Doing mock drafts for the Seattle Seahawks this year has been tricky. John Schneider’s first pick doesn’t come until number 32. He only begins with three additional picks – numbers 64, 96, and 188. What’s more, he has a very good roster.
Despite losing four prominent members from his Super Bowl-winning squad and not replacing any of them with equivalent quality through free agency, there are still no obvious holes.
To cap it off, this is quite possibly the most unsettled draft in recent memory. There is no consensus about the second pick, let alone the 32nd. Still, with the real thing just hours away, we’ll try to read the tea leaves and make some guesses as to what the Seahawks’ general manager might do.
Final Seattle Seahawks 2026 mock draft could be a dream
It is an open secret that Schneider will listen to trade offers to move back and pick up additional assets. A lot of this championship roster has been built on the last four draft classes, when he made 38 selections. The last time Schneider had as few as four picks was 2021. He had three that year, and it’s probably best that we not talk about how it all worked out.
Round 1 - Trade back
I sifted through a bunch of trade proposals before settling on this one from the Houston Texans…
- Houston receives pick number 32 and Seattle’s seventh round pick in 2027
- Seattle receives picks number 38 and 106
I hate giving up future picks, even in the seventh round, but the Seahawks figure to gain selections via the compensatory system next year, so that softens the blow. Dropping back six spots does not radically alter plans for the top pick this year.
Round 2, pick 38 – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Seattle used three cornerbacks very often in 2025. Having solid perimeter corners, Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen, allowed Devon Witherspoon the freedom to move around quite a bit, and he was magnificent in that role. With Woolen gone, Spoon’s role could change. Noah Igbinoghene is a good player, but he will not thrive outside. Brandon Cisse could.
The cards are lining up for Schneider to take a corner with his first pick. Not only does he need one, but there are also a lot of quality prospects who should be available in this part of the draft. That’s why moving back a half dozen spots makes sense here. Aveion Terrell, Chris Johnson, Colton Hood, and Cisse all figure to go between the late first and the middle of the second round.
The only potential monkey wrench here is the recent health-related fall of Jermod McCoy. Until recently, a surefire first-round pick, McCoy has fallen on many draft boards due to concerns about his knee. His fall could shift those other players forward. Schneider will be assessing whether he can move back and still get a player of Cisse’s potential at 38.
However, even if there is a run on cornerbacks before Schneider makes his choice, the position is deep enough to provide other options, like the rising prospect Treydan Stukes.
Round 2, pick 64 – A.J. Haulcy, S, LSU
Doubling down on defensive backs in the first two rounds fits in with the kind of defense Mike Macdonald likes to run. Despite losing starter Coby Bryant to free agency, you could make the case that the Seahawks do not really need a safety right now.
They still have Julian Love. They have ascending star Nick Emmanwori. Ty Okada played a lot last year and proved to be a flexible and productive option. And Schneider has picked up several other promising young players in recent years to challenge for playing time.
But Haulcy would add another dimension. Most importantly, in the same way that Cisse’s presence frees up Witherspoon at corner, having Haulcy would allow Macdoanld and Aden Durde to take full advantage of both Love’s and Emmanwori’s extraordinary versatility.
Haulcy is not the versatile athlete that those elite safeties are, but he is a very solid box safety who plays well in zone schemes and is strong enough to mix it up close to the line. He is exactly the kind of reliable presence that allows the Seahawks' stars to shine.
Round 3, pick 96 – Mike Washington, RB, Arkansas
Depending on how the board shakes out, I doubt I would pick Washington in this spot. But I am getting some pretty strong vibes that Seattle would like to add him to their backfield. My reluctance does not mean Washington can’t be a productive player in the NFL.
Many scouts have him pegged as the third-best running back prospect this year, after the duo from Notre Dame. He has the size and the speed to thrive in the pros.
Still, I’m not sold. This is a very bad year for running backs, and there has been a slight uptick in interest in the position after its plummet over the past five seasons. That often leads to players being overvalued in the draft.
If Seattle is looking for a back to help make up for the loss of Kenneth Walker III, Washington is not the ideal candidate. He may have speed, but he does not have Walker’s outstanding agility.
Washington is a hedge against Zach Charbonnet’s return to full health. As such, the choice makes sense. But I think this may be a pick that Schneider regrets a few years down the road.
Round 4 – Trade
- Cleveland receives pick number 106 (Seattle gained in the earlier trade, moving out of the first round)
- Seattle receives picks number 107 and 206
I moved back one spot to gain an additional sixth-round pick from Cleveland.
Round 4, pick 107 – Malik Benson, WR, Oregon
The most remarkable thing about Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s ascendancy in 2025 was the fact that Seattle did not have a consistent second option in the passing game. They had veteran savvy in Cooper Kupp and youthful speed in Tory Horton and Rashid Shaheed. They got decent contributions from tight ends and running backs. But no one delivered week in and week out apart from JSN.
Benson is not likely to do that in 2026. With all the major receiving options back this year – including both Horton and Eiljah Arroyo back from injuries – he won’t have to. He will merely add yet another lightning-fast option to develop over time. He is essentially another version of Horton, and teams can never have enough deep threats on the outside.
Signing Shaheed to a long-term deal suggests the team sees him as more than just a kick returner. I expect they will look for ways to get him more involved as both a receiver and runner in 2026. That opens a door for a player like Benson to step into the return-man role while studying under technicians like JSN and Kupp to improve his receiver play.
Round 6, pick 188 – Jager Burton, IOL, Kentucky
Burton is listed as a center, but he has good experience at both guard spots as well, which makes him a very attractive player for Seattle. Schneider has drafted a lot of interior linemen in recent years, but only his 2025 first-round pick (Grey Zabel) and a 2024 UDFA (Jalen Sundell) have thrived. Burton would be a good addition to a raft of young prospects competing for depth positions.
Burton has a ton of experience, having started 47 games against SEC competition over the last four seasons. He has the requisite size and strength to stand up to NFL defenders, and has functioned well in the zone schemes that figure to be a staple of Brina Fleury’s run game.
The reason he falls into the late rounds is that there is nothing elite about his profile or game tape. He is not going to wow anyone with exceptional athleticism. He is simply a versatile grinder who does what is expected most of the time.
In that regard, he reminds me a lot of Sundell. Neither player profiled as a star, but both look like they belong when you watch them play. Burton may never be the answer at right guard if and when Anthony Bradford departs, but his floor as a reliable backup is secure.
Round 6, pick 206 – Tyreak Sapp, Edge, Florida
Sapp is a bit of a tweener and, as such, may not interest Mike Macdonald. He is not the rangy edge rusher that Seattle has seemed to prefer. But he is a powerful athlete who can do what defenses want in an edge. He stands up against the run and can be an effective pass rusher.
The Seahawks’ edge situation mirrors what they have at safety. Losing Boye Mafe will hurt, but there are a lot of dynamic players still around to pick up the slack. Adding Sapp allows the starters – especially DeMarcus Lawrence – the ability to both get some rest and take advantage of their elite versatility.
Some scouts are concerned about Sapp’s actual production, which was average at best in his final year as a Gator. If you saw him in 2024, you got a more complete picture of his actual playmaking ability. And on a Mike Macdonald-led team, adding another skilled edge rusher is always a sound idea.
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