Which Players Could Seahawks ‘Stick & Pick’ at No. 32 in 2026 NFL Draft?
John Schneider hasn't been secretive about his desire for the Seahawks to trade down from pick No. 32 at the end of the first round to acquire extra picks.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Corbin Smith examines a handful of prospects who could make Seattle's Executive of the Year change his mind if they remain available on Thursday night, including a trio of highly regarded cornerback talents.
Big Board: Ranking Top EDGE Targets for Seahawks in 2026 NFL Draft
With the deadline come and gone for teams to bring prospects into town for official visits, it’s full steam ahead for the Seattle Seahawks and the rest of the league heading towards the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
After helping anchor the NFL’s top defense a year ago on the way to a Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks will roll into 2026 attempting to defend their title with plenty of questions short and long-term in regard to their EDGE group. Former second round pick Boye Mafe left to sign with the Bengals in free agency, while speculation about veteran Demarcus Lawrence potentially retiring continues to run amuck in the rumor mill and both Derrick Hall and Uchenna Nwosu will be entering the final year of their respective contracts as well.
Which edge setters stand out as the best of the best for Seattle to potentially choose from?
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?
Three Trade-Down Scenarios for Seahawks During 2026 NFL Draft
It’s well-documented that the Seahawks have just four draft picks in the upcoming 2026 draft. That could mean the Seahawks aren’t enthused about the depth of the talent pool in this class. Whatever it means, it’s because they shipped fourth and fifth round picks to New Orleans for Rashid Shaheed (worth it). Cleveland agreed to send their 2026 sixth rounder for Seattle to send them Nick Harris and a seventh rounder.
Roy Robertson-Harris went to the Seahawks from the Jaguars, to whom Seattle shipped a sixth round pick.
For that reason, Seattle has just four picks in the first, second, third, and sixth rounds.
As we know, John Schneider is one of the bigger wheeler-and-dealers on draft day. He’s as savvy as any general manager in the NFL when trading down in the draft. By virtue of the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl, they own the last pick of the first round.
Will Schneider opt to gain another pick or two and sacrifice his first-round pick in the process? It’s certainly possible.
Let’s explore three scenarios for the Seahawks trading down to recoup a pick or two later in the draft.
2026 NFL Draft: Ranking 10 Possible Picks for Seahawks to Take at No. 32 in First Round
The calendar has turned to April. For some, that means baseball season. For others, The Masters, the Final Four, or planting a garden, or looking forward to longer hours of daylight. For football fans, that means the NFL Draft is closing in.
The 2026 NFL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from April 23 to 25. By virtue of winning the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks have the last pick in the draft, selecting 32nd overall. Certainly, that’s the goal for every NFL franchise to be picking last in the draft because that means you just hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Indeed, the defending champs have a host of needs heading into the draft. They didn’t address needs with major moves in free agency. Their biggest moves, aside from re-signing a few of their own, were to sign running back Emanuel Wilson and corner Noah Igbinoghene, both getting just one-year deals under $2 million.
Now, the main way teams can improve their team between now and fall is via the draft. Who might the Seahawks take at 32 (if they pick there at all)? Which options are better than others?
Analysis: Identifying Best EDGE Fits for Seahawks’ 2026 Draft Picks
Expectedly losing several key starters from their Super Bowl-winning squad in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks allowed former second round pick Boye Mafe to walk, as the three-year starter took his talents to the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-year, $60 million deal.
Losing Mafe, who only had two sacks and four quarterback hits in 17 games last season for Seattle, may not seem like a significant departure. But those numbers didn’t fully illustrate his impact in coach Mike Macdonald’s defense, as he still managed to eclipse 40 pressures and posted a 19% Pass Rush Win Rate that ranked eighth among EDGE defenders via ESPN, providing plenty of disruption even if the tangible statistics hitting quarterbacks didn’t translate from that.
In addition, the Seahawks have other questions at the position without Mafe, starting with the immediate future of Demarcus Lawrence, who has been at the center of retirement speculation since Super Bowl LX. Uchenna Nwosu, who finally overcame a rough two-year run of injuries to bounce back with a strong 2025 campaign, as well as Derick Hall, each have only one year remaining on their current contracts, making the EDGE spot a significant area of need short and long term for the franchise.
Looking at this year’s latest crop of EDGE defenders, which players stand out as the best potential fits to succeed Mafe and help reinforce the Seahawks’ defensive line for 2026 and beyond with each of their four selections?
2026 NFL Combine: 6 Potential Seahawks Targets Who Impressed on Day 1 of Workouts
Ushering in the next stage of the NFL offseason for the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams, the annual NFL Scouting Combine kicked off in earnest on Thursday with linebackers and EDGE defenders participating in on-field athletic testing and drill work.
Which players who could be on Seattle’s radar heading into the 2026 NFL Draft improved their stock the most? Here are six prospects who starred on Day 1 at Lucas Oil Stadium:
Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
An inside linebacker who finishes with votes in Heisman Trophy balloting shouldn’t be viewed as an overlooked talent or a sleeper going into the NFL draft process. But even after racking up over 250 combined tackles, five interceptions, and 10 forced fumbles in his final two seasons dominating in Lubbock and earning All-American honors, Rodriguez entered the combine with questions about his production being able to translate to the next level due to athleticism concerns.
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