The Seattle Seahawks didn't take any edge rushers in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team chose to wait until after the event to sign veteran Dante Fowler in free agency. But Seattle might not be empty-handed when it comes to having a rookie edge rusher with positive potential.
The team signed Northwestern's Aidan Hubbard as an undrafted free agent, and the 6'4" and 260-pound player is already receiving rave reviews of how he could fit in head coach Mike Macdonald's defense. One of those is from Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic (subscription required).
In an article about each team's best UDFA fit, Baumgardner wrote of Hubbard, "A former off-ball linebacker who bulked up into a college edge, Hubbard is a very explosive presence with quick feet and great balance. He’s quick off the snap, plays with great knee bend and knows what he’s doing versus the run. Hubbard had 20 1/2 sacks during his time at Northwestern."
Aidan Hubbard could be the next great UDFA for the Seattle Seahawks
It is Hubbard's athleticism that might help him see the field for Seattle. He does need to gain NFL-type strength, though, even after getting bigger in college. He was pushed around a bit by strong offensive linemen in the Big 10, and, of course, every NFL offensive lineman is going to have a lot of strength.
To make the 53-man roster, Hubbard will need to prove he has the quickness to beat left tackle Charles Cross and right tackle Abe Lucas around the edge, but also display enough balance and technique that he won't simply be pushed far away from the quarterback.
He also must be better against the run than he was in his final year at Northwestern, especially in terms of not missing tackles. Hubbard whiffed on 25.8 percent of his tackle attempts in 2025. That won't hold up well in the NFL and will keep Hubbard from seeing real snaps.
Macdonald likes to disguise his alignments, and having an edge rusher on the field who can only do one thing well isn't ideal. Should Hubbard make the team, it could be a tell when he is on the field to opposing offenses that the Seahawks are aligned to try to get to the quarterback. Teams would adjust to Hubbard's presence, so his versatility is a must.
His upside is great, however. For an organization that has built winning teams with the help of important UDFAs, such as Doug Baldwin and Michael Bennett, among others, Aidan Hubbard could be the next undrafted free agent turned fan favorite who is an important cog in the Seattle Seahawks machine.
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