As the reigning Super Bowl champions and with most of their core players still under contract, the Seattle Seahawks entered the 2026 NFL draft in a privileged position. Nevertheless, they had just four picks, and that's a bit of a tough spot for any general manager.
Even so, the Seahawks didn't trade out of the first round. They took Jadarian Price to address their need for another running back, with general manager John Schneider pulling the strings to acquire additional assets down the road.
All in all, the Seahawks doubled their war chest and left the three-day event with eight players. Considering that, ESPN NFL draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. gave them a "B-" grade for the way they worked the board.
Mel Kiper Jr. thinks the Seattle Seahawks aced the NFL Draft
"Not only were the Seahawks picking at the end of each round by virtue of winning the Super Bowl, but they came in with just four picks. But like magic, general manager John Schneider doubled that number through four trades. And he walked away with a few very good football players," Kiper wrote.
The renowned expert believes the Seahawks found a true replacement for Kenneth Walker III with Jadarian Price. While he may not be the most proficient pass catcher and there are some ball-security issues, he's a fast and hard-working back who might only need a team of his own to flourish after sharing the backfield with Jeremiyah Love.
He's a perfect complement to what they have in Zach Charbonnet.
Kiper also liked what they did by adding a couple of ball hawks and impressive physical specimens to their secondary. Bud Clark and Julian Neal should be able to carve themselves a role on the defense right out of the gate, even if they're not starters.
They will make for suitable replacements for Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen, respectively, at least on paper, and their ability to flip the field and force turnovers will come in handy.
Last but not least, Kiper praised the Seahawks' selections of Beau Stephens, an underrated lineman with starting guard potential, and Deven Eastern, a unit of a human being to shut down the interior of the defensive line.
Other than that, he doesn't see a clear path for the other picks -- Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Andre Fuller, and Michael Dansby to make an immediate impact for the Super Bowl champions -- if at all.
The Seahawks had a few pressing needs ahead of the draft. Besides adding a bellcow running back, their minor needs at cornerback, safety, edge rusher, and guard were more related to depth and rotational pieces than starting-caliber guys.
John Schneider has built two different Super Bowl-winning rosters in his tenure with the organization, so he certainly deserves the benefit of the doubt. Also, with plenty of compensatory selections in 2027, he did a great job of acquiring more picks in this year's draft and maximizing the value of most of their assets. The champions aren't going anywhere.
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