Pre-OTAs Projection: Which Offensive Players Will Make Seahawks’ 53-Man Roster in 2026?
Lighting up scoreboards from start to finish, the Seattle Seahawks leaned on a potent offense that ranked in the top five in the NFL last season to finish with 17 wins and capture the second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
As they embark on their title defense with the final phase of the offseason program starting next week, the Seahawks will have most of the band back together from last year’s Super Bowl squad. All 11 players who logged at least 700 offensive snaps will return, and with the exception of running back Ken Walker III, every starter from last season remains under contract, presenting unprecedented continuity for a defending NFL champion.
With that continuity, however, few roster spots will be available on the offensive side of the ball as competitions heat up in coming weeks leading up to the start of training camp. Even for reserves who played snaps last season, with a new crop of rookies and free agent signees on board, there won’t be any guarantee of sticking around on the 53-man roster this time around on one of the NFL’s deepest teams.
Rumbling into OTAs at the VMAC, which offensive players will survive cuts to make Seattle’s opening week roster?
Jalen Milroe’s Development Among Key Storylines as Seahawks Begin Phase 2 of Offseason
Keeping most of their roster intact this offseason after capturing a Super Bowl LX win, the Seattle Seahawks will open OTAs later this month with the same exact quarterback group they had when they left the field through a flood of confetti at Levis Stadium in February.
The clear headliner of the signal caller collective after guiding Seattle to a second Lombardi Trophy, Sam Darnold added more hardware to his collection this spring, marrying his fiancé Katie Hoofnagle in California. The two-time Pro Bowler has two years remaining on the three-year contract he signed in March 2024 and following an impressive 2025 campaign where he threw for 4,048 yards and 25 touchdowns, he’s vaulted into franchise quarterback status and will be looking to take another step forward amongst the NFL’s elite at the position.
Behind him, Drew Lock has proven himself as a capable gunslinger in limited opportunities during two stints with the Seahawks and brings 28 career regular season starts to the table. Few teams have a better backup option on their roster in terms of talent and experience, ensuring he will hold onto that spot as the team’s primary insurance policy in 2026.
Considering Darnold’s status as the undisputed starter and Lock’s firm grip on the backup job, second-year quarterback Jalen Milroe isn’t in an ideal situation to see the field anytime soon, at least beyond the possibility of Seattle revisiting using him occasionally in Wildcat packages to capitalize on his immense athleticism and running ability. But even with such circumstances, his growth on the practice field will be heavily scrutinized for a number of reasons in coming weeks as he sees plenty of reps in his second NFL offseason program.
Which Players Have Seahawks Drafted After Official 30 Pre-Draft Visits?
With the 2026 NFL Draft less than three weeks away in Pittsburgh, the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams are tying up loose ends and finishing official visits with a variety of prospects. These on-site meetings allow players to meet with coaches and personnel staff as well as undergo medical examinations and physicals.
So far, the Seahawks have been linked to 15 prospects for official 30 visits, including multiple potential first-round targets such as Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood and Missouri defensive end Zion Young.
In terms of relevance, the majority of players who fly out to Seattle for these pre-draft visits won't be drafted by the team, as only 26 of their 137 draft choices since 2011 have been used on players reported to make those visits, or just 18.9%. However, recent history suggests at least one of their slated four picks in this year’s draft will be a player who visited the team facility this spring, while several others could be signed as priority undrafted free agents or brought in for a tryout at rookie minicamp. These visits offer plenty of significance for general manager John Schneider and the front office, and that trend continued even after the arrival of Mike Macdonald as Pete Carroll’s successor.
Looking back at their past 15 drafts, with 2021 being excluded due to most visits being done virtually because of COVID protocols, which players who reportedly attended official “30” visits at the VMAC wound up being drafted or signing with the team?
Three-Year Outlook: Seahawks in Great Shape for Present, Future Offensively
As the calendar flips to April and the 2026 NFL Draft rapidly approaches, the Seattle Seahawks find themselves in the heat of the offseason, continuing to look into ways to improve their roster scanning the free agent market along with wrapping up draft evaluations while also exploring extensions to retain several of their top players.
While building the best roster for the upcoming season remains the top goal with eyes on defending their Super Bowl title, Seahawks general manager John Schneider also has to be cognizant of the future, making every decision in regard to free agency, extensions, and the draft with a multi-year window in mind.
Now less than a month away from the draft, how does Seattle’s offense look for both the present and the future?
Elijah Arroyo Active, Robbie Ouzts Out for Seahawks in Super Bowl LX
After receiving a questionable designation on Friday’s final injury report, the Seattle Seahawks will be without fullback Robbie Ouzts as they battle the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Ouzts, a fifth-round pick out of Alabama, has been dealing with a nagging neck injury since Seattle’s 41-6 Divisional Round win over San Francisco last month. He sat out a 31-27 win over the Los Angeles Rams two weeks ago, but with the extra week via a bye, the team held out hope he would be ready to return for the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, after being limited in practice this week, he won’t be available.
Analysis: Grading Seahawks 2025 Rookie Class Through Seven Games
Closing in on the halfway point of their rookie seasons, how have Tory Horton and company performed thus far for the Seahawks?
Halftime Observations: Sluggish Seahawks Score Late TD, Trail Bucs 13-7 in Low Scoring Affair
Yielding field goals on the first two drives and failing to score on three promising possessions of their own, the Seahawks fell behind two scores to the Buccaneers in Sunday’s Week 5 clash, but a late score may have turned the tide back in the home team’s favor before intermission.
Seahawks Opt to Hold Out Devon Witherspoon vs. Steelers
While Devon Witherspoon could be seen sprinting on the field in pre-game warmups, he won’t be in uniform for the Seahawks as they try to get their first win of the 2025 season in Pittsburgh.
Snap Confidential: Seahawks’ Week 1 Play Time Confirms Competitions at RB, LB
The regular season may be underway, but after a close loss to the 49ers on Sunday, the Seahawks have a few positions with ongoing competitions set to play out in coming weeks and some tough conversations could soon be on tap in the secondary.
Instant Takeaways: Sloppy Seahawks Blasted 20-7 By Packers in Exhibition Finale
Coughing up the football four times total in the game, Jalen Milroe and the Seahawks couldn’t stay out of their own way in a rough finish to the preseason in Green Bay.
Key Storylines to Watch as Seahawks Close Out Preseason at Packers
In their final dress rehearsal before the real bullets start flying on September 7, several young Seahawks will be looking to shine at Lambeau Field with roster spots and practice squad opportunities hanging in the balance.
Camp Takeaways: Tempers Flare as Seahawks Spar With Packers in Joint Practice
In the heat of mid-August, the Seahawks and Packers weren’t able to keep their tempers from flaring in an intense joint practice. What stood out to Mike Macdonald coming out of the session in Green Bay?
What to Watch as Seahawks QB Jalen Milroe Earns Full Game Nod in Preseason Finale
After a competitive joint practice in Green Bay on Thursday, the Seahawks will be taking an extended look at their dual threat rookie quarterback in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Packers. What should fans be looking for watching Jalen Milroe at Lambeau?
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.
Revisiting Seahawks’ Performance in 23-23 Preseason Tie vs. Raiders
All eyes were on Jalen Milroe in his NFL debut. How did the rookie quarterback look for the Seahawks and what else stood out from the first preseason audition against the Raiders?
Film Breakdown: Grey Zabel, Seahawks’ Draft Class Pass First Test vs. Raiders in Exhibition Opener
While the Seahawks would have preferred to leave Lumen Field with a victory on Thursday night, a ballyhooed crop of incoming rookies led by Grey Zabel shined in an impressive debut for the group as a whole. What stood out on film?
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.
Takeaways From Seahawks’ Annual Football Fest at Lumen Field
Playing in front of raucous fans for the first time in 2025, Sam Darnold and the Seahawks held a spirited practice on their home turf with plenty of big plays and an unfortunate injury during their annual football fest.
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.
ALL SEATTLE SPORTS, ALL THE TIME
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
