
WR Flowers: Harbaugh's practices led to injuries
Zay Flowers claims Harbaugh's tough practices led to injuries for Ravens players.
The Seahawks face multiple needs heading into the NFL draft, with a focus on balancing positional needs and selecting the best available players. Last year, they successfully addressed a key need by drafting Grey Zabel as their highest-drafted interior offensive lineman since 2001.
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Even Super Bowl champions have needs.
Multiple ones.
Whether the Seahawks draft for them next week is another matter.
John Schneider has said the poorer drafts Seattle has had in his 16 years as the teamâs general manager have come from focusing too much on positional need â at the expense of selecting the best player available when the Seahawks are choosing. That partly explains the franchise going 11 years between Super Bowl appearances.
Last year, Schneider and the Seahawks had an optimal combination: The best player on their draft board when they chose in the first round also fit one of their biggest positional needs. At 18th overall, Grey Zabel became Seattleâs highest-drafted interior offensive lineman since Hall of Famer Steve Hutchinson in 2001.
Zabel became a stud starting left guard from day one of his first rookie minicamp. He was a reason the Seahawks in February won Super Bowl 60 for their first NFL championship in 12 years.
It doesnât always happen that way. But if it does for Seattle with its four selections Thursday through next Saturday at the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh, here are the Seahawksâ top three positions of need.
And here are the five best players at each of those positions in this draft class, per Tacoma-based NFL draft guru Rob Rang of FoxSports.com.
Barring trades down to acquire more choices that Schneider will assuredly seek, the Seahawks have the 32nd-overall pick to end round one, the 64th selection at end the second round, the 96th pick at the end of round three plus a sixth-round choice at 188th overall.
The Seahawks have multiple positional needs heading into the NFL draft, although specific positions are not detailed in the excerpt.
Grey Zabel is the Seahawks' highest-drafted interior offensive lineman since 2001, drafted 18th overall last year, highlighting the team's focus on both need and talent.
John Schneider noted that poor draft strategies, particularly focusing too much on positional needs, contributed to the Seahawks' 11-year gap between Super Bowl appearances.
John Schneider emphasizes the importance of selecting the best player available rather than solely drafting for positional needs, which he believes has impacted the team's draft success.

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Seattle Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) and linebacker Drake Thomas (42) hug after beating the New England Patriots 29-13 in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif.
Many see this as the strongest position in this draft.
The Seahawks lost one-time Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen in free agency; he signed a one-year, $12 million contract from the Philadelphia Eagles. Safety Coby Bryant, who played cornerback for the Seahawks to begin his NFL career, signed with the Chicago Bears for three years and $40 million.
Seattle brought back Josh Jobe on a three-year deal at $8 million per year, choosing the former Eagles castoff over the more expensive Woolen. Jobe is penciled to start opposite three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who is about to get a massive extension and paydays well past 2027.
The fact the Seahawks have hosted five cornerbacks among 20 known top-30 prospect visits hint at coach Mike Macdonaldâs interest in adding depth, versatility and competition at this vital position in his defense. Those five cornerback prospects that have visited Seattle: Andre Fuller, Toledo; Daylen Everette, Georgia; Brandon Cisse, South Carolina; Colton Hood, Tennessee; and Treydan Stukes, Arizona. The Seahawks donât always draft guys whom they hosted on top-30 visits. Some of those visits are to confirm plusses or strikes the team has on a prospect.
But last year Emmanwori, wide receiver Tory Horton and offensive lineman Bryce Cabledue all visited Seattle before the draft. The Seahawks selected all three.
Rangâs top cornerbacks in this draft:
Cornerback Brandon Cisse of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL scouting combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Cincinnati gave Boye Mafe a deal too rich ($20 million per year) for Seattle to match. Derick Hall, the Seahawksâ edge rusher opposite Mafe last season, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Edge rusher/defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence turns 34 the last week of April. He has indicated to Macdonald he will return for his 13th NFL season in 2026.
Draft picks are for not just this year. They are for the next four years. Thatâs where Seattleâs need is at this premier position in a pass-happy league. Veteran edge rushers get really expensive. And relatively inexpensive draft picks who hit are luxuries.
Rangâs top edge rushers in this draft:
Cashius Howell (9) of the Texas A&M Aggies defends Quincy Crittendon (2) of the Samford Bulldogs in the first quarter of their NCAA football game at Kyle Field on November 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
Super Bowl most valuable player Kenneth Walker leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency last month means the Seahawks are without a for-sure lead running back for 2026.
Zach Charbonnet shared the job with Walker last season and scored 12 rushing touchdowns. That was Seattleâs most since Marshawn Lynch in 2014. But Charbonnet tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in January, during the teamâs win over San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs. Thatâs typically an eight-to-12 recovery time, which would put Charbonnetâs return after the season opener in September.
Macdonald said he and his Seahawks like the backs who are returning, but that âthe processâ of finding and restocking continues. None of Seattleâs running backs on the 90-man offseason roster â Charbonnet, George Holani, Emanuel Wilson, Kenny McIntosh, Jacardia Wright and Velus Jones Jr. â is under contract beyond 2026. A draft pick would be under Seahawks contract for the next four years.
Yet this draft is considered a weak one for running backs.
Rangâs top five in the 2026 NFL draft:
Jadarian Price (24) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs the ball for a touchdown against the Syracuse Orange during the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on November 22, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Notre Dameâs Jordan Botelho (12) chases down and tackles Mike Washington Jr. (4) of the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first half of their NCAA football game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on Sept. 27, 2025, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
4. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska: A 5-10, 202-pound second-team All-American. His parents are from Liberia. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds at the combine. âJohnson may lack the top-end speed to consistently beat NFL defenders to the edge,â Rang says. âBut he earns high marks in some of the traits I think are even more important for success at the next level: lateral agility to make defenders miss in tight spaces, as well as both the vision and burst to attack cutback lanes.â
Running back Jonah Coleman (1) of the Washington Huskies runs the ball against the Boise State Broncos during the second half of the LA Bowl Game at SoFi Stadium on December 13, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images)