Stock Watch: Which Seahawks Have Edge in Roster Battles After Offseason Program?
Bringing another offseason program to a close, the Seattle Seahawks wrapped up mandatory minicamp with a spirited final practice session highlighted by strong defense, sending the team into summer break before returning to kick off training camp on July 25.
“I feel like it's been great,” veteran defensive tackle Leonard Williams said. “Great attendance from the leaders, from the older guys. Young guys working hard, trying to be sponges of the game, learn as much as possible. To me, I really just see our culture elevate to another level.”
Coming off an All-Pro season, Williams won’t have to worry about his starting job or roster spot being in jeopardy when Seattle returns to the practice field next month. However, several positional groups on offense and defense already have intense competitions well underway that will continue in earnest in training camp, whether for starting roles or one of the final spots on the 53.
Heading into a six-week moratorium, which competitions have emerged as ones to watch once training camp arrives? And where do things stand on the depth chart at those positions coming out of the offseason program?
Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Defensive Position Battles Entering OTAs
Set to kick off OTAs next week at the VMAC, the Seattle Seahawks will welcome back plenty of familiar faces from their Super Bowl squad. Even with Riq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Boye Mafe gone, 11 of the 13 players who logged at least 700 defensive snaps in 2025 remain under contract heading into the new season, presenting rare continuity for a defending champion.
Thanks to the minimal changes, Seattle will open the final phase of the offseason program without many starting jobs up for grabs on defense, leaving rotational reserve roles as the main competitions to play out over the summer. The entire interior defensive line and linebacker corps will return from last year’s Super Bowl squad along with the majority of key starters back in the secondary, headlined by All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and rising star Nick Emmanwori.
But while few starting jobs may be on the line, the Seahawks should still have some enticing competitions on tap on the defensive side of the football when they hit the practice field next week, including a pair of significant openings to replace Woolen and Bryant in the secondary that will be buoyed by using four draft picks at the two positions last month.
Which battles offer the most intrigue with two months until the start of training camp?
Best/Worst Case Scenarios For Every 2026 Seahawks Draft Pick
Now officially embarking on their NFL careers, the Seattle Seahawks unveiled their latest draft class for the first time earlier this month at their annual rookie minicamp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, providing an opportunity to begin evaluating first-round selection Jadarian Price and the rest of the team's 2026 draft picks before the start of OTAs next week.
While Price and his 2026 draft cohorts won't be playing in game action for several months, it's never too early to prognosticate how they may perform in their first season with the Seahawks. As they prepare to begin competing against veterans in the final phase of the offseason program during OTAs and mandatory minicamp, what can the franchise realistically expect from the third draft class of the Mike Macdonald era?
Looking into the crystal ball, with potential injuries not in consideration, here are best and worst case scenarios for all eight of Seattle's incoming draft picks in 2026.
Analysis: How Did Seahawks Fare Replacing Boye Mafe, Departed Free Agent Talent?
Teams that win the Super Bowl typically have to pay the toll that comes with such success when free agency opens at the start of a new NFL league year, and while the Seattle Seahawks only lost five players off of the Lombardi Trophy-winning squad, they weren’t an exception to that rule as several key starters departed for greener pastures this offseason.
With the start of OTAs just around the corner and the 2026 NFL Draft in the books, the Seahawks have made a concerted effort to plug those newly-created holes through their own free agency signings as well as adding an eight-player draft class. More moves may be yet to come, but at this stage of the offseason, the projected replacements for the likes of Ken Walker III and Riq Woolen among others likely are already under contract for 2026.
How did Seattle fare finding short and/or long-term replacements for their free agent losses? Here’s a look at all five departures, their projected successors, and an early verdict on whether the team upgraded or downgraded at the position.
Stock Watch: Examining Seahawks Post-Draft Winners, Losers
Now more than a week removed from the 2026 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks have gotten a first look at their newest draft class via rookie minicamp, and the offseason program will soon kick into full overdrive with Phase 2 opening next week.
At this point, Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and general manager John Schneider haven’t gotten to see first-round pick Jadarian Price and the rest of the 2026 class on the field with returning veterans from their Super Bowl LX-winning squad. But that will soon change as on-field workouts ramp up to the next step and Organized Team Activities (OTAs) eventually open on May 26, providing the rookies with a chance to start gunning for starting jobs and roster spots.
With rookies soon to be thrown into the fire battling against seasoned veterans, which returning players and coaches stood out as the biggest winners coming out of the NFL Draft for the Seahawks? And who needs to keep a focused eye on their rearview mirror with objects being closer than they appear?
Ranking Seahawks Draft Picks By Readiness to Contribute Early in 2026
With the Seattle Seahawks selecting eight players in the 2026 NFL Draft, not all of them will be ready to make an immediate impact. Patience will be required for a few prospects at least. Some might impress in training camp and earn early playing time on special teams, rather than their traditional offensive or defensive positions.
Let’s rank the eight draft picks of the Seahawks’ 2026 class by their readiness to make an early impact during the 2026 season.
8. Michael Dansby, CB, Arizona
First off, the defensive back group is now absolutely stacked with three cornerbacks being selected out of eight picks. Breaking through will be extremely difficult for Dansby as the last pick of Seattle’s draft, late in the seventh round. He is a man-coverage specialist but not as physically gifted as Julian Neal or Andre Fuller. He likely will need to fight for a special teams role, but in all likelihood, he’s headed to the practice squad in the fall.
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.
‘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.
Seahawks Wrap Up 2026 NFL Draft With Trio of Seventh-Round Selections
Stocking up on seventh round picks with a pair of Day 3 trade downs, the Seattle Seahawks put a bow on their latest draft class by getting a jumpstart on the priority undrafted free agent process, selecting a trio of players with the 236th, 242nd, and 255th picks of the 2016 NFL Draft.
After acquiring picks from the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers with trade downs from 188th and 216th overall, the Seahawks continued to add to their secondary by snagging Toledo cornerback Andre Fuller and Arizona cornerback Michael Dansby while also investing a mid-seventh round pick on versatile Minnesota defensive tackle Deven Eastern to wrap up their eight-player haul.
Official 30/Local Visits Tracker: Who Have Seahawks Met With Leading Up to 2026 NFL Draft?
With the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview mirror and free agency well underway, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 NFL teams are in the midst of scheduling and conducting their pre-draft top-30 visits.
In this process, each NFL team can bring in up to 30 players to their respective facilities for interviews and meetings with coaches as well as medical examinations and physicals. In addition, teams can also bring in local players for official visits, which do not count as one of the top-30 visits. While these on-site meetings are only part of the evaluation process leading up to the three-day event, they can play a critical role in determining where each player ends up on draft weekend.
Which players have already met with the Seahawks or are scheduled to come to town for top-30 visits and local visits before the 2026 NFL Draft?
Seahawks Leaving No Stone Unturned Looking at Talented Cornerback Class in 2026 NFL Draft
Slated to pick last in the first round by virtue of winning Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks could go any number of directions on the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft, including trading out of the round entirely to recoup additional selections in later rounds.
But while the Seahawks have other needs such as edge rusher and running back that could be addressed early with their first selection, regardless of whether they stick and pick or trade down, if the team’s reported official 30 visits serve as any indication, cornerback appears to be at the top of general manager John Schneider’s wish list. Out of 18 players reported so far to fly out to Seattle, seven of them played corner at some point during their collegiate careers.
This shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise development, as the Seahawks lost four-year starter Riq Woolen to the Eagles in free agency and while they did retain Josh Jobe on a three-year contract, coach Mike Macdonald has limited experience to lean on behind All-Pro Devon Witherspoon and Jobe on the depth chart. Third-year defender Nehemiah Pritchett has started one game in his career, veteran Shemar Jean-Charles spent all of last year on the practice squad and has two career starts, and free agent signee Noah Igbinoghene has started 17 out of 69 games played, hardly living up to his first round billing after being drafted 30th overall by the Dolphins in 2020.
Analysis: Identifying Best Cornerback Fits for Seahawks’ 2026 Draft Picks
Undergoing significant changes in the secondary in the aftermath of a Super Bowl LX victory, the Seattle Seahawks lost two key members from their starting defensive backfield in free agency, including the departure of cornerback Riq Woolen for Philadelphia.
While Seattle didn’t exit free agency empty handed by re-signing fellow starter Josh Jobe on a three-year, $24 million deal and adding former Dolphins first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene as an intriguing reclamation project, Woolen’s exit still leaves the team with limited depth at the position. With the exception of Devon Witherspoon, Jobe, and Igbinoghene, the Seahawks don’t have another cornerback on the roster with previous starting experience, including third-year defender Nehemiah Pritchett, who has only seen action sparingly as an injury replacement to this point.
Fortunately for general manager John Schneider, even with only four draft picks scheduled for next month’s 2026 NFL Draft, the Seahawks should have ample options to restock the cupboard thanks to a deep, talented cornerback group in this year’s class. There could be as many as five corners selected in the first round, while the position features starter-caliber players who will be available on Day 2 and potentially even well into the final four rounds on Day 3.
Looking at this year’s latest crop of cornerbacks, which players stand out as the best potential fits to succeed Woolen and help reinforce the Seahawks’ secondary for 2026 and beyond with each of their four selections?
Seahawks Attack Lingering Needs in Post-Free Agency Mock Draft
The new NFL league year hasn’t even hit the week mark yet, but free agency already has slowed to a relative crawl after signings were announced in bunches during the annual two-day tampering period, meaning the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams have already shifted their attention primarily back to the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
As things stand, after dealing away a fourth and fifth round pick to the Saints for Rashid Shaheed last October, the Seahawks currently hold only four picks in the draft. Three of those selections are on the first two days, however, providing the ammunition for general manager John Schneider to be able to potentially facilitate a deal or two to slide down the board and recoup a few extra picks on Day 3, where the team doesn’t have a fourth, fifth, or seventh round pick at the moment.
Looking towards the draft, which now sits a mere six weeks away, how may things shake out for Schneider and the Seahawks in the aftermath of the first few waves of free agency?
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