Analysis: What to Watch as Seahawks Kick Off OTAs
Corbin Smith Corbin Smith

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.

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Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Defensive Position Battles Entering OTAs
Analysis Corbin Smith Analysis Corbin Smith

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?

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Analysis: Investigating Seahawks’ Key Offensive Position Battles Entering OTAs
Analysis Corbin Smith Analysis Corbin Smith

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?

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