The Seattle Seahawks completed the 2026 NFL Draft, adding eight players and making significant roster changes. Key winners include Olu Oluwatimi and Jalen Sundell, while Christian Haynes and others face uncertain futures.
**Olu Oluwatimi stays**, **Jalen Sundell is in pole position** that Olu Oluwatimi couldâve been a trade option for the Seahawks in order to gain draft picks. Thankfully, he stayed put and Seattle doubled its draft capital. This doesnât rule out the possibility of Oluwatimi being dealt if Seattle wants to make a trade during preseason/roster cuts, but the Seahawks are committed to the continuity of last seasonâs offensive line. Incidentally, Jalen Sundell is all but certain to remain the starting center after Seattle opted to draft a guard instead of anyone who could play center. **A vote of confidence in ?** The Seahawks gave an extension to remain their starting linebacker alongside . Tyrice Knight went from bench player to starter to back on the bench at the end of his second season. Seattle did not add to the linebacker group in the draft and so far have only added one through the UDFA period. Seattleâs ILB depth is not great but itâs also not dire; Knight has had flashes of good play and he contributes as a heavy hitter on special teams. One name to watch heading into camp is , who was stashed on the practice squad all season. **, Connor OâToole will get their chance to compete** Not that this was a strong EDGE class to begin with, but the Seahawks didnât bother touching this position. turns his visit into a signing, but that might be as much as they do unless a greater, splashier opportunity arises. Even though Jared Ivey and Connor OâToole scarcely played on defense as undrafted rookies, thereâs clearly a reason the Seahawks never attempted to expose them to waivers throughout the season. âs exit will create an opportunity for Ivey and OâToole to push to make the rotation.
Winners include Olu Oluwatimi, who remains with the team, and Jalen Sundell, who is likely to be the starting center.
Christian Haynes is likely done in Seattle due to his inability to secure a starting position and the team's recent draft picks at his position.
The Seahawks drafted three cornerbacks, including Julian Neal and Andre Fuller, to fill the gap left by Riq Woolen's departure.
The Seahawks did not add to their linebacker group in the draft, indicating a vote of confidence in Tyrice Knight and the existing players.
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**Christian Haynes is probably done in Seattle** Some picks just donât work out. Haynes not beating out Anthony Bradford for starting right guard as a rookie was not a failure, but he couldnât even get ahead of Sataoa Laumea, who found himself mostly out of the league last year before signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was at Seahawks training camp when Haynes was working on center snaps and getting no reps for actual scrimmaging due to a âminorâ pec issue. They drafted Bryce Cabeldue last year and now theyâve got Beau Stephens this year, so the writing appears to be on the wall in permanent marker. Haynesâ time in Seattle is coming to an end one way or another. **Noah Igbinoghene and Nehemiah Pritchett are put on notice** The Seahawks only had five cornerbacks entering the draft. They came away with three more, although itâs more likely Michael Dansby is seen as a special teams option than anything else. Julian Neal and Andre Fuller are two taller, bigger, physical corners who wouldnât be out of place on a Pete Carroll defense, never mind what Mike Macdonald covets. With Riq Woolen gone, thereâs 800+ snaps that need to be replaced at cornerback, and Neal at the very least will be in the running for significant playing time. Free agent signing Noah Igbinoghene has only had a regular role on defense once in his six-year career, and it was borne out of injury to Emmanuel Forbes back in 2024. Nehemiah Pritchett has scarcely played, and even when Devon Witherspoon missed time and Riq Woolen was sort of in the dog house, the Seahawks trotted out Derion Kendrick. The two Auburn corners will be battling for a roster spot with Neal on the squad. I also think Andre Fuller has the strongest chance of any of Seattleâs seventh-rounders to make the 53. **Donât believe the âbottom of the depth chartâ running back hype** The Seahawks played it coyly regarding the running back room. John Schneider has spent the whole offseason hyping up George Holani and citing his NFC Championship Game performance, which has led to the thought that a player whose number of non-garbage time carries is still in the single digits over two seasons could suddenly become a starter. Taking Jadarian Price at No. 32 pretty much ends that little fantasy that really didnât have much justification to begin with. But Holani himself isnât in the losers column because I think heâll likely make the team anyway. The ones on notice the most are Kenny McIntosh and Jacardia Wright, both of whom have flashed in preseason but have had respective injury issues. McIntosh has had two major injuries in two of his three seasons, while Wright literally didnât make the active roster and his only NFL touches came in garbage time against the New Orleans Saints. McIntosh in particular is instantly on the bubble, which is a shame because of his potential, but thatâs the reality as a late-round running back whoâs not been available to play.
Either Anthony Bradfordâs starting job is going to be under threat from Beau Stephens or (more likely) weâre watching Seattle take his successor. Bradford had his best season in 2025 but will need a really good follow-up to justify an extension. Weâve had our fair share of Bradford discourse but letâs not act like he hasnât been in some sort of starting competition in each of his previous three seasons. Bud Clark looks to be the logical replacement at safety for Coby Bryant, but Ty Okada impressed deputizing for either Bryant or Julian Love. Just in my brief chat with Okada during Super Bowl week, heâs very much a coaching staffâs delight whoâs willing to do whatever is asked of him in any role. I can sooner believe there will be a rotation of him and Clark than definitively going one way or another.