> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Analysis: Ranking Seahawks’ Positional Groups by Long-Term Stability - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/ranking-position-groups-seattle-seahawks-long-term-stability/ - Published: 2026-04-21T19:42:12.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:55:58.000Z - Author: Nick Lee - Tags: Analysis, NFL Draft, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Sam Darnold, Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are fresh off the ultimate high, hoisting a Super Bowl trophy. But, even championship rosters come with expiration dates. As Seattle turns the page toward the 2026 season and beyond, the question isn’t just how good this team is right now, but how sustainable that success will be. From looming free agents to aging veterans and thin positional depth, some areas of the roster are far more secure than others. With that in mind, here’s a full ranking of every position group on the Seahawks, ordered by how stable their future truly is. **12\. Running Back** It’s hard to argue against this. Before the draft begins, the biggest question mark on this team for not only its future, but its present, is at running back. Even when Zach Charbonnet returns from his ACL injury sometime midseason, this is the final year on his rookie deal. He could also go by way of Ken Walker III and depart Seattle after this coming season, if an extension isn’t agreed upon or even offered. Emanuel Wilson is an intriguing option. Does he flourish with more playing time, while not being the main back in Green Bay behind Josh Jacobs? However, even if he does thrive, he’s on a one-year deal. There’s no guarantee he will return to Seattle beyond this year, regardless of how well he does. George Holani is highly thought of heading into the 2026 season by Seattle’s coaching staff. However, much like with Wilson, even if he thrives with more playing time, he too is on the last year of his deal and will be a restricted free agent next year. Kenny McIntosh also is set to be a free agent after this year and is coming back from an ACL tear. There is no running back on Seattle’s roster currently scheduled to return in 2027\. For this reason, we give it the distinction of least-stable position group on the team. **11\. EDGE** Not far behind running back in lack of stability is edge rusher. Uchenna Nwosu and Derick Hall, both playing a big role in Seattle’s Super Bowl LX win, are set to be free agents after this season. They lost Boye Mafe to Cincinnati this offseason already. Plus, DeMarcus Lawrence is not getting any younger. There were retirement whispers earlier in the offseason. Even if he plays in 2026, it’s highly doubtful he plays out the full two years left on his deal. If he does leave, that puts the Seahawks in a spot where the only edge players set to be on the team in 2027 are Jared Ivey and Connor O'Toole, neither of which have much regular season experience. Certainly, the Seahawks could agree to an extension with the likes of Hall and/or Nwosu. But for now, it’s a murky future. This is to say, the Seahawks absolutely need to come away from the 2026 NFL Draft with another option at edge rusher, perhaps even with their first pick. **10\. Defensive Tackle** On the surface, this might seem strange. The Seahawks have arguably the best defensive line in the entire sport. However, the alpha dog of that group, Leonard Williams, is on the last year of his deal. And so is nose tackle Brandon Pili. Byron Murphy II will be eligible for an extension soon, with two years left on his rookie deal. They could possibly activate his fifth-year option. Murphy will be a Seahawk for the foreseeable future still, as will Super Bowl surprise hero Rylie Mills. Nonetheless, the Seahawks should probably look for an eventual replacement for Jarran Reed, who has two years left on his current deal and will turn 34 late this year. Williams isn’t getting any younger either and needs a new contract, so there are plenty of questions in the future here. **9\. Interior Offensive Line** The ranking is certainly not this low because of Grey Zabel. In fact, he’s the reason this is not towards the bottom, with three years left on his rookie deal and the option for another year, by virtue of his fifth-year option. However, he is the only one that is stable. The two other starters along the interior line are both on the final year of their current deals. Center Jalen Sundell, with his three-year deal as an undrafted free agent, and Anthony Bradford, the starting right guard, both enter this year without a certain future in Seattle. It would not be surprising to see the Seahawks select an interior lineman in this draft as a result. **8\. Specialists** This is a bit of a funky category. First, punter Michael Dickson is currently the highest-paid punter in the NFL. He deserves it, after garnering buzz about possibly being the Super Bowl LX MVP…as the punter. He will be in Seattle through at least the 2029 season. However, the biggest question mark is kicker Jason Myers. He too had a case to be Super Bowl LX MVP, setting a Super Bowl record for field goals made. He enters the final year of his current deal in Seattle, where he has been the steady presence at kicker for the last seven years. Long snapper Chris Stoll is also under contract for the next two years, so there’s some stability. **7\. Safety** Nick Emmanwori certainly isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. He has the potential to be one of the all-time great defensive backs in Seahawks history. He still has three years left on his rookie deal. Julian Love, the steady veteran presence in the room, still has two years left on his contract. Beyond those two, it’s a murky situation. Ty Okada returns on a one-year deal. Seattle brought in two outsiders on one-year deals to compete as well in Rodney Thomas II and A.J. Finley. The 2026 safety room in Seattle is a strong, deep one. It gets a lot more shallow behind Love and Emmanwori after this season if Okada isn’t retained, making it a position they could choose to be proactive drafting a player at this week. **6\. Cornerback** Many view this spot as a high position of need in this week’s draft. It is. However, it’s not as dire as others on this list. The two players boosting this ranking is, of course, Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe. The Seahawks picked up Witherspoon’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal last month, which now expires after the 2027 season. Like with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, this will likely be baked into an extension for the three-time Pro Bowl corner very soon. He’s not going anywhere. Coming off a strong 2025 season, Jobe returned to Seattle on a three-year deal in free agency as well. So, that’s two cornerbacks likely in Seattle for at least the next three seasons. After Witherspoon and Jobe, there is room to add some depth and talent. They brought in Noah Igbinoghene from the Commanders, but on just a one-year deal. Shemar Jean-Charles returns after he spent all of last season on Seattle’s practice squad. Nehemiah Pritchett played less than 100 snaps on defense last year. But he still has two years left on his deal and has shown promise in spurts when he’s been on the field defensively. The Seahawks would do well to infuse this group with another starter-caliber corner to loop in with Witherspoon and Jobe for 2027 and beyond, potentially as early as No. 32 overall. But they don’t have to force the issue drafting to need either. **5\. Quarterback** This was a harder one to evaluate. What is “stability” at quarterback? Sam Darnold is as steady as they come with his personality and locker room presence. He also just finished his second straight Pro Bowl season, helping lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl title. 2026 marks his second of a three-year deal he signed with the Seahawks. Certainly, he will be due a raise and possible extension very soon, likely after this season. Keep in mind, he’s only 28, younger than Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. For the next couple years, Darnold will be a Seahawk if the Seahawks want him to. Drew Lock will be a free agent after this season, but Jalen Milroe has three years left on his rookie contract, providing flexibility in the backup role. **4\. Linebacker** All three off-ball linebackers in Seattle have two years left on his deal. Ernest Jones IV was a vital part to the Seahawks having a Super Bowl-winning defense in 2025\. Mike Macdonald is a big Drake Thomas fan, which resulted in him getting a new two-year deal. Tyrice Knight provides excellent depth, with two more years on his rookie deal. Unless there’s a can’t-miss talent that falls to Seattle in this draft, it seems like they are set at linebacker for now. **3\. Tight End** Much like at linebacker, the main characters of Seattle’s tight end room are still on multi-year deals. AJ Barner still has two years left on his rookie deal. He is emerging as one of the best, young tight ends that can block as well as catch the ball just as well. Elijah Arroyo had an injury-shortened rookie year. The talent is clear. As is his future, with three more years on his rookie deal. The hero of the Thursday Night Football win over the Rams, Eric Saubert, enters the final year of his current deal. Nick Kallerup still has two years left, as does tight end and fullback hybrid Brady Russell, who re-signed in March. This position seems set. **2\. Offensive Tackle** Quite simply, offensive tackle might be the most secure starting spots on the whole roster. Charles Cross just signed a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension during the 2025 season. He will be a Seahawk for the next five years as Seattle’s left tackle. On the right side, Abraham Lucas signed a three-year extension right before the 2025 season began. He will man the right side of the line for the next three years as least. Where they might need to keep a bookmark is their tackle depth. Josh Jones signed a one-year deal. Amari Kight will be an exclusive rights free agent next year, so he could be a potential option on that front. Overall, this is a solid group that is set for years to come. **1\. Receiver** This should not come as a huge surprise. One of the biggest storylines of the entire NFL offseason was the massive contract extension for Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The reigning Offensive Player of the Year signed a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension. That comes into effect after his rookie year expires. Therefore, the Seahawks will have their star receiver for at least the next six years. It’s not just about Smith-Njigba. Cooper Kupp enters the second of a three-year deal with Seattle. Rasheed Shahid surprised many by returning to the Seahawks after arriving there after a midseason trade. He signed a new three-year, $51 million contract with the Seahawks. That means that through 2027, the Seahawks have all three at their disposal. This isn’t even counting Tory Horton, who caught five touchdowns and ran for a punt return touchdown, in his first eight games of his NFL career. He still has three years on his rookie deal. Jake Bobo returns on a new two-year deal as well and the organization remains high on Ricky White III, a 2025 seventh-round pick. This is arguably one of the deepest position groups anywhere in the NFL.