NFL Draft 2026: John Schneider confirms Seahawks ‘will be looking to move back’ from pick 32

Q: Why are the Seattle Seahawks looking to trade back from pick 32 in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Seahawks have a league-low four selections and believe trading back will help them acquire more picks in a draft considered to have limited depth.

Q: When was the last time the Seahawks traded down in the first round of the NFL Draft?

The last time the Seahawks traded down in the first round was in 2019, moving from the 21st pick to the 30th and then to the 37th.

Q: What did John Schneider say about the strength of the 2026 NFL Draft class?

John Schneider expressed concerns about the lack of depth in the 2026 draft class, which influenced the Seahawks' decision to trade away their fourth and fifth-round picks.

Q: How many picks do the Seattle Seahawks have in the 2026 NFL Draft?

The Seattle Seahawks currently have only four picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 24: John Schneider of the Seattle Seahawks speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Seattle Seahawks’ “punishment” for winning the Super Bowl—are you tired of us starting almost every article with this reminder in the opening paragraph, yet?—is picking 32nd in this Thursday’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. This year’s situation is a little more complex for Seattle, who have a league-low four selections, so even in a draft not considered to be a great in terms of depth, the Seahawks look like prime candidates to trade back to get more picks. At Monday’s pre-draft press conference with general manager John Schneider and head coach Mike Macdonald, Schneider shocked the world by saying exactly what was expected regarding the Seahawks’ interest in moving pick 32. “It’s the pick that everybody wants,” Schneider said. “You’re blessed enough to win the Super Bowl, right? The fifth-year option right there. It’s no secret with us, guys. We have four picks, so we’ll be looking to move back. People are usually understanding that I think we tend to trend backwards, trade back. We traded up to get Tyler [Lockett] and [Michael Dickson], Nick [Emmanwori], yeah.” The last time the Seahawks traded down in the first round on draft night was 2019, when their native 21st overall pick was dealt for No. 30, then No. 37, and eventually they took safety at No. 47. They had the luxury of a second first-round pick due to the trade, but that No. 29 pick was spent on . You have to go back to 2017 for the last time Schneider completely traded out of the first round, when they moved from No. 26 to No. 35, selecting . Incidentally, Schneider does not view this as a strong draft class, which did factor into . “I think there’s a lack of depth in this draft,” Schneider said. “I thought our scouts did a great job in the fall of identifying that and that allowed us to be a little bit more willing to give up the fourth and the fifth-round draft pick. No matter what draft you’re in what year, it’s our responsibility to the organization to be able to find true Seahawks all the way through it. “So that means if we did have that fourth, fifth, and we’re moving around and we acquire more draft picks, we’re still going to be focused on making those guys true Seahawks. When you say nailing it, no matter if you have the three and — was that ’21? Was that the year we had three picks? Or last year having a bunch of draft picks, it doesn’t matter. You still feel that same level of pressure to be able to bring the best people you can and for the organization and for the coaching staff.” You can watch the full press conference in the video below.