A pick-by-pick analysis of where each of 8 ‘swaggy’ Seahawks draft choices fit

Jadarian Price (24) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish returns a kickoff for a touchdown during the third quarter against the USC Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium on October 18, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Round 2 (64): Bud Clark, safety, TCU

The Seahawks love Clark’s confidence. They love how aggressive he is attacking passes in the air. Coach Mike Macdonald said they also love his “competitive spirit.”

Coby Bryant, Seattle’s multiyear starting safety and 2022 draft pick, signed in free agency with Chicago last month. Ty Okada made 11 starts and won a Super Bowl ring filling in mostly for injured veteran safety Julian Love. Macdonald said this weekend the coaches are excited for Rodney Thomas, the former starting safety for Indianapolis and Yale graduate who was the first external free agent the Seahawks signed last month.

Clark will compete with Okada and Thomas, or rotate with them, to replace Bryant starting with Love in the back of the defense.

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Safety Bud Clark #21 and members of the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs celebrate after Clarks interception returned for a touchdown at the end of the first half against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Alex Halloway/Getty Images)

Round 3 (99): Julian Neal, cornerback, Arkansas The bold, brash former Fresno State safety played one season as a hard-hitting cornerback in the Southeastern Conference. He was an instant Seattle media star talking to us after he got drafted Friday night.

He was, in a word, wild.

“We’re going back to back!” he declared about 10 minutes after he got drafted by the champion Seahawks.

The 99th pick of this draft says he is the most physical cornerback in it.

If he tackles NFL players like he did college guys — or as well as he talks — Macdonald will find a place for him in a rotation with re-signed (for $8 million per year) Josh Jobe opposite three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon.

That’s the arrangement the coach had for Jobe and Riq Woolen, until Woolen signed with Philadelphia in free agency last month.

FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 18: Julian Neal #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tips a pass in the end zone in the second half that was thrown to KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 45-42. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Round 5 (148): Beau Stephens, guard, Iowa

Schneider couldn’t believe the first-team All-American guard was available on what was an otherwise idling Seahawks Saturday morning. They didn’t have a pick in rounds four and five — until they traded a fourth-round choice in their 2027 draft to move into the fifth round and get the rugged Stephens. “It was too big a gap and too much talent there,” Schneider said. “We were pretty surprised.”

Stephens played left guard the last two seasons at Iowa, and right guard for one season before that. Right guard Anthony Bradford will be entering the final season of his rookie contract.

Macdonald wouldn’t say if Stephens will begin by working at right or left guard. But let’s be real: The Seahawks didn’t trade one of their picks in a strong draft next year to have Stephens idle behind stud left guard Grey Zabel, the 2025 first-round pick who will be starting there for the next three or four years, at least.

Seahawks fifth-round draft choice Beau Stephens of the Iowa Hawkeyes participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on March 1, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Round 6 (199): Emmanuel Henderson Jr., wide receiver, Kansas

I’ve been covering NFL drafts since my first one on the Oakland Raiders for the Sacramento Bee 23 years ago. I can’t remember anyone drafting a punt-team gunner, specifically for that role.

The Seahawks did this weekend.

They lost their gunner, wide receiver Dareke Young, in free agency to the Raiders last month.

That’s what why Seattle picked Henderson. He was elite at being a gunner in college. Schneider noted Henderson clocked almost 23mph in GPS tracking sprinting down the sideline outside closing in on and tackling opposing punt returners. He’s also a punt returner.

Yes, a punt returner who also tackles punt returners. Henderson isn’t breaking into a wide-receiver rotation among Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Jake Bobo and Tory Horton. But he’s got a job waiting for him on the 2026 team as a gunner.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks catches a pass against cornerback Blake Cotton #16 of the Utah Utes in the second half at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

Round 7 (236): Andre Fuller, cornerback, Toledo

“You can never have too many corners,” Macdonald, the maestro of moving defensive backs around in different roles, said after this draft.

That’s why he took three of them, two in the seventh round.

Fuller was one of four Seahawks draft picks this year who made pre-draft, top-30 prospects visits to Seattle. That’s seven over two drafts. Nick Emmanwori, Horton and Bryce Cabledue had top-30 visits to Seattle last year.

The 6-1, 200-pound Fuller must show out how all rookies must, to play in their first NFL seasons, that is: On special teams. “He’s playing on teams,” Schneider said.

Julian Dugger #12 of the Pittsburgh Panthers tries to break a tackle by Andre Fuller #3 of the Toledo Rockets in the fourth quarter of the GameAbove Sports Bowl game at Ford Field on December 26, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

Round 7 (242): Deven Eastern, nose tackle, Minnesota

If he can come in like a pro, the 6-5, 315-pound Eastern can carve out a place on the roster as a rookie, even as a pick this late. Brandon Pili signed back for 2026 as an option at nose tackle. Byron Murphy excelled moving up and down the line of scrimmage in his second season last year.

Macdonald wants more interior defensive-line depth. Eastern could provide some.

“Our coaches were very excited to add an A-gap (between the guard and center) player that can get up and down the line of scrimmage,” Schneider said, “and have some upside as a pass-rusher.”

Defensive lineman Deven Eastern #91 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers makes a tackle during the second half on running back Leshon Williams #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on October 21, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)

Round 7 (255): Michael Dansby, cornerback, Arizona

Seahawks scouts got onto Dansby because of his competitiveness and “stickiness” in pass coverage. He also excelled as a gunner at San Jose State and Arizona.

Dansby told us on a phone call after he got drafted that he ran a 40-yard dash in 4.25 seconds, very unofficial, during training for this draft.

A seventh-round pick who almost became an undrafted free agent running in the 4.2s?

“He’s a cornerback. He’s going to tell you that,” Schneider said. “He’s swaggy.”

Swaggy fits this Seahawks draft.

TEMPE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 28: Defensive back Michael Dansby #25 of the Arizona Wildcats breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Jaren Hamilton #16 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. This year's game is the 99th annual Territorial Cup game between the rival Arizona schools. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)