The Seattle Seahawks are into the second week of training camp, preparing to kick off the 2026 NFL season against the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9. Head coach Mike Macdonald's team clearly is a talented one, even with losses suffered in free agency. The team should contend to win its second straight Super Bowl.
To have that happen, though, several rookies need to step up and help fill the voids left by outgoing veterans. First-round selection Jadarian Price will be counted on to be good immediately, for instance. His success or failure will impact the overall team.
Other rookies might be viewed as slightly less important now, but once the season begins, that will change. Only 53 players need to make a roster, and all, except maybe the backup quarterbacks, need to play an important part, whether a player is in their first year or their 10th.
Seattle Seahawks rookie updates at 2026 training camp in Week 2
Jadarian Price, RB
The Notre Dame product hasn't just shown an ability to cut well while rushing their holes in the offensive line, but he has proven he can catch well, too. He even did so on the first episode of Hard Knocks. If he caught one pass, he likely caught dozens more.
That ability might be all Mike Macdonald and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury needed to see, along with Price understanding his role in pass protection, to cement the rookie's spot as a starter. Hopefully, he allows 12s to forget Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in free agency, sooner rather than later.
Verdict: Stock still rising, and all signs point to Week 1 starter
Bud Clark, S
Macodnald said recently that the team is asking a lot from Clark, and the rookie will hopefully see the mental "fog" lift soon. Just knowing the Seattle Seahawks are trusting Clark enough to put a lot on his plate signifies how esteemed he is among the coaching staff.
While Clark might not have the same elite physical traits as Nick Emmanwori, a bigger player who has even lined up at edge rusher, the first-year player out of TCU might be expected to take on some of Emmanwori's reps if Emmanwori misses the first game or so while recovering from ankle surgery.
Verdict: Stock appears to be rising with a chance of getting Week 1 reps
Julian Neal, CB
The cornerback had a solid offseason and is the kind of bigger corner that Seattle needed to help replace Riq Woolen, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. He might not have been ready to play loads of reps at the start of the season, but the hope is he ascends later in the year.
His problem in training camp is that he has had a leg injury, which has caused him to miss several practices. All rookies need reps, and missing them will slow their growth. At this point, one would assume Neal won't see many defensive snaps in the first part of the year.
Verdict: Stock slipping due to leg injury
Beau Stephens, G
Starting right tackle Abraham Lucas said after a session of practice recently that Stephens has a positive "attitude about him" and that "he is getting a lot better." That's great, but Stephens' path to playing right guard seems nonexistent at this point.
Veteran Anthony Bradford has been getting the vast majority of starting reps, just as he has in most of the last three seasons. That might not make many Seahawks fans happy, as Bradford hasn't been overly good at his job, but offensive line cohesion matters. That appears to be giving Bradford the advantage over Stephens, who was a fifth-round pick.
Verdict: Stock neutral
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