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Seattle Seahawks 2026 NFL Draft Preview

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Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel is selected as the No. 18 pick by the Seattle Seahawks during the NFL Draft at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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It goes without saying that the Seattle Seahawks had an excellent 2025 season. The Super Bowl LX champions were one of the most well-rounded teams in recent memory, and it clearly showed in their dominance in both the playoffs and the regular season… except in matchups against the Rams. 

But the keyword there is were, with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak becoming the next head coach of the Raiders, SBMVP Kenneth Walker III heading to the Chiefs, Riq Woolen leaving for Philadelphia, and a multitude of other losses across both the coaching staff and the roster. As a result, the Seahawks now find themselves possibly scrambling to fill their missing gaps with only four draft picks. 

Seahawks Draft Picks:

  • Round 1: Pick 32
  • Round 2: Pick 64
  • Round 3: Pick 96
  • Round 6: Pick 188 – from Browns

Fortunately for Seattle, Mike Macdonald is one of the most skilled defensive strategists in recent memory, and GM John Schneider has proven repeatedly that he knows exactly how to build a competitive roster. Not to mention, the Seahawks currently have the eighth-most cap space in the league and very little dead money on their books.

Seahawks Positions of Need:

The Seahawks do still have solid roster depth even after recent departures. Since Macdonald is skilled at doing more with “less” on defense and getting production from almost anyone, Seattle can focus more on developing their new offensive scheme. However, here are the positions Seattle needs to tackle the most:

  • CB
  • WR
  • RB
  • EDGE

Key Draft Targets for Seahawks:

Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

With Walker gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from an ACL injury, Price would likely step right into the Seahawks’ revamped offense. Price is especially skilled at re-routing and reading defenses, similar to Walker. However, he struggles more with ball security and acceleration, which could be significant concerns as he transitions to the NFL. 

Still, running backs are typically drafted later in the first round and into the second, and Price has the potential to be, if not a direct replacement for Walker, a promising running back to complement Charbonnet’s goal-line skills.

Brandon Cisse – CB – South Carolina

Woolen had a 2026 season with multiple notable highs, but possibly more notable lows, making it understandable why Macdonald and Schneider thought it would be most productive to let him go to Philly rather than paying him, especially considering his deal with the Eagles is one year for $15 million. That’s too much for someone who can be a major liability with hot-headed penalties and subsequent mistakes. Luckily, Macdonald has had success with South Carolina DBs, and Cisse may just be his next star. 

The Seahawks traded up to pick No. 35 in 2025 to select Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina, who ended up being one of the best, if not the best, players on their championship defense. Cisse shares many qualities with Emmanwori, with his length, speed, and athleticism. He would also be a good replacement for Woolen, as he’s good in tight coverage and can stay in line with deep routes. ESPN and PFF have Cisse as a top-40-to-50 prospect; Seattle should be able to get him with their first pick if they so choose.

C.J. Allen – LB – Georgia

Allen isn’t as explosive as some linebackers in the class, but that might make him a great fit in this Seahawks defense. With Earnest Jones IV, Drake Thomas, and Derick Hall, Seattle has decent linebacker depth, so adding someone who is physical and a strong tackler would be enough at pick No. 32. Allen excels at reading running backs, especially, and could help stop the run on a defense that prides itself on that. 

Many mock drafts have Allen going somewhere later in the first round, so grabbing him at No. 32 would be good value for Schnieder.

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Written by
Reagan Silbar

Reagan is a sophomore at Boston College studying Applied Psychology and Journalism. At The Lead, she covers the Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, and is part of the editing team.

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