Training Camp Preview: Who Will Win Seahawks Looming Positional Battles?
Opening up training camp as the defending Super Bowl champion, the Seattle Seahawks will have the vast majority of their roster back for their title defense in 2026 after losing only five players in free agency, leaving few question marks in the starting lineup on offense, defense, and special teams rolling into a new year.
But while their roster didn’t undergo near as much turnover as most Super Bowl champs do and most of the starters from last year’s squad remain under contract, with a new eight-player draft class in tow and a handful of veteran additions brought onboard to bolster depth in free agency, the Seahawks still have plenty of positional battles set to play out over the next six weeks and change. This includes the search for a new starting running back along with the need for a new gunner to emerge on punt coverage to replace long-time special teams standout Dareke Young.
With camp set to kick off on July 25, which roster battles stand out as Seattle’s most intriguing? And how will each of them play out over the course of training camp and the preseason?
Ranking Seahawks: Nehemiah Pritchett, Christian Haynes Face Critical Camp Atop No. 40-36
With the calendar recently flipping to 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 90-man countdown with No. 40-36, two 2023 draft picks will have pressure on them to prove they deserve a roster spot with new competition on board to battle against and an incoming rookie has sights on a starting job in a crowded safety group.
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 Offensive 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. In fact, all 11 players who logged at least 700 offensive snaps in 2025 remain under contract heading into the new season, presenting rare continuity for a defending champion.
Thanks to the minimal changes, with running back being the lone exception to the rule after losing Ken Walker III to Kansas City in free agency and drafting Jadarian Price with the 32nd overall pick, Seattle will open the final phase of the offseason program without many starting jobs up for grabs on offense. All five offensive linemen who started last year will return, as will quarterback Sam Darnold and a dynamic receiving corps headlined by Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp.
But while few starting jobs may be on the line, the Seahawks should still have some enticing competitions on tap on the offensive side of the football when they hit the practice field next week, including a pair of fun depth contests looming at guard and receiver further bolstered by selections made in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which battles offer the most intrigue with two months until the start of training camp?
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?
Key Matchups to Watch as Seahawks Take on Titans in Nashville
Entering Sunday’s road tilt as heavy favorites against the one-win Titans, the Seahawks should have several advantageous matchups working in their favor, though the underdogs may have a big one to lean on with the visitors dealing with offensive line injuries.
Seahawks Face Interesting Grey Zabel Decision Heading Into Road Game vs. Lowly Titans
Only four days ago, Grey Zabel’s rookie season looked to be in jeopardy as he clutched his knee on the SoFI Stadium turf. But after returning to practice on Thursday, the Seahawks will have some intriguing discussions coming leading up to Sunday’s trip to Nashville.
Seahawks Dodge Bullet as Grey Zabel Avoids ‘Significant’ Knee Injury
It remains how many games, if any, Grey Zabel will need to miss after being helped off the field late in the Seahawks’ 21-19 loss to the Rams on Sunday. But initial testing suggests the team and player may have dodged a bullet.
Injury Report: Ernest Jones Good to Go For Seahawks, Two Ruled Out vs. Rams
Named a captain alongside current - and former - teammate Cooper Kupp, Ernest Jones will be in uniform for the Seahawks heading into a massive NFC West matchup with the Rams. Who’s in and who’s out at SoFi Stadium for Mike Macdonald’s team?
Injury Updates: Seahawks Expected to Lose Jalen Sundell For ‘Multiple Weeks’
For the first time this season, the Seahawks will have to navigate a significant injury along the offensive line, while it remains unclear whether Ernest Jones and other injured players will return for a crucial contest against the Rams on Sunday.
Analysis: Familiar Face Stands Out as Seahawks’ Best Option to Upgrade O-Line at Trade Deadline
From Sam Darnold to Cooper Kupp to Eric Saubert, the Seahawks have several players already making an impact on their roster with past ties to Klint Kubiak’s Shanahan-style scheme. Could another former pupil be the right piece to take the offensive line to the next level?
5 Burning Questions For Seahawks Approaching 53-Man Roster Cuts
There will be no shortage of difficult decisions for John Schneider and the rest of the Seahawks’ brass to make in the next 48 hours and beyond, making the process of finalizing the 53-man roster a fascinating one to watch.
Analysis: Seahawks Who Could Be Traded Before Roster Cutdown Day
Trying to move players via trade in late August can be quite tricky with the rest of the league aiming to cut their own rosters down from 90 to 53. But the Seahawks could have a few assets that generate interest from other teams.
Film Breakdown: A Deep Dive Into Seahawks’ 268-Yard Rushing Onslaught vs. Chiefs
Even in a preseason setting, the Seahawks have showcased several staples in Klint Kubiak’s run game, using a variety of schemes to rush for almost 270 yards against the Chiefs on Friday night.
Camp Takeaways: Milroe to Broden Strikes Again, Seahawks’ 0-Line Taking Shape
In a back-and-forth practice where the Seahawks’ defense started fast and the offense finished strong, Jalen Milroe kept rolling with his new favorite target and answers regarding offensive line competitions continue to slowly emerge.
Camp Takeaways: Sam Darnold, QBs Ace Situational Ball in Seahawks’ 14th Practice
Though the Seahawks weren’t on the practice field quite as long as usual on Saturday, the intensity ramped up, particularly in 11-on-11 drills with Sam Darnold and the quarterbacks executing quite well on decisive fourth downs.
Analysis: 12 Seahawks to Watch in Exhibition Opener vs. Raiders
All eyes will be on the Seahawks latest draft class as they make their NFL debuts in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Raiders, but they aren’t the only ones to watch closely in the first game action of the season at Lumen Field.
Seahawks 53-Man Projection: Who Makes Cut After First Two Weeks of Training Camp?
Already with 10 practices in the books, several starting jobs and roster spots remain up for grabs as the Seahawks prepare for their first preseason game. Who would be on the final roster if those decisions were made today?
Camp Takeaways: Tory Horton, Rookie Class Continues to Shine in Seahawks’ Ninth Practice
Seeking a downfield threat to help replace DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks may have found a possible solution in ascending rookie Tory Horton, who became the latest member of the 2025 draft class to shine in his first training camp.
Camp Takeaways: Highlight Plays, Sloppy Center Execution Headline Third Padded Practice
Bringing back the pads after an easy Wednesday, the Seahawks got after it with a physical, highlight-filled practice with big plays on offense and defense, though miscues from the pivot position put a damper on the session overall.
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