Analysis: Predicting Seahawks 2026 Defensive Breakout Candidates
Now less than a month from reporting date for training camp, the Seattle Seahawks will soon begin their Super Bowl title defense with sights on hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
But even with most of their roster kept intact after losing only five free agents from their title squad, for the Seahawks to have a shot at a rare Super Bowl repeat in coach Mike Macdonald’s third season at the helm, they will need several players to take a step forward with every opponent ready to give them their best shot each week. Defensively, Seattle has more holes to fill after the departures of Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, and Boye Mafe during the offseason, leaving more opportunities for other players to rise to the occasion and help fill those significant voids.
Looking towards the 2026 season, which defensive Seahawks stand out as prime candidates for a breakout campaign?
Cole Young, George Kirby Blast Angels 6-2, Give Mariners Much-Needed Boost
The Mariners haven’t clawed their way out of the hole they dug over half a month in June. They are still a half game back in the AL West as the Rangers have forced them into a raise-or-fold situation.
But they began to dig a path on Monday, winning a game they needed to win and returning to a .500 record. They finally had some extra base hits and held a good lead - with mammoth homers off of Angels pitching - while George Kirby roared to life in a super-quality, near-complete outing. When Jose A. Ferrer worked through a light jam to complete the game in the ninth, Seattle walked away with a 6-2 win and the seeds of a new outlook on the season.
George Kirby gutted out an eight-inning start, moving to fourth all-MLB in innings pitched.
Coming off three straight quality starts, Kirby had been on something of a hot streak going into Monday’s game. But due to a lack of offense on the other side in these starts, Kirby had lost two of these three outings. The Mariners’ hitters woke up on the other side on Monday, giving him a win, but Kirby put in one of his best outings all year as he found legions of grounders from free-swinging Angels bats.
Things didn’t start off super well, however, as Kirby leaked a heater over the middle of the plate to Halos leadoff guy Zach Neto for a double. Denzer Guzman quickly chopped a ball off Josh Naylor’s glove and the visitors had a run on the board.
The Halos didn’t follow up on that run as Nolan Schanuel grounded into a double play two pitches later, the second of 12 ground balls from Angels bats. What could have been a crooked first inning had Kirby let his guard down became a meager single run for the visitors. After the game, the M’s hurler talked about his attitude in those situations and the way he needs to approach things when the game begins to go against him.
After 2026 NHL Draft, Kraken Defense Gets Much-Needed Overhaul
The prevailing feeling when the Seattle Kraken entered the 2026 NHL Draft was that they were going to pick a defensive player or two. They have a healthy crop of forwards developing, but the gap between their talent in forwards and defenseman was as vast as the Puget Sound itself.
After the 2026 NHL Draft, that gap got a lot smaller, if it didn’t close altogether. First, standout USA Junior Hockey star Chase Reid fell right into their laps at No. 7 overall. Many well-respected pundits had Reid as the top blue-liner in this draft class, expecting him to be long gone by the time the Kraken were on the clock in Buffalo. With just that pick alone, even if he’s going to play at Michigan State for a year or two, the outlook of Seattle’s defense over the next several years gets a huge boost.
The Kraken are still searching for their “north star” player that they develop into a true needle-mover for the organization. Reid could be that guy in a year or two with more seasoning playing against top competition in the Big Ten, including the likes of rival Michigan and Wisconsin. He has just about every tool in the kit to be a successful, productive NHL blue-liner. General manager Jason Botterill and company didn’t stop there either.
WATCH: Breaking Down Chase Reid, Kraken’s Exciting 2026 Draft Class
With the 2026 NHL Draft now in the books, Emerald City Spectrum reporter Josh Frojelin takes a deep dive into each of the Kraken's newest roster additions, including top-10 talent Chase Reid and a handful of mid-round prospects offering intrigue for the future of the franchise.
Ranking Seahawks: Amari Kight, J.R. Singleton Seeking Sophomore Leaps in No. 75-71
With the calendar quickly heading towards July and offseason workouts wrapped up league-wide for the summer, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will soon descend upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the start of training camp, kicking off a much-anticipated 2026 season.
To celebrate the new incoming season, I will be ranking every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks leading up to report day, providing detailed profiles, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and breaking down what to expect from each player entering the 2026 campaign.
Continuing the annual rankings with No. 75-71, a pair of second-year players will be looking to jump full-time onto the 90-man roster and a reclamation project seeks a spot in a crowded tight end group.
Camp Preview: Experienced O-Line Stands Out as Potential Strength for Washington State
With Kirby Moore entering his first season as the Washington State Cougars head coach, one of the biggest strengths for the team on offense could be the offensive line, which has several returning contributors from the 2025 season.
Unlike several position groups that saw significant turnover this offseason, the Cougars bring back plenty of experience up front, while also adding a veteran transfer from in-state rival Washington to the mix who could compete for immediate playing time. With multiple linemen entering their fourth or fifth seasons in Pullman, impressive continuity in today’s era of college football, Washington State has the pieces to put together one of its best offensive lines in recent years.
After spending the past three seasons in Pullman, Ashton Tripp enters his fourth year at Washington State as one of the veteran leaders along the offensive line. The Kennewick High School product returns for his second season as the Cougars' starting left tackle and should once again be a key piece protecting the quarterback's blind side after allowing only one sack in 2025, standing out as arguably the best returning starter for the Cougars on offense.
A versatile starter, Jonny Lester brings ample experience at multiple positions to the offensive line heading into 2026. Entering his fifth season with the Cougars, the Spokane native started at left guard most of last season while also making two starts at right tackle, yielding three sacks and 28 pressures. Having another returning starter should help provide continuity as the offensive line adjusts to a new coaching staff and new offensive scheme.
Analysis: Predicting Seahawks 2026 Offensive Breakout Candidates
Now less than a month from reporting date for training camp, the Seattle Seahawks will soon begin their Super Bowl title defense with sights on hoisting another Lombardi Trophy.
But even with most of their roster kept intact after losing only five free agents from their title squad, for the Seahawks to have a shot at a rare Super Bowl repeat in coach Mike Macdonald’s third season at the helm, they will need several players to take a step forward with every opponent ready to give them their best shot each week. On offense, the team will have a new first-time coordinator calling plays in Brian Fleury and have to replace the production lost with Ken Walker III bolting to join the Chiefs as a free agent, doing so without the services of an injured Zach Charbonnet until at least October.
Looking towards the 2026 season, which offensive Seahawks stand out as prime candidates for a breakout campaign?
Securing Another Frenchman, Gonzaga Signs Experienced Point Guard to Roster
Putting the finishing touches on their 2026-27 roster, the Gonzaga Bulldogs made another addition to the backcourt, reportedly completing the recruitment of Nathan De Sousa from France.
The 6-1 point guard has spent the last six seasons playing professionally in his native country, breaking out this past year in the premier French league. De Sousa becomes the second player from France to join the Zags this offseason, as 18-year-old guard Juwan Ekanga-Ehawa finalized his commitment with GU last week.
With the new NCAA Division I Cabinet rules set in place, the 23-year-old will have only one year of eligibility since his ‘five-year window’ of finishing four seasons in five years started during the 2022-23 campaign. Part of a substantial roster overhaul, De Sousa will be the eighth Bulldog who is in their first year in Spokane.
“We Can’t Get Satisfied With One Win”: Mariners Fall Below .500, Below First Place with Cuyahoga Collapse
Mariners manager Dan Wilson didn’t appear to treat Sunday’s game like a must-win contest. This was despite the fact that the team’s AL West lead had all but evaporated and that the game directly determined a tiebreaker between the M’s and Cleveland Guardians, one that could in turn be the difference between the Mariners getting a first round bye or not. The guidelines of long-term player management were all but catechisms for Wilson even as his team’s 4-1 lead fell into the dust.
“Our guys, they want the ball, and we'll give them the ball when we can, and when they want it, and some guys are available for one-pluses and some aren't, and we make adjustments as we go,” Wilson said after his team’s 6-5 loss. “And that's just where we're at right now.”
There was no willingness on Wilson’s part to stretch anyone beyond their usual usage. No reliever up-downs would be allowed and no starter could surpass 100 pitches; in short, there would be no second wind for his team. By the time such second winds are allowed in September, it may be too late, just as it was in 2024 (and before Wilson’s tenure, in 2023, too). Such is the peril and just dessert of treating the first five months of the season like extended Spring Training.
They fell out of first place, under .500, dropped the series and the season series, and yet again let an opening win go unfulfilled in the final two games as they took their foot off the gas.
The Mariners, injury-conscious given the circumstances, committed to reliance on Michael Rucker and Josh Simpson.
Starter Emerson Hancock worked into the sixth inning, but with 98 pitches and a heap of armside misses to Cooper Ingle with two outs, Wilson went to the bullpen and called upon Eduard Bazardo. It took a bit for him to settle in, as he gave up a double, but his punchout of Patrick Bailey sealed the deal for that frame.
A series of left-handers made for the Mariners to go to Gabe Speier in the seventh, and though he worked around a pair of two-out hits to punch in another clean frame, his usage marked the last quality arm before closer Andrés Muñoz. Jose A. Ferrer had pitched in both previous games, and with his 39 season appearances, perhaps the two-on, one-off guideline was the best one to treat like a catechism
Analysis: Key Questions for Reign FC’s Offense Ahead of Season Restart vs. Courage
The Seattle Reign came into 2026 looking to build on a leap from 13th to 5th in 2025. Instead, they've taken a step backwards thus far, sitting at 4-5-2 during this international break and occupying 10th place midway through the 30-game season.
Maybe the June international break came at a good time for Seattle, as the team got a few weeks away to see something other than demoralizing results. But the time for recuperation is over, as the Reign are back to action at the 5-3-3 North Carolina Courage on July 4.
A road date may be better for the Reign to come back to, as they're currently 0-3-0 at their home Lumen Field and truly look more lethal away from Seattle this season.
That said, the Reign's offense has been among the worst in the league regardless of where they've played, as they are just one of four NWSL squads to average less than a goal per 90 minutes.
So when Seattle takes the pitch next, there will be a few questions to answer before fans can truly regain confidence in their team.
Four Runs Still Out of Reach as Mariners Fall 4-3 to Guardians
The Seattle Mariners continue to eye franchise history - for the wrong reasons - as they tied the team record with 13 games in a row while scoring three or fewer runs in a 4-3 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday. Holding onto a half-game lead in the middling American League West, the Mariners need to decide if they want to build on last year's success or drift sheepishly back into mediocrity.
Even the most optimistic Seattle fans know the phrase “Same old Mariners.” It encompasses the feelings of a downtrodden fanbase that has only made the playoffs six times in their 50 years of existence. Despite having the greatest season in team history last year by reaching Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, most fans are already ready to chalk it up as a fluke given their team’s struggles this year.
The roster is not devoid of talent; quite the opposite actually. FanGraphs Playoff Odds still gives the M’s an 80.3% chance of making the postseason. The lineup still needs to wake up though, as this roster has shown that it cannot sleepwalk its way to winning the division.
The trade deadline is approaching. Changes need to be made. What can this SoDo squad do to get back on track?
Washington State Flips Safety Jayden Harris From Fresno State
Earning a significant victory on the recruiting trail, the Washington State Cougars added another piece to their growing 2027 class, landing the commitment of Jayden Harris after he initially gave a verbal to a soon-to-be Pac-12 rival.
Harris, a 6-3, 180-pound safety from Manteca High School, originally committed to Fresno State, but he reopened his recruitment and ultimately chose to switch his allegiance to Washington State. His commitment to the Cougars continues a strong recruiting push for coach Kirby Moore’s program in California and gives the staff another intriguing defensive back with size and playmaking ability to throw into the mix.
Harris is currently an unranked prospect according to 247Sports, but in addition to Washington State, he held offers from UNLV, San Diego State, and several other programs, showing there was plenty of interest in one of the bigger safety recruits in the 2027 class. Once he became available again, the Cougars were able to beat out a number of West Coast schools to secure his commitment.
Instant Takeaways: Storm Extremely Efficient in Decisive Win vs. Dream
All five starters scored in double figures for the second straight game with outstanding efficiency, and the result was never in doubt for the Seattle Storm in a 105-90 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, June 27, at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Storm (5-15) have now won two straight — both against teams with winning records — after previously losing 11 in a row. Previous issues that plagued the Storm, especially on offense, are melting away as their young core begins to look like a completely different team.
Flau’jae Johnson, coming off a career game, was sensational once again with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Awa Fam posted a career-high 21 points, while Dominique Malonga tallied another all-around performance with 16 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and three blocks.
The Dream (12-7) were led by 27 points and three assists from Rhyne Howard in a losing effort.
From Montlake to the NBA: Hannes Steinbach Looking to Make Mark With Hornets
After a dominant freshman year wearing the purple and gold, Hannes Steinbach heard his name called early in the 2026 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. Drafted 14th overall, the German standout will take his talents to the East Coast and push for a rotation spot. The lottery pick continues the tradition of Washington Huskies getting drafted in the first round, joining the likes of program legends Brandon Roy and Markelle Fultz.
Charlotte had significant roster changes this week, both in the draft and in the days thereafter. A play-in team last year, Hannes will have plenty of opportunity to prove himself as there are no surefire frontcourt starters in the Queen City after trading Lamelo Ball to the Timberwolves.
With many recent UW draftees becoming integral role-players in their NBA careers, Steinbach will attempt to go one step further and achieve all-star status in Charlotte.
Mariners Pitchers Lock Down Win Despite Continued Batting Sluggishness
A bobble from Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana in the top of the seventh seemed like the first piece of good luck the Mariners had gotten in a very long time. It came with two outs and a man on third, turning what would have been an inning-ending grounder into a go-ahead run for the Mariners. It proved the winning run in Seattle’s 3-1 victory against Cleveland.
On the one hand, none of their issues really fixed themselves. The team couldn’t get a fourth run for the 12th straight game, marking just the third such streak in team history. Pitch recognition woes and issues against left-handers continued with no real end in sight. But on the other hand, for the fifth time in those dozen games, it was enough.
Luis Castillo tossed a quality start, with all his pitches in action.
Mariners starter Luis Castillo came into the game with a better track record since the onset of his first piggyback outing, but there had still been notable inconsistencies for him. Despite a 3.38 ERA in his six appearances since the first piggyback, he was still without a quality start aside from his first outing of the year. Going into a game where the M’s did nothing but continue to crawl along on offense, he needed to find his best stuff for a full start.
Luckily for the M’s, Castillo had a firm command of all three of the pitches he needs to build a good outing. The slider was his most common delivery, followed by the four-seamer and changeup in that order, but he threw each quite often with the occasional sinker thrown in.
Ranking Seahawks: Bobby Hart, AJ Finley Among Seasoned Vets Seeking Roster Spot in No. 80-76
With the calendar quickly heading towards July and offseason workouts wrapped up league-wide for the summer, the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks will soon descend upon the Virginia Mason Athletic Center for the start of training camp, kicking off a much-anticipated 2026 season.
To celebrate the new incoming season, I will be ranking every member of the Seahawks 90-man roster over the next several weeks leading up to report day, providing detailed profiles, exploring best and worst case scenarios, and breaking down what to expect from each player entering the 2026 campaign.
Moving to No. 80-76 on my rankings, a pair of established veterans will be vying for reserve spots on the offensive line and in a crowded secondary, while an intriguing pass rusher with NFL DNA will look to surprise.
Analysis: Chase Reid to Kraken Could Prove to be Steal of 2026 NHL Draft
The Seattle Kraken selected Chase Reid with the seventh overall pick in the opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft. And it’s not hyperbole: the Michigan native might have been the best defenseman available in the draft as a whole, making his selection one that could prove to be an incredible value for the franchise down the line.
Reid was ranked as the best player in the draft by The Athletic’s Corey Pronman and third by The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler, Elite Prospects, Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis, and FloHockey’s Chris Peters. Regardless of overall ranking, he was the top defenseman, according to all those scouts/media outlets. The Kraken, who have never selected a defenseman in the first-round in the franchise’s history, made him the fourth defenseman selected on Friday night.
“Right-handed shot defensemen are in demand in the National Hockey League,” Kraken general manager Jason Botterill told reporters after the first-round of the NHL Draft. “But overall, just how he plays. When you watch video of him, Chase always has his head up. He has a nice combination of being able to skate his way out of trouble. He also has his head up nonstop to make a quick outlet play.”
Why did Reid fall? That will be a question that remains unanswered for some time. He made a meteoric rise up the junior ranks the last two seasons. The Michigan State University commit was cut from his 2024-25 team in the USHL. He caught on with the Bismarck Bobcats in the NAHL, the second tier of USA junior hockey. He was later added by the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL and put up a point-per-game season, improving as much as any prospect in the country. Fast forward to his draft year, he tallied 18 goals and 48 points in 45 games.
Former Gonzaga Wings Tyon Grant-Foster, Jalen Warley Sign Summer League Deals
Last week, ex-Gonzaga Bulldog Tyon Grant-Foster was finally cleared by the NBA’s fitness-to-play panel, making him eligible for league-affiliated activities. This week, the 6-7 wing has agreed to a Summer League contract with the San Antonio Spurs, joining the reigning Western Conference Champions’ offseason circuit. Grant-Foster earns this opportunity despite not being authorized to participate in this cycle’s pre-draft events, like the NBA Combine, as well as individual or group workouts.
Also latching on in the Summer League is Grant-Foster’s former teammate, Jalen Warley, who signs on with one of the teams he had a pre-draft workout with, the Indiana Pacers. Now, both former Zags get to showcase their games over the coming weeks with the hope of earning a more standard contract for the regular season.
Kraken Make History, Select Chase Reid With No. 7 Overall Pick in 2026 NHL Draft
It’s been a somewhat challenging past 24 hours for the Seattle Kraken, who reportedly had the framework for a blockbuster sign-and-trade to acquire Dallas Stars star Jason Robertson in place on Thursday, only for the player to decline a reported eight-year, $15 million contract offer to veto the deal.
Fortunately for the Kraken, however, good fortunes appeared to smile on the franchise in Friday night’s opening round of the 2026 NHL Draft. Benefiting from a bit of good luck for a change, general manager Jason Botterill reeled in one of the best defensemen in a strong draft class by investing the No. 7 overall pick in Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) standout Chase Reid, securing a player who many expected to be gone in the first four or five picks.
The selection of Reid carries significance history-wise for Seattle, marking the first time in six drafts that the organization has selected a defenseman in the first round. And, in time, they will be hoping his arrival coincides with greater success on the ice in the near future.
Instant Takeaways: Storm Snap 11-Game Skid, Upset Liberty
Rookie No. 8 overall pick Flau’jae Johnson erupted for a career-high 28 points, and the Seattle Storm upset the New York Liberty 99-88 on Thursday, June 25, at Climate Pledge Arena.
The win for Seattle (4-15) snapped an 11-game losing streak that dated back to May 24. There was tangible growth as the skid continued, but this was the first time the Storm put all those factors together to earn a win against a quality opponent.
New York (12-7) has now lost three of its last four games after winning eight in a row from May 27 to June 18. Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 26 points, eight rebounds, one steal and on block.
All five Storm starters scored in double figures, and Dominique Malonga posted another double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and a block.
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
