As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks would have to wait until the final spot in the 2026 NFL Draft to make their first-round selection, and unless they made some moves, they wouldn't have a ton of draft capital.
Ultimately, general manager John Schneider stayed put and didn't trade his first-round pick, but he did add more picks to his war chest. The Seahawks didn't have many needs to address in the draft or the offseason, and they did a solid job of addressing what needed to be addressed.
As such, those who weren't always up to the level might not be a lock to keep their starting spots in 2026. With a couple of promising rookies joining the team, these two position battles might show how much this roster has improved from season to season.
2 Position battles that should get hot in training camp
Safety: 3 Players, 2 spots
Nick Emmanwori was one of the most crucial contributors to this team's defense last season. He'll get on the field as early and often as possible, and Mike Macdonald will deploy him all over the defensive backfield and even as an additional linebacker and occasional pass rusher.
Sometimes, Emmanwori will be in the slot or in the box, and that'll leave the door open for both Julian Love and Ty Okada to take the field. However, Okada will most likely be the odd man out when Emmanwori lines up at safety, though rookie Bud Clark could also take his spot.
Okada should be in for a promotion, but Clark's ball-hawking instincts and prowess in coverage make him worth the gamble here. He should be a strong candidate to play heavy snaps right out of the gate, especially in obvious pass situations.
Right guard: Can the rookie take over?
Saying that the Seattle Seahawks' offense can be better might sound nitpicky, but that doesn't make it any less true. The interior of the offensive line might still be a concern, especially with right guard Anthony Bradford. He's arguably the weakest link on that side of the field.
The Seahawks took Beau Stephens, one of the best interior linemen in college football for the past four seasons, and while he might need some time to get a hold of the speed of the pro game, he should also keep his veteran teammate on his toes.
Macdonald could also turn to 2024 draft pick Christian Haynes, but with Grey Zabel all but locked in at left guard, Stephens' best shot at taking the field comes on the other side of the field. The bar isn't particularly high, and an impressive training camp could push Bradford to the bench.
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