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?
WATCH: Defense Dominates Red Zone-Heavy Day 3 of Seahawks Minicamp
Bringing the offseason program to an end and ushering in summer break before training camp, Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith breaks down what he saw and heard at the Seahawks' third and final mandatory minicamp practice, including an opportunistic defense racking up interceptions and pick sixes in a high energy session at the VMAC.
Takeaways: Sam Darnold, Rashid Shaheed Connection Blossoming at Seahawks OTAs
Nearing the midway point of Phase 3 of their offseason program as the 2026 season draws closer, the Seattle Seahawks returned to the practice field for the second of three OTA practices open to media on Wednesday.
What stood out at the VMAC? Starting with an encouraging development for Seattle’s passing attack, here are five takeaways from Wednesday’s session:
1. The Sam Darnold to Rashid Shaheed connection appears to have been upgraded in their first full offseason together.
Coming over from the Saints in the latest trade deadline steal orchestrated by John Schneider, Shaheed left his imprint on the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run functioning as special teams dynamite, returning two kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns, including a kick return for six points on the opening play of a Divisional Round blowout of the 49ers. But as a pass catcher, he didn’t have near as much success as fans may have hoped, struggling to emerge as a consistent weapon complementing Offensive Player of the Year Jaxon Smith-Njigba with just 15 catches for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine regular season games.
Analysis: What to Watch as Seahawks Kick Off OTAs
Taking the next step towards a new season, the Seattle Seahawks will open the final phase of their offseason program with the start of OTAs, partaking in the first open session to media on May 26.
With three open sessions and 10 total practices scheduled in the next two weeks before mandatory minicamp in mid-June, here are five storylines to watch heading into OTAs at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center:
1. Brian Fleury begins his journey as a first-time play caller with massive shoes to fill.
This time last spring, after dismissing Ryan Grubb just one day after missing the playoffs in 2024, the Seahawks handed the keys to their offense to Klint Kubiak, who held previous experience as an NFL play caller with the Vikings and Saints. That courtship ended up being a home run for the franchise and the coach, as Seattle finished in the top five in the league in points scored and set a team record for points scored in a single season. That success ultimately led to Kubiak being hired as the new coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in February, and while nobody could have reasonably expected such a triumphant one-and-done scenario to play out, there were signs that his scheme would bring out the best in quarterback Sam Darnold and company in OTAs.
Pre-OTAs Projection: Which Defensive Players Will Make Seahawks’ 53-Man Roster in 2026?
Edging the Houston Texans for the NFL’s defensive scoring title, the Seattle Seahawks used a stingy, aggressive attack to stymie opponents throughout the 2025 season and put a bow on a magical year dominating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX.
Now set to begin their title defense with OTAs kicking off next week, in news that won’t be so welcomed by the rest of the league, the Seahawks will have the vast majority of their starters from last year’s squad back in 2026. Though they lost cornerback Riq Woolen, safety Coby Bryant, and outside linebacker Boye Mafe this offseason, nine of the 11 players who logged at least 600 snaps in the regular season last year will return, and the team shrewdly attempted to replace those departed players in free agency and the draft.
With that said, coach Mike Macdonald and his staff have work to do at several positions finding the best personnel to offset the aforementioned departures, particularly in the secondary with noteworthy vacancies at cornerback and safety to address. And with four draft picks invested in the defensive backfield, the competition will be an intense one in Seattle vying for only a handful of spots on one of the most talented rosters in the NFL.
Rumbling into OTAs at the VMAC, which defensive players will survive cuts to make Seattle’s opening week roster?
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.
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.
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.
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.
‘Meant To Be’: Destiny Brings Julian Neal, Seahawks’ Dark Side Defense Together
The main story of the Seattle Seahawks’ offseason, at least since the confetti got swept up from the Super Bowl parade down Fourth Avenue, has been the names that have left the building to wear different colors. Ken Walker III, Coby Bryant, Boye Mafe, and Riq Woolen all bolted in free agency as part of the typical post-Lombardi Trophy exodus.
While Woolen was not a perfect cornerback or technician, you just don’t see size and length like that very often at the position. So, while he was frustrating at times with penalties and missed tackles, it’s a little nervy to let that kind of pure athleticism and physical gifts leave the team as Seattle did allowing him to sign with Philadelphia.
But if there was a player in the 2026 NFL Draft that could properly replace Woolen as the token long-armed corner that looks like he’s from the same lab where they made Captain America, it’s Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal.
Seahawks Trade Down, Select Julian Neal With 99th Pick in 2026 NFL Draft
Finishing off Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with a flurry of activity at the tail end of the third round, the Seattle Seahawks recouped a sixth-round draft choice by trading down with the Pittsburgh Steelers, dropping down four selections to nab Arkansas CB Julian Neal with the 99th overall pick.
Starting off his collegiate career at Fresno State as a safety and sub-package linebacker, Neal transitioned to cornerback during his second season with the Bulldogs and enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2024. Ready to step up his game against top competition, he entered the transfer portal and took his talents to Arkansas, instantly being plugged in as a starter on Day 1 playing on the boundary.
Final Mock Draft: Seahawks Plug Immediate Holes, Keep Eyes on Future With Added Picks
After months of preparation for everyone from scouts to coaches to executives, the 2026 NFL Draft will finally kick off in Pittsburgh on Thursday, April 23, ushering in the latest crop of college talent jumping to the pros.
Still basking in the glow of a Super Bowl LX championship, general manager John Schneider, coach Mike Macdonald, and the Seattle Seahawks will roll into the annual event lacking much firepower to work with, as the team currently holds only four selections after trading away a fourth and fifth round pick for receiver Rashid Shaheed at the trade deadline last October. That’s quite the departure from the past three drafts where they built a championship foundation with 29 total picks, including 11 last spring.
Down to the final couple days before the first round kicks off with the Raiders on the clock, Schneider and company undoubtedly have already been working the phones looking for potential suitors to trade up for the 32nd overall pick to recoup a selection or two, planning ahead with hopes the dominos fall right to be able to slide down.
How will Seattle’s 17th draft under Schneider’s watch unfold? And how many picks will the Seahawks ultimately make on the heels of capturing the Lombardi Trophy two months ago?
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