Even after losing four important parts of their Super Bowl-winning roster, the Seattle Seahawks still have one of the best collections of talent in the entire NFL. In the recently-completed draft, general manager John Schneider looked to build on that talent level, while patching a few holes.
His first three selections would seem to directly address three of his four lost free agents. Half of the eight picks were in the defensive backfield, a source of pride for the Dark Side defense. It was also the position where Seattle lost multiple players this offseason.
Schneider will continue his tinkering as he scoops up undrafted free agents. Starters Jalen Sundell and Josh Jobe are former UDFAs, so this is far from a trivial matter. Meanwhile, the veteran free agent market has taken a back seat with all the hoopla surrounding the draft. But productive players remain unsigned, and Schneider might still find genuine value in several older players.
The Seattle Seahawks should consider these veterans for the 2026 season
Jadeveon Clowney, edge
Clowney’s name has come up before. Despite his age – 33 – he is still a dangerous pass rusher who can also set the edge against the run. Physically, his 6’5”, 266-pound frame makes him an ideal fit in Mike Macdonald’s scheme. How dangerous would he be in relief of Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall?
This is the only position at which Schneider did not draft or sign an obvious replacement for one of his departing stars. Boye Mafe was part of a four-man rotation last season.
Seattle appears to like a couple of 2025 UDFAs – Jared Ivery and Connor O’Toole – and it is possible that Schneider’s lack of movement on bringing in new edges indicates those two young players have Macdonald’s confidence. Still, adding Jadeveon Clowney to an already dominant defense is awfully enticing.
Derek Barnett, edge
Clowney is not the only intriguing edge on the market. Barnett is a few years younger and has been a valuable rotational piece on very good defenses in Philadelphia and Houston. If Clowney’s price tag is too high, or if there are concerns about his age, Barnett would be a very solid option.
He is not nearly as flashy as Clowney. Not as big or as explosive. But he is a complete player with experience playing for some outstanding defensive coaches. He can provide pass-rush help, but may be even better as a run defender. Therefore, he can become part of a standard rotation, giving the starters necessary rest. He would not be a specialist. Just a very sound professional.
Michael Danna, edge
If you are getting the impression that I am suggesting Seattle should add an edge rusher or two, you figured me out. I’m a little surprised Schneider did not address this in the draft.
I presume that by the time Seattle’s pick in round three came up, he saw Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal as a much better prospect than any of several available edges who might have been in the mix. Then, without another pick until round five, he missed out on several mid-tier developmental players.
As mentioned, Ivey or O’Connor might have already laid a claim to the role Mafe had last year. But it is hard to see them being as productive as Mafe right out of the gate. Michael Danna, who won two Super Bowls as part of a defensive line rotation in Kansas City, would be an immediate contributor.
He plays very much like Derek Barnett – decent against both pass and run. Like all the edges mentioned above, he would not be a long-term fix, but Danna could be very valuable for 2026.
Antonio Gibson, running back
Seattle drafted Jadarian Price in the first round. Between Price, Emanuel Wilson, and Zach Charbonnet, the Seahawks would appear to be set in the backfield. Gibson could add another dimension. He is a converted wide receiver who should be a weapon as a pass catcher.
He is not the instinctive runner that Price and the others are, but he has all the speed and power you would want in a change-of-pace back. No back on the current roster – not even first-round pick Price – can duplicate what Kenneth Walker did for the offense last year. But Gibson has some rare skills and could be part of the answer.
The bonus is that Gibson has developed into a quality kick returner. If Seattle wants to let Rashid Shaheed focus more on playing offense, Gibson could also be part of the answer in the return game.
James Daniels, guard
Daniels was emerging as one of the best young guards in the league before a serious injury stalled his momentum with Chicago early in the 2024 season. Then, he missed almost all of last year with a second unrelated injury. There are obvious questions about his health and durability.
But if those were indeed flukish injuries, and if he has fully recovered, there is a 28-year-old ascending interior lineman just waiting for a team to take a chance on him. He can play on both the right and left side, and if back in form, he immediately solves one of Seattle’s few roster issues.
The team has been interested in upgrading from Anthony Bradford at right guard for a few years, and even if he retains his spot in 2026, he is a strong candidate to leave via free agency at the end of the year. Taking a chance on a player with Daniels’ ceiling seems like a good gamble for a team that can afford to take a small risk.
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