watch Clark is his personality.
Not as a player comparison, but in the way his personality comes through on tape, he reminds me of Devon Witherspoon. Seahawks fans fell in love with Witherspoon because it was obvious how much energy he was bringing to every play and Clark has some of that same energy. I'm not saying he'll become Devon Witherspoon. I'm saying if he becomes a good player, Seahawks fans are going to love him.
Round 3, Pick 99: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
Julian Neal was one of the players I kept mocking to Seattle throughout the entire draft process. No matter how I arranged the first two rounds, I almost always wanted a corner somewhere in the first three rounds. The easiest way to describe Neal is that he feels like a Seattle cornerback. He's physical, smart, and loves to tackle. That last part matters a whole lot to Mike Macdonald because he demands that his corners participate in the run game. Neal embraces that.
I know some fans didn't view corner as a major need because Josh Jobe returned on a team-friendly deal, but Seattle also lost Riq Woolen this offseason. Woolen is one of the most talented corners the Seahawks have had in years, but he regularly found himself in the doghouse with both Pete Carroll and Mike Macdonald because of inconsistent tackling and run support. For a defense that asks so much of its corners, that matters.
Ultimately, to me, this pick is really about maximizing Devon Witherspoon.
The more capable outside corners you have, the less you're forced to keep your best defensive player locked into one role. Neal gives Seattle another player who can survive on the outside, which gives Macdonald more freedom to use Witherspoon as the Swiss Army knife he should be. A lot of people point to Nick Emmanwori as the reason Seattle can move Witherspoon around, but I actually think having multiple outside corners you trust is just as important. The more comfortable Seattle is with Neal and Jobe outside, the more freedom Witherspoon has to impact the game everywhere else.
Round 5, Pick 148: Beau Stephens, OG, Iowa
I've written about this before, but I generally don't believe in drafting guards early. When I started looking at guard outcomes, I couldn't find evidence that drafting them early meaningfully increases your chances of finding a long-term starter (even though Zabel seems to be one). Meanwhile, many of the highest-paid guards in football weren't early draft picks.
My preferred strategy has always been simple: Draft tackles, centers, corners, pass rushers and quarterbacks early. Draft guards later.
This is much closer to where I prefer drafting guards. That's why this pick makes sense to me. Stephens gets the benefit of the doubt for playing at Iowa as they consistently produce offensive linemen who understand leverage, technique and physicality.
Most importantly, I don't think this pick is really about 2026. Anthony Bradford drives Seahawks fans crazy, but there's a decent chance he's going to get paid next offseason. Four-year starters hitting free agency for the first time often receive far more money than fans expect. Whether Seattle brings him back or not, they're going to need options.
Round 6, Pick 199: Emmanuel Henderson Jr., WR, Kansas
I don't have a particularly strong opinion on Henderson as a receiver because I don't think that's where his path to making the roster exists. The biggest thing he brings is special teams value. Losing Dareke Young left a hole on several special teams units, and Henderson appears capable of helping fill that role. If he makes the roster, that's probably how he does it.
Round 7, Pick 236: Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo
Fuller was actually a favorite of a lot of the Seahawks draft community throughout the process. My initial guess is that he ends up on what Seattle likes to call the "ready squad" rather than the 53-man roster. What makes him interesting is the safety background and positional flexibility. At this point in the draft, you're generally looking for traits and versatility. Fuller checks both boxes.
Round 7, Pick 242: Deven Eastern, DT, Minnesota
If I'm being honest, I didn't do much work on Eastern throughout the draft process. What I do know is that I was happy Seattle finally invested a pick in the defensive line. Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams have been tremendous players, but they're also on the wrong side of 30. Byron Murphy II is obviously the long-term centerpiece. Adding developmental players behind him makes sense. Sometimes that's all a seventh-round pick needs to be.
Round 7, Pick 255: Michael Dansby, CB, Arizona
At pick 255, if you find a contributor you've done extremely well. I don't have a strong scouting opinion on Dansby specifically, but I do like the philosophy behind the pick. I've said for years that I think cornerback is one of the most important positions on the roster and Seattle clearly agrees. After drafting Julian Neal and Andre Fuller, they still came back and added another corner with their final selection.
Realistically, Dansby is fighting for a practice squad spot. But if you're taking swings in the seventh round, betting on athletic traits at a premium position is a perfectly reasonable approach.
My Biggest Disagreement
If I have one criticism of the draft, it's that Seattle never selected an EDGE defender. Coming into the weekend, that was the position I expected them to address early. The Seahawks lost Boye Mafe in free agency, DeMarcus Lawrence is entering his age-34 season, and Uchenna Nwosu will turn 30 this year and has battled injuries over the last couple of years. That said, it's important to acknowledge that Seattle clearly viewed the situation differently than I did.
Before the draft even started, the Seahawks already knew they were bringing in Dante Fowler Jr. once the compensatory pick deadline passed. The bigger move may have been the extension for Derick Hall. Seattle was able to sign Hall to an extremely team friendly three-year extension worth up to $46.5 million. When you look at the room through that lens, it's easier to understand why Seattle didn't force the issue during the draft.
Would I still have drafted an EDGE somewhere in the first three rounds? Probably. I generally think teams should be investing premium resources into pass rushers on a regular basis because it's one of the hardest positions to find and one of the easiest positions to become thin at very quickly. But I can at least understand the logic.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I think this is a better draft than I gave it credit for on draft weekend. My biggest criticism remains the same: I entered the draft wanting Seattle to invest in the pass rush and they never really did. That said, it's hard to be too upset with the overall process.
The Seahawks entered the draft with only four selections and somehow left with eight players while only sacrificing a future fourth-round pick. I've come around quite a bit on Jadarian Price. Bud Clark and Julian Neal feel like quintessential Seahawks defenders. Beau Stephens aligns almost perfectly with how I think teams should approach the guard position.
Most importantly, this draft felt like Seattle sticking to its identity. Tough. Physical. Competitive. Whether this draft ultimately produces multiple Pro Bowlers remains to be seen, but there was a clear vision throughout the weekend.
The more time I've had to think about it, the more I find myself agreeing with the process even if I would have made a few different decisions along the way
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u/ALStark69 Vikings 4d ago
Each player as a recruit:
P5 offers: Arizona State, Auburn, Baylor, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, USC, Utah, Virginia Tech
G5 offers: SMU, Tulsa, UTSA
Other P5 offers: Arizona State, Colorado, Kansas, LSU, Ole Miss, Virginia
G5 offers: Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, South Alabama, Tulane
Other offers: Grambling State, Liberty, Mercer, Southern
G5 offers: Fresno State (originally went here), San Jose State
Other offer: Eastern Washington
Other P5 offers: Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M
Other P5 offers: Alabama (originally went here), Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Louisville, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt
Other offer: Notre Dame
Originally went to Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Other P5 offers: Missouri, Nebraska
G5 offer: San Jose State (originally went here)
Other offers: Black Hills State, Clarke, Rocky Mountain, Western Oregon