Takeaways From Day 1 of Seahawks’ 2026 Rookie Minicamp
Launching their NFL careers by taking the practice field for the first time, the Seattle Seahawks’ latest 2026 draft class kicked off the next phase of the team’s offseason program with the first of two rookie minicamp sessions at the VMAC on Friday.
What stood out from the first practice for the Class of 2026? Here’s a few notes from the facility as rookies begin to get acclimated to their new surroundings:
Speed, quicks, and sculpted arms on early display for first round pick Jadarian Price.
Until the pads come on several months down the road, fans will have to wait to truly see what juice Price brings to the Seahawks’ backfield as the heir apparent for Ken Walker III. But as far as first impressions go in a non-contact OTA-like May practice, he looked the part of a first round pick amongst his peers.
It’s Time to Take Mariners’ Cole Young Seriously Among MLB’s Best Young Second Basemen
There were a lot of different paths the Seattle Mariners could have taken this offseason when it came to second base.
Jorge Polanco hit .329 with a 1.015 in the final five weeks of the season last year, splitting time between second base and designated hitter, but that path closed when the New York Mets signed him to a two-year, $40 million contract this winter, ending his tenure in Seattle. Luis Arraez was also a popular free agent who could play second base, while buzz surrounded a potential blockbuster trade for Ketel Marte. The Mariners decided to not pursue external candidates for second base. When they traded for Brandon Donovan, it was for him to play third.
This partially paved the way for the Mariners to give Cole Young a long runway as one of the franchise’s staple infielders.
Apparently, all Young needed was more time to settle into his Mariners uniform. Because now, he looks like one of the best young middle infielders in Major League Baseball.
‘Class Act’: Jadarian Price Brings Professional Approach, Rare Traits to Seahawks’ Backfield
No matter where a prospect starred, even in an era now defined by NIL and the transfer portal that has blurred the lines between amateur and professional considerably, there’s no such thing as a college football player being 100% prepared for jumping up to the highest level of the sport in the NFL.
If there’s a program that truly offers the complete package preparation-wise prior to entering the league, however, the “golden domers” at Notre Dame may just take the cake. The Fighting Irish not only have one of the most storied traditions for winning in college football on the field with 972 victories all-time, but they boast one of the most prestigious academic institutions in the world, providing a unique, one-of-a-kind environment that fosters both strong work ethic and real world habits that translate well to the high-stakes life of playing in the NFL.
Earning a degree in sociology while helping Notre Dame reach a College Football Playoff Championship Game along the way, Jadarian Price made the most of his four-year experience in South Bend, and as the latest first round pick for the Seattle Seahawks, he’s already seeing the benefits of playing for the Fighting Irish as he adapts to his new team and surroundings.
Gonzaga Baseball Sets 14-Game Winning Streak Before Falling to No. 13 Oregon
Like all good things, Gonzaga baseball’s (27-15, 15-3 WCC) miraculous stretch finally came to an end. Going nearly a month without a loss and coming off another weekend sweep – this time at home over LMU – the Zags’ 14-game winning streak was snapped by No. 13 Oregon (33-11, 15-6 Big Ten) on Tuesday in Eugene.
For solace, the Bulldogs weren’t outclassed against their second ranked opponent of the season, falling 4-3 in a tense contest where, after the opening frame, runs came at a premium. They were able to compete on the road and nearly extend their historic run, and clearly have firm stakes planted with 10 games remaining in the regular season.
So how did the longest winning streak in GU history conclude, and what is the outlook going forward?
Coming Up Just Short Against the Ducks
The contest got off to a ruckus start, as Ricky Sanchez smashed a leadoff triple past the diving centerfielder and then scored on a wild pitch two pitches later to put Gonzaga up early. The sequence seemingly set the tone that the Zags were going to control the pace.
Seahawks Announce Jersey Numbers for Jadarian Price, 2026 Draft Class
Set to kick off their two-day rookie minicamp on May 1, the Seattle Seahawks announced jersey numbers for their entire incoming rookie class, including signed undrafted free agents.
With few numbers to choose from due to 75 players already under contract before the 2026 NFL Draft, first round pick Jadarian Price will don No. 8 as he begins his NFL career in Seattle. His predecessor, Ken Walker III, wore No. 9 during his four seasons with the team, and second-round pick Bud Clark will wear that digit as the newest safety on coach Mike Macdonald’s defense.
Projecting Storm Final Roster After First Cuts
The Seattle Storm made their first round of roster cuts on Thursday, waiving forward Beatrice Mompremier and guards Jalyn Brown and Elle Ladine, the team announced.
Seattle’s cuts bring their current roster down to 16 players, meaning the team only has to let go of two other players before the regular season begins. Under the new CBA, teams are required to keep 12 players on their active roster and now have access to two developmental roster spots.
Storm’s Young Stars Shine in Decisive Preseason Victory vs. Fire
The Storm’s young guards led the charge in a 91-81 victory over the Portland Fire in the first matchup between the two franchises since 2002 on Wednesday, April 29, at Climate Pledge Arena.
For the new Portland franchise, the Storm had the privilege of hosting their first-ever game — even if it was just an exhibition matchup. And after taking one of their players (Nika Muhl) in the expansion draft, the Storm spoiled the Fire’s debut after April’s expansion draft, free agency and the rookie draft.
The preseason means next to nothing in terms of how successful the Storm will be. But the individual performances do tell us what could be on the horizon for some of the team’s young players, which is especially important this season.
Young Slugs RBI Double, Slaps Two-Run Single in Mariners’ Comeback Win over Twins
A .500 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage. 16 total bases in 22 at-bats. A 1.227 OPS. One home run, two doubles, and eight RBIs.
Those were Cole Young’s hitting stats over the Mariners’ 5-1 road trip to get back to .500 baseball by the end of April. Three of those RBIs came in the Mariners’ 5-3 win in their rubber match against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday and two were as timely as could be with the M’s down one in the top of the ninth.
What goes up must go down, but the second baseman’s offensive breakout has been the Mariners’ best friend more than once in the young season on plenty of different-color diamonds.
George Kirby kept the Twins to two runs despite a big fourth inning opportunity.
Just like Logan Gilbert on Tuesday, George Kirby didn’t get the defense behind him that he wanted, with uneasy outfield play extending a fourth inning that saw the Twins put a pair of runs on the board and ballooned his pitch count enough to end up nixing the quality start and adding some workload for the Mariners bullpen.
Fishlock Likely to Return After Negative X-Rays, Reign Look to Bounce Back
It was a moment no Seattle Reign fan wanted to see.
Mere days after the announcement of her retirement at the end of the 2026 season, star midfielder Jess Fishlock came down badly on her left ankle in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Utah Royals to drop Seattle to 3-2-1 (10 points, fourth in NWSL).
Fishlock immediately signaled to the sideline for help and shouted in pain, only for the medical staff to place an aircast on her ankle. As she left the pitch on a stretcher with her face buried in her hands, fans and coaches alike couldn't help but think they had just watched the final minutes of the 39-year-old Welsh legend's career.
Fishlock was taken to a nearby hospital for an X-ray, with her football future hanging in the balance.
It came back negative, and that was enough for head coach Laura Harvey to start planning for Seattle's most consistent offensive force to return.
‘That Guy is a Monster’: Seahawks Banking on Deven Eastern Bringing Violence to Trenches
From a supply and demand perspective in the NFL, offensive and defensive linemen don’t grow on trees, and it’s even tougher to find 300-plus pound prospects who offer quality athletic traits to go with their sheer size.
As they built their Super Bowl LX-winning squad over the past few seasons, the Seattle Seahawks have pulled a 180 degree turn on that front, particularly on the offensive line. Since 2022, general manager John Schneider has drafted long-term starters in tackles Charles Cross and Abraham Lucas as well as guard Grey Zabel while also unearthing an undrafted gem in center Jalen Sundell. On the opposite side of the ball, he traded for All-Pro defensive tackle Leonard Williams, re-signed veteran Jarran Reed, and drafted a budding star in Byron Murphy II, a trio that now anchors arguably the best defensive front in the league.
Not to rest on his laurels, Schneider continued to build in the trenches in the 2026 NFL Draft, including trading down three times in the final two days to recoup a trio of seventh round draft picks, using one of those selections on versatile Minnesota defensive tackle Deven Eastern to further fortify a stout defensive line for the future.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Land ASU Transfer Massamba Diop, Bolstering Talented Frontcourt
Bringing in a big fish from the transfer portal, the Gonzaga Bulldogs can cross a big item off their offseason checklist. 7-1 Senegalese center Massamba Diop is on his way to Spokane from Arizona State, picking to play for the Zags over St. John’s for his sophomore season. Diop’s commitment makes the second for GU so far this offseason, joining Houston transfer Isiah Harwell as the newest Zags on the block.
During his first year at the collegiate level, Diop averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks a game on 56.9% shooting in 33 starts with the Sun Devils. He was one of the top centers available in this cycle of the transfer portal and – like several of his new teammates – carries notable NBA Draft stock.
The move aligns Diop with the returning Braden Huff to form yet another strong big man duo for the Bulldogs, a season after Huff and third-team All-American Graham Ike were paired up together. Not to mention that the team’s likely starting small forward, 6-7 Davis Fogle, was also retained, giving Gonzaga one of the country’s most talented frontcourts heading into the fall.
Washington Huskies Linebackers Confidence in Defense ‘Through the Roof’
At one point last fall, the linebacker situation for the Washington football team could have filled an orthopedic wing in a hospital.
Jacob Manu and Zaydrius Rainey-Sale wore heavy knee braces as they recovered from knee injuries at their prior schools. Starting inside linebacker Taariq Al-Uqdah suffered one of his own in the Apple Cup, leaving the position to be filled by the unknown quantities of Xe’ree Alexander and Deven Bryant.
Seven months later, most of the knee braces are gone, and inside linebacker is arguably the strongest unit on the team.
Rodríguez, Naylor, Young Hack Timely Hits as Mariners Mash Minnesota Late
Here’s a stat: Julio Rodríguez has more triple doubles in the city of Minneapolis than Nikola Jokić does in the calendar year 2026.
Well, adding a three-double baseball game into the widely accepted hoops definition of “triple double” allows that to be true. It’s also a testament to the defensive skill of one Rudy Gobert, who has finally and resoundingly managed to convince the world that he is actually good at basketball.
As far as Rodríguez is concerned, his three doubles - the baseball version - set a couple of tables for Seattle and cleared their last, and the center fielder accounted for two runs scored and two others knocked in during the Mariners’ 7-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
It wasn’t just Rodríguez, as Josh Naylor and Cole Young offered some timely hits of their own while starter Logan Gilbert wriggled himself out of enough pickles and jams to make some truly unique culinary concoctions, even while only going five innings. The M’s, after all their tribulations to start the season, are a game behind .500.
Logan Gilbert showed a bit of adjustment but still had to Houdini his way out of a five-inning start.
It is often said that pitchers are crazy. Usually, this refers to intensity or the way the staff interacts with the rest of the players, and it is most stereotypically associated with the isolated (and thus mysterious) bullpen.
Seahawks 2026 Draft Class Superlatives
The 2026 Seattle Seahawks draft class is in. John Schneider made his classic maneuvers and turned four original picks into eight total, like the classic Dai Vernon cups and balls magic routine.
Let’s break down this class of seven prospects using superlatives.
Washington State Reels in Ex-Providence G Jaylen Harrell Via Transfer Portal
The Washington State Cougars have added another intriguing talent through the transfer portal with the commitment of wing Jaylen Harrell, a former top-100 recruit who began his career at Providence.
Harrell’s freshman season with the Friars was limited to just six games due to injury, making him somewhat of a difficult transfer portal evaluation. In those appearances, he averaged 3.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in just over nine minutes per game, shooting an efficient 8-for-16 from the field and 3-for-11 from beyond the arc.
Harrell’s addition continues a clear trend in how Washington State, under head coach David Riley, is approaching roster construction. The Cougars have been aggressive in targeting former high-level recruits from power conference programs who are seeking expanded roles and consistent playing time. Harrell fits that mold alongside players like RJ Jones (Kansas State/TCU), Landji Dembele (UNLV/Iowa), Tyler Kropp (Northwestern), and Sebastian Akins (Denver/Wake Forest).
‘Whatever It Takes’: Andre Fuller Looking to Soar for Seahawks’ Defense, Special Teams
Since he played his last snap at Seminole Ridge High School, Andre Fuller’s football journey has been a unique one, taking him to multiple locations while playing multiple positions along the way.
Tabbed as a zero-star recruit, Fuller started his college chapter at Arkansas Pine Bluff, enrolling with the FCS level Golden Lions in 2020. The COVID pandemic pushed the scheduled season to the spring in 2021, and after appearing in 16 games over two seasons with the program, he entered the transfer portal, signing up for a little “MAC-tion” with the Toledo Rockets, where he emerged as a late-blooming starter and garnered All-Mac First-Team recognition as a senior.
While his path was by no means easy and featured plenty of detours on and off the field, Fuller’s unexpected ascent from zero stars to the pros became more than a dream on April 25 when, after recouping three selections with trade downs, the Seattle Seahawks selected him with the 236th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Another “Rock” Detonation Raises Rotation Questions for Mariners
In Luis Castillo’s first start of the season, he blew down the New York Yankees with basically two pitches: his four-seamer and slider.
Over the following five outings, Castillo has given up less than four runs just once and has not finished a single sixth inning. Over that time, he has given up 35 hits, 24 runs, and 20 earned runs in 22 ⅓ innings, an 8.06 ERA over that time.
Five of those innings came on Monday night in rainy Minnesota. Although in his previous four starts (also struggles of outings, though not without bad defense behind him), he had struck out 16 and issued seven walks while giving up two homers - it was all hits in the field that had sunk him - Monday’s game was bad in the so-called three true outcomes and bad in the actual result. Castillo gave up two home runs, walked two batters, and struck out three. He gave up seven hits in total and just as many runs.
The Mariners’ loss on Monday started and ended, mostly, with Castillo’s bad start. Sure, debutant Alex Hoppe’s second inning of work fell off the rails as his control waned and hitters adjusted to his slider, but the M’s had essentially decided on pushing Hoppe as far as they could to mop up the game. Sure, the Mariners offense took quite a while to wake up, but they managed to put four runs on the board.
The question has to be raised: does Castillo’s slump warrant a change in outlook for the Mariners about how to utilize him for the rest of the season?
‘Definitely Fast’: NFL Dreams Renewed, Emmanuel Henderson Ready to Fly With Seahawks
Once a prized four-star running back recruit, Emmanuel Henderson Jr.’s visualizations of an NFL career stalled out as a special teams standout with few chances to prove himself on offense over the course of three seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
But thanks to the new rules in college sports that allow players to hit the transfer portal each spring without penalties such as sitting out a year, Henderson - who switched to receiver early in his college career - decided to bet on himself with one year of eligibility remaining. Leaving football royalty behind in Tuscaloosa to join the far less-heralded Kansas Jayhawks, he hoped more chances to show off his elite 4.4 speed and improved receiving skills as a pass catcher would pay off with scouts watching closely.
While such gambles don’t pay off for every player who hits the portal looking to bolster their pro stock with a change of zip code and uniform, Henderson achieved his goal and then some, emerging as an electric big play threat for the Jayhawks as a vertical threat and kick returner. Putting his name squarely on the map, his once-dormant NFL aspirations reawakened, as the Seattle Seahawks made that dream a reality by selecting him with the 199th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Washington State Lands Ronnie Harrison, Tyler Kropp Out of Transfer Portal
Continuing to restock their roster in the transfer portal, the Washington State Cougars received commitments from East Texas A&M forward Ronnie Harrison from East Texas A&M and Northwestern forward Tyler Kropp.
After completing his freshman season with the Wildcats, Kropp will arrive in Pullman with three years of eligibility remaining. In his lone season at Northwestern, he averaged 3.1 points and 2.1 rebounds while appearing in 31 games and making 10 starts, earning more minutes as the season went along. His most productive performance came in a win over USC, where he posted 11 points and nine rebounds, offering a glimpse of his potential.
With one year of eligibility left, Harrison averaged 14.7 points and 6.1 rebounds last season, leading the Lions in both categories. He also shot 47.% from the field and 29.% from three-point range. In the Southland Conference, he ranked ninth in scoring, 10th in rebounding, and tied for sixth in steals, demonstrating a well-rounded game that should translate well to the new-look Pac-12.
Reign Lose Jess Fishlock, Get Pounded 3-0 By Utah in Lumen Field Opener
The Seattle Reign endured their toughest loss of the season on Sunday night, dropping their first game of 2026 at Lumen Field in a 3-0 drubbing to the Utah Royals to drop Seattle to 3-2-1 (fourth in NWSL)
The Reign conceded just 50 seconds in before giving up another goal in the seventh. The game slipped out of control in first-half stoppage time, as the Royals put away their third to pull away. Though Seattle put together some solid looks and hit the woodwork twice, its positive momentum came to a screeching halt when captain Jess Fishlock landed awkwardly on her left ankle midway through the second half.
The injury, which head coach Laura Harvey didn't have updates on postgame, was bad enough to warrant an aircast and a stretcher — a sign of a possible bone break for the 39-year Welsh star. Fishlock announced earlier this week that she would retire from football at the end of the 2026 season.
ALL SEATTLE SPORTS, ALL THE TIME
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
