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?
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?
From Undrafted to Super Bowl Champ, Ty Okada Keeps Seizing ‘Special’ Opportunity With Seahawks
Now heading into his fourth NFL season with the Seattle Seahawks and soon to have a Super Bowl ring coming his way, Ty Okada would love to say he expected such successes all along after going undrafted out of Montana State.
But coming from humble beginnings growing up in Woodbury, Minnesota and starring for an under-the-radar FCS program located in Bozeman, Montana collegiately, while Okada isn’t hurting in the confidence department and believes in his talent, making such proclamations wouldn’t be relaying anything the real truth. Like most players who don’t hear their names called on draft weekend and sit on what seems like a chronic roster bubble, he battled through bouts of insecurity and uncertainty as he tried to stick around and survive in a league known for short careers that can end in a flash.
However, Okada’s resolve never wavered when the pressure of such doubts may have dragged down other players under similar circumstances, and the Seahawks continued to reward him with chances to prove his mettle. Backed by a strong support system around him in and out of the team facility, he kept on fighting, and with a couple of injuries opening the door last fall, he finally made a name for himself as a valuable member of coach Mike Macdonald’s “Dark Side” defense.
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?
Three-Year Outlook: Seahawks Face a Few Pressing Questions on Defense Beyond 2026
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 defense look for both the present and the future?
Nick Emmanwori Exits Practice, Seahawks Seeking ‘Next Steps’ as Super Bowl LX Approaches
Just four days before taking the field for Super Bowl LX, the Seattle Seahawks could potentially be down one of their top playmakers on defense against the New England Patriots.
Hours after speaking with reporters during Wednesday’s media scrum, per PFWA pool reporter Kalyn Kahler, Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori left midway through practice after injuring his ankle while attempting to defend a pass. The report indicates coaches and teammates came over to console the rookie defender as he walked off the field on his own and he did not return, receiving a limited designation on the practice report.
“He had an ankle today, we brought him in to look at it,” Macdonald told Kahler. “And we’ll kind of go from here and figure out what are the next steps?”
X-Factors to Watch as Seahawks Seek Lombardi Trophy vs. Patriots in Super Bowl LX
While all eyes will be on Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Leonard Williams, and other stars for the Seahawks, history suggests an unsung hero or two will rise to the moment in Super Bowl LX. Which ‘Hawks have the best chance to be X-Factors against the Patriots?
WATCH: Ty Okada, Seahawks Use ‘Ultimate Team Effort' to Stymie 49ers in 13-3 Win
Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada reacts to the team’s 13-3 win over the 49ers and winning the NFC West title from the locker room at Levis Stadium.
Report Card: Top Performers in Seahawks’ 27-10 Road Win Over Panthers
Turnovers and clutch plays fueled a second half surge that led the Seahawks past the Panthers in Charlotte, keeping Mike Macdonald’s squad atop the NFC standings. Who shined brightest in Seattle’s sixth straight win?
Rapid Reaction: Run Game, Stifling Defense Leads Seahawks to 27-10 Win in Carolina
Playing physical, downhill football and leaning on a rising star tight end, the Seahawks turned the page on a sloppy first half to pull away from the Panthers in the second half, once again dominating on defense to get to win No. 13 and stay atop the NFC standings.
Halftime Observations: Ken Walker III, Seahawks Knotted Up With Panthers 3-3 in Defensive Slog
Despite averaging nearly 5.5 yards per carry in the run game, the Seahawks couldn’t get out of their own way offensively in the first half, as a turnover led to the Panthers tying the score late in the second quarter in gloomy Charlotte.
With Julian Love Working Way Back, Ty Okada Playing ‘Incredible Football’ For Seahawks
Entering the final month of the season, the Seahawks hope to have a fully healthy Julian Love rolling into the playoffs. But the stellar play from his replacement over the past two months has created quite the luxury for the team as the Pro Bowler eases back into action.
‘Bro’s Playing His Ass Off’: Nick Emmanwori Enters Rarified Air in Seahawks’ 37-9 Win in Atlanta
Prior to Sunday, Nick Emmanwori had battled a case of the close calls, coming up just short on sacks, interceptions, and blocked field goals. But in Atlanta, his fortunes changed across the board in a once-in-a-lifetime performance for the Seahawks rookie.
Seahawks Set to Bolster Top-3 Defense For Final Stretch Run
Tied atop the NFC standings, the rich will get richer on defense with the Seahawks set to bring back two key veteran standouts for the final five games.
Rapid Reaction: Seahawks’ Defense Suffocates, Stacks Turnovers in 26-0 Romp vs. Vikings
Forcing five turnovers while racking up a bunch of sacks and pressures along the way, the Seahawks didn’t let the Vikings find their comfort zone with a rookie quarterback under center, punishing the opposition to move into a three-way tie for the NFC’s best record.
Quandre Diggs, Myles Gaskin Set to Make Seahawks Debuts vs. Vikings
Sporting 90s throwbacks as if he never left, Quandre Diggs will be back in a Seahawks uniform for Sunday’s home battle against the Vikings, while another familiar local star may have a shot to make his team debut after quite the backfield shuffle.
Seahawks Set to Reunite With Quandre Diggs, Re-Sign Veteran to Practice Squad
One of only a handful of multi-time Pro Bowl safeties in Seahawks history, “Nino” looks primed to come back to the Emerald City to provide much-needed insurance in the secondary for Mike Macdonald’s defense.
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.
Comparing Rivals: How Do Seahawks, Rams’ Defenses Stack Up Against Each Other?
Racing out to 7-2 starts, the Seahawks and Rams have been stingy allowing points to opponents with ferocious defensive lines, underrated linebackers, and versatile secondaries. Where does each team hold an edge going into Sunday’s first matchup at SoFi Stadium?
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