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The Seattle Seahawks selected Deven Eastern in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, surprising some due to their existing defensive line depth. Defensive line coach Justin Hinds advocated for Eastern, viewing him as a valuable addition for practice and potential game situations.
When the Seattle Seahawks selected Deven Eastern in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, some were surprised by the position and name.
The Seahawks already had Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams locking down the starting interior defensive line spots with Jarran Reed and Rylie Mills as capable backups, and Brandon Pili as a prototypical nose tackle. Eastern didnât produce big-time numbers in college and wasnât ranked highly on consensus boards. Despite the lack of outside attention, the decision makers in that room were well aware of what he brought to the table and ready to invest in him.
According to this report from HawkBlogger, Seahawks defensive line coach Justin Hinds vouched heavily for the team to draft Eastern, who he thought was a great depth piece to add to their unit. While their rotation is stacked, it contains veterans in Williams and Reed whose workload will be managed heavily, especially during the week in practice. He was seen as a necessary practice player to Hinds, who even said âIf we donât draft Eastern, Iâm going to play nose myself.â
Eastern might not be an immediate rotator, but he isnât just a high-floor depth piece and practice player. Danny Collins, his defensive coordinator as Minnesota, said this on the Locked On Seahawks podcast recently:
Eastern brings immediate value as a practice player and a high ceiling for the future. When you have to make interesting choices in the seventh round, the Seahawks bet on tape and traits over past production to get attributes. With John Schneiderâs success in the later rounds and Mike Macdonaldâs defensive line factoryâs high standard, Eastern will be a fun player to follow for the next few years, even before he gets on the field.
The Seahawks drafted Deven Eastern due to his potential as a valuable depth piece and practice player, as emphasized by defensive line coach Justin Hinds.
While not expected to rotate immediately, Eastern is seen as a necessary practice player who can contribute as the team manages the workload of veteran players.
Defensive line coach Justin Hinds strongly supported the decision, stating that Eastern was essential for the team's depth and practice needs.
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This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks rookie DT Deven Eastern provides immediate value for 2026