Seahawks Trade Down, Select Julian Neal With 99th Pick in 2026 NFL Draft
Finishing off Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft with a flurry of activity at the tail end of the third round, the Seattle Seahawks recouped a sixth-round draft choice by trading down with the Pittsburgh Steelers, dropping down four selections to nab Arkansas CB Julian Neal with the 99th overall pick.
Starting off his collegiate career at Fresno State as a safety and sub-package linebacker, Neal transitioned to cornerback during his second season with the Bulldogs and enjoyed a breakout junior season in 2024. Ready to step up his game against top competition, he entered the transfer portal and took his talents to Arkansas, instantly being plugged in as a starter on Day 1 playing on the boundary.
Offering elite size (6-2, 203) for the position, Neal consistently played the run well in college, checking off a key box for Seahawks coach Macdonald as a physical defensive back who has the mentality to play like an enforcer in all aspects of the game. Per Pro Football Focus, he only missed four total tackles in his lone season with the Razorbacks, ranking among the most reliable defenders in the FBS ranks at any position while accomplishing that feat against SEC competition.
On the coverage side of the equation, Neal has quality ball skills that have developed nicely over the past two seasons, posting four interceptions and 12 pass breakups in 2024 and 2025. He excels at tracking the football through the air, particularly on downfield throws, allowing him to get his long arms into passing lanes and close windows, and he allowed a combined completion rate under 52% in his last two collegiate seasons.
As far as development is concerned, Neal can be a bit rigid coming in and out of his breaks matching up in man against receivers as a high-hipped, lanky defensive back, but further technical refinement as a press coverage merchant could help neutralize that issue in time and he has enough burst to recover when beaten in coverage. His prior background playing some safety will also add value for the Seahawks, who love to move their defensive backs around the formation, though most of his reps should come on the boundary.
Coming on board as a third round pick, Neal could be a year away from being ready for more than situational sub-package reps in nickel and dime sets, but the Seahawks can afford to allow him proper time to progress with Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Nehemiah Pritchett on the roster ready to roll. His size, speed, and ascending trajectory project well as a future starter in time, and his physicality and leadership traits should accelerate his track to more snaps on the field.
