The Seattle Seahawks will return as defending champions in the 2026 season, but will also return 20 of 22 starters. Sure, there were some key losses, but head coach Mike Macdonald's team has been built well by general manager John Schneider.
This is especially true defensively, as that side of the ball led the NFL in fewest points allowed last season. They could do the same again in 2026, but make no mistake that Seattle will face a good number of excellent quarterbacks.
In fact, among the five most dangerous QBs below that Seattle will face are the San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy, the Denver Broncos' Bo Nix, and the Los Angeles Chargers' Justin Herbert. All could be especially difficult to stop.
Ranking the five best quarterbacks the Seattle Seahawks will face in the 2026 season
Not that the Seahawks can't, because they proved last year that the real threat in any given game isn't the opposing quarterback but Seattle's defense. Proven, of course, by winning a title last season.
5. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (Week 1)
Maye wasn't very good in the Super Bowl, or in the playoffs overall last season, but part of the issue was that his blocking was absolutely horrible. He had his head on a swivel against the Seahawks, but he had no choice. He was getting hit from all kinds of unexpected angles.
Maye is an accurate passer, has good athleticism, and is in a good system for him. He was in the running for 2025 MVP for a reason: He's a good player, and he is only at the beginning of what should be a long and productive career.
4. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (Week 7)
Having Mahomes fourth on any quarterback list feels weird, but he hasn't been as good in the last three years. His highest quarterback rating during that time is 93.5. Is he still capable of greatness? Of course, he is no doubt a future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.
He could even rebound a bit this season, helped by KC giving him a good running back. Former Seahawks RB1 Kenneth Walker signed with the Chiefs this offseason, and his presence should make Patrick Mahomes' job easier.
3. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (Week 13)
Prescott hasn't been good when his team has made the playoffs in his career, but then, Seattle won't be playing the Cowboys quarterback when the teams face each other in Week 13 at Lumen Field. In the regular season, when healthy, Prescott is quite good.
A key to the QB's game is that he doesn't turn the ball over much. His interception rate is only 1.9, so if the Seahawks can get a couple of takeaways, that would be a great achievement. Dallas can score points, so this might be one of the few games where Mike Macdonald's defense is stressed.
2. Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (Week 8)
What separates Williams from almost everyone else on this list is his ability to play extremely well when the game is late. He can bring Chicago back from seeming defeat, so even if Seattle gets a lead, 12s cannot rest easy, assuming the victory.
The Bears' quarterback was also much better in his second season, partly thanks to an improved offensive line and better coaching by Ben Johnson, and he should be even better in his third season. He doesn't have the highest degree of accuracy, but he makes big plays when his team needs them.
1. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (Weeks 16 and 18)
The question here is who is better in terms of their entire careers: Stafford or Patrick Mahomes? Both are future Hall of Famers, of course, and one might have wondered what kind of success Stafford would have had if he had played for Andy Reid instead of beginning his career with a then-bad Detroit Lions team.
The Rams' quarterback has also given the Seahawks' defense fits nearly every time they have played. Stafford will score points, no matter who he is playing. He isn't just the best quarterback here, but arguably the best quarterback in the NFL.
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