The Seattle Seahawks are inching closer and closer to officially beginning their title defense with a Week 1 matchup against their Super Bowl opponents, the New England Patriots. What helped the Seahawks reach the championship game was one of the best offenses they've had in franchise history.Â
Sam Darnold was excellent, Jaxon Smith-Njigba was elite, Kenneth Walker III was clutch when he needed to be, and Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald and former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak were at the top of the NFL coaching chain with game planning and play calling.Â
What bodes well for the Seahawks in 2026 is that they didn't lose much on offense aside from Walker, who left in free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs. All the big performers are returning, including a new one whom Seattle is hoping can become their newest big performer. Seattle has several offensive players that will help their success; the question is: who are they, and where do they rank?
Rahshid Shaheed's impact will be invaluable for the Seattle Seahawks' thriving offense
1. Sam Darnold, QB
The most important position in football is the quarterback, so it makes sense that Darnold ranks the highest in importance for the Seahawks next season. He was outstanding last season, his first as a Seahawk, but he can and should be even better going forward.Â
The Seahawks will live or die by Darnold's hands. They will live by him putting up MVP-type numbers and prolonging a season-long connection with Smith-Njigba. They will die if his turnovers outweigh last season's. As long as Darnold finds a way to limit costly mistakes, the Seahawks offense will be even more dangerous.
2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
There should be no surprise if by the end of the 2026 season Smith-Njigba is considered at the same level as the best of the best wide receivers in the league. He's the latest wideout to come within inches of Calvin Johnson's record, and if he's able to rack up the production he did last season again, Â could he make another run at Megatron?
The Seahawks will rely heavily on Smith-Njigba's connection with Darnold to produce the lion's share of the offense. One of the worst things that could happen for Seattle is Smith-Njigba taking a significant step back. He is their offense; Darnold's success hinges on Smith-Njigba's.Â
3. Jadarian Price, RB
There is a lot of pressure on Price as a rookie, perhaps more than is deserved, but the Seahawks have no choice but to ride the former Fighting Irish rusher from the start. With Walker gone, Zach Charbonnet unable to start the season, and George Holani and Emanuel Wilson both with limited experience, the Seahawks can't afford not to throw Price to the wolves.
The good news is that Price has given the Seahawks every reason to believe he's ready. OTAs and minicamps have been overall positive for Price, and with training camp underway this week, the rookie should be even more prepared to start Week 1 as the Seahawks' No. 1 rusher. They'll need him to be as good or better than Walker, and it's a good bet he'll be the latter.
4. Rashid Shaheed, WR
Smith-Njigba is the Seahawks' most important offensive weapon, but what Rashid Shaheed does as a pass catcher will go a long way for the Seahawks. Re-signing Shaheed over Walker was the better offseason move, but that decision meant that Seattle intends to use Shaheed more in the pass game than just on special teams.Â
Shaheed can blow the doors off any opponent as a kick returner, but if Seattle can unlock the version of Shaheed the New Orleans Saints were privileged with as a deep threat wide receiver, that makes the seven-year veteran all the more important to Seattle's offense, especially if Smith-Njigba has a down game or two.Â
5. Charles Cross, LT
Seahawks are expected to have a top-10 offensive line next season, and Darnold and co. couldn't be more relieved to hear it. Charles Cross leads that group upfront and continues to be Seattle's most important lineman at the left tackle position. Cross takes care of the blindside for Darnold, and his pass protection is some of the best in the NFL.
The 'Seahawks' offensive line allowed just 27 sacks last season, while ranking 12th in pass block win rate and 8th in run block win rate. It's realistic to assume that those sack numbers will decrease next season; of course, that would mean Darnold playing a big part in avoiding costly setbacks in the backfield. Cross is the anchor, though, and his presence on the O-line is instrumental.Â
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