The Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 NFL Draft with four picks and left with eight rookies, focusing on competitiveness as a key trait. They aimed to enhance their roster through strategic trades and targeted selections.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 28: Jadarian Price #RB15 of Notre Dame participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Seattle Seahawks, picking at 32, entered the 2026 NFL draft with just four picks. They left with eight rookies, and a recent report from ESPNâs Brady Henderson portrays the dominant trait John Schneider targeted for the whole class.
Sources inside the draft room shed light on how the Seahawks arrived at those decisions, the trades that doubled their pick total as well as some that fell through, and the common thread of Seattle making competitiveness a priority.
Weâll circle back to competitiveness in a moment â two reports from Henderson also stand out. On the one, it seems San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was indeed the top hope at 32. He went to the Miami Dolphins a few picks before Seattle was on the clock.
The other report is that an additional element for the Price selection â once Johnson was off the board â was that the other running backs were down Seattleâs board.
The Seahawks prioritized competitiveness as the dominant trait for their draft class.
The Seahawks entered the draft with four picks and ended up with eight rookies.
San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was the Seahawks' top hope at pick 32, but he was selected by the Miami Dolphins shortly before Seattle's turn.
The Seahawks made trades that doubled their pick total, although some potential trades fell through.
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According to a source, that was Washingtonâs Jonah Coleman and Arkansasâ Mike Washington Jr., two prospects viewed as potential Day 3 fallbacks if they didnât land Price.
A Day Three value amounts essentially to a three-round gap â over 100 players â between Jadarian Price and two popular mock draft backs in Coleman and Washington Jr. Thatâs a much bigger disparity in talent than many had expected heading into the draft.
Back to competitiveness. In second-round pick Bud Clark, they see that intense competitiveness in the form of âsuper-charged playing style and spirited demeanor.â
Of third-round selection Julian Neal, Mike Macdonald acknowledged Neal has âa great work ethic, super competitive.â Neal aspires to replace Riq Woolen, one of the only players on the defense whose willingness to tackle could be questioned. Neal refers to himself as âthe most physical corner in the draft.â
Iowa Guard Beau Stephens is yet another player who came in for a visit, as did Neal. They had such a high grade on him that when he was still available into the 140s, Schneider was willing to part with next yearâs fourth to grab him.
Henderson concludes with a confirmation of how important competitiveness was for the 2026 draft:
The Seahawks addressed every other need in the draft, and they did so with players they believe will come in with the mindset of taking jobs, not back seats.
âThey werenât going to be on our board if we [didnât feel] that way,â Schneider said.
Itâs more than a passing thought in retrospect to reflect on the three main players who departed this free agency as well. The aforementioned and reputation-maligned Woolen is one. Kenneth Walker, who couldnât stay on the field for parts of his career, is another. Boye Mafe, who while Iâve never heard his work ethic questioned, had a curious ability to be elite at Pass Rush Win Rate but well below average in actual production. Whatever the reason, inability to finish plays was manifest.
Clearly Macdonald and Schneider have found a vein they intend to follow. That high, self-motivated drive to be great players and great people.
At the end of the day, Seattle brought in a class of rookies that you should not expect to be overly starstruck by the defending Super Bowl champs. These guys are here to chase starting roles. Excited for camps to get going.