Ranking Seahawks Draft Picks By Readiness to Contribute Early in 2026

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Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price takes a handoff from running back coach Thomas Hammock during the team’s first rookie minicamp session. Credit: Corbin Smith/Emerald City Spectrum [/caption]

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.

7. Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo

Much like Dansby, Fuller has a tall mountain to climb to establish himself on the depth chart at cornerback early on. He has a bit more size than Dansby, at 6-1, 200 pounds, which gives him the leg up. Still, cornerback is extremely deep and competitive. It’s special teams or bust early on for Fuller.

6. Deven Eastern, DT, Minnesota

If you look up the term “nose tackle” online, a picture of Eastern just might pop up. There is a lot of uncertainty with the defensive line beyond 2026 in Seattle. He likely starts the season on the bench or practice squad, but given his sheer size and role as a nose tackle, which can alter week-to-week, he might get an earlier look than some think. It’s simply hard to miss him on the practice field and he’s capable of making some splashes as a pass rusher, which gives him an advantage over incumbent Brandon Pili.

5. Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas

This might seem low for Neal. Again, it’s about where he is position-wise at cornerback as part of a deep, talented group in Seattle, and he’s only played the position for three years. At the same time, it’s also not hard to imagine Neal making an impact on the defense before Thanksgiving. In the attrition that an NFL season brings, he may be called upon sooner rather than later. He certainly fits Seattle’s mold for corners, at 6-2, 203 pounds with a physical play style. He won’t be too far down the depth chart after training camp, most likely, with starting upside down the line.

4. Emmauel Henderson Jr., WR, Kansas

If a sixth-round receiver being this high has you scratching your head, allow me to explain. No, he is not going to crack the top three of the receiver group, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Rashid Shaheed leading the way. He may even struggle to fight off Tory Horton and Jake Bobo for the fourth and fifth spots. However, it’s special teams that will make the difference. Special teams coach Jay Harbaugh must be salivating at seeing Seattle bring in a receiver with 4.44 speed with a bevvy of special teams experience already. It’s not outside the real of possibility that Henderson sees the field Week 1 in a special teams role.

3. Beau Stephens, G, Iowa

It’s not a coincidence that the Seahawks slotted Stephens at right guard during rookie minicamp. While they have not come out and said he is going to compete with Anthony Bradford for playing team early this year, the coaching staff must view that spot as the biggest weakness along the line at this time. For that alone, Stephens may play early. Even if he doesn’t overtake Bradford straight up, the amount of attrition an offensive line experiences over an NFL season, Stephens needs to be ready because his name will be called sometime in 2026.

2. Bud Clark, S, TCU

The bouncy energizer bunny Clark could see action right away. Most view him as a natural replacement for Coby Bryant, who is now with the Bears. He’s a versatile ballhawk who can bounce all over the defensive secondary. His aggressive style and experience (61 college games) give him an edge early in camp, even with Ty Okada ready for an increased role. Plus, we know Mike Macdonald likes to mix it up in the secondary with his personnel.

1. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

This one was fairly obvious. When you select a running back in the first round, after losing your Super Bowl MVP at the position, expectations are understandably high. It wouldn’t be totally shocking if Price had a heavy workload during Week 1 right out of the gate. With George Holani and Emanuel Wilson in the fold, Price can’t hit cruise control to “RB1” status quite yet. But it’s coming.