Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider made eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Five of those picks came in the second half of the process, and of course, these rookies were all joining the defending Super Bowl champions. In other words, the impact of this particular draft class was never likely to be as great as several recent classes. At least not right away.
And that is exactly how things have played out through the first four weeks of the season. Those eight players have been on the field for a combined 216 snaps – offense, defense, and special teams. As a point of reference, consider that backup corner Nehemiah Pritchett has logged 192 snaps by himself this season.
One of the premier picks was injured before the season began, and another is now on the injured list. So assigning grades to the draft picks at the quarter-pole may not be all that informative. We could just give most of the players “incompletes” and be done with it.
Grading the Seattle Seahawks rookies after four games
But we are going to grade them anyway, and though there may be an incomplete, we’ll try to give an actual grade wherever possible, even if it is based on off-field considerations.
Seventh round, pick 255 – Michael Dansby, CB
Dansby was one of the three cornerbacks – and four defensive backs – chosen by Schneider this year. He was signed to the practice squad after failing to make the final roster. That’s the same fate that befell Seattle’s final four picks in the ’26 draft.
But I am prepared to give Dansby a slightly elevated grade despite his lack of actual playing time. I base this on the preseason and on where he was chosen. He was just two picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant, and to my eyes, he was the best of the three rookie corners during the preseason. He may well have a role as a slot corner later this year or, more likely, a year or two down the road.
Grade: C
Seventh round, pick 242 – Deven Eastern, NT
I don’t think Eastern performed very well in the preseason, but he was injured, and that may have been a contributing factor. I will downgrade him ever so slightly because I think that Seattle was looking for a true nose tackle to outplay veteran Brandon Pili this offseason, and Eastern was unable to do so.
He did, however, beat out three other interior linemen during the preseason for his practice squad spot. So the team clearly sees something worth developing in the rookie.
Grade: D+
Seventh round, pick 236 – Andre Fuller, CB
The second of the three corners drafted, Fuller is also on the practice squad. Like Dansby, Fuller looked pretty good in the preseason and probably has a role down the road. He profiles as more of a perimeter corner and would appear to be sixth or seventh on the depth chart at that spot right now.
Grade: C-
Sixth round, pick 199 – Emmanuel Henderson, Jr., WR
The analysis of Henderson is similar to that of Fuller. He did enough in preseason to earn a practice squad spot and showed he could develop into a decent receiver and kick returner in time. But he didn’t do more than that, and he does get downgraded a bit because he was beaten out for a spot by a second-year UDFA in Montorie Foster, Jr.
Grade: D+
Fifth round, pick 148 – Beau Stephens, G
Stephens has been platooning with Christian Haynes at right guard ever since starter Anthony Bradford went on IR. It seems as if the Seahawks trust the veteran Haynes a bit more. He is taking more of the snaps. But Stephens is playing, and that is notable.
I don’t think he has stood out in any way, but getting a decent number of snaps from a fifth-round rookie should not be shrugged off. If Stephens is able to use this experience to become a more consistent performer, his grade could move up considerably. As for now, we’ll still keep expectations in check.
Grade: C+
Third round, pick 99 – Julian Neal, CB
Schneider slid back three spots in Round 3 and got Neal, a physical, big perimeter corner. Ostensibly, he would seem to be a replacement for Riq Woolen, who departed via free agency this offseason. But Neal’s impact has come almost entirely on special teams.
He appears to be clearly behind Nehemiah Pritchett as the first reserve boundary corner. And now that Trevon Diggs is rounding into shape, I suspect Neal will fall even further down the depth chart.
He has been a decent outside gunner on coverage teams, and that is his likely role for a while. If Seattle were getting that production from a sixth-round pick, it would merit a decent grade. From a third-rounder, it is a little underwhelming. But it’s hard to be too down on Neal so early. This is not an easy defense to crack.
Grade: C-
R2, P64 – Bud Clark, S
Spoiler alert: this will be my one and only “INC.”
I just can’t assign a grade to Clark, who went on the injured list during the preseason. I didn’t think he had looked all that special early on, but he seemed to be just growing more comfortable in his role when a broken ankle ended his rookie campaign.
Sadly, this will slow his progress in Year 2, though Clark may be a good enough athlete to overcome the setback and begin making a bigger mark in 2027.
First round, pick 32 – Jadarian Price, RB
Price was the most important pick of the Seahawks’ ’26 draft. By a very wide margin. The other players were joining a roster full of talent – the type of wide-ranging talent that would allow them to progress slowly.
But Price was replacing one of the vital members of the Super Bowl team. There is no other back on the Seahawks who can approximate the explosiveness of Kenneth Walker III. Jadarian Price has to be able to do that, or the offense will struggle.
Price is now on the IR, so his grade is based on very limited data. And that data is a mixed bag. Two fumbles in just 28 carries will not cut it in the NFL. That will be a big concern when he returns. On the other hand, in those same 28 carries, Prices was credited with eight forced missed tackles and five explosive runs.
Those numbers are excellent and hint at what he is capable of, assuming he solves the ball security issues. It is too early for a big reaction in either direction, but I have generally been encouraged by what Price has put on display.
Grade: B-
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