A lot of things had to break right for the Seattle Seahawks to claim the Lombardi Trophy last year. That in no way diminishes the accomplishment. You could say the same about every champion dating back to the dawn of the Super Bowl era. It simply acknowledges that luck plays a role in the outcome.
Sometimes, the “luck” results from quality preparation. I don’t think anyone expected Rashid Shaheed to have such an overwhelming impact as a kick returner when John Schneider acquired him at the trade deadline. But he had such an impact in part because Seattle invests more heavily in special teams than most teams do.
Zach Charbonnet’s two-point conversion against the Rams – which led directly to home-field advantage throughout the playoffs? That was simply amazingly good luck.
The Seattle Seahawks' five most important players in 2026
But the Seahawks did not win the Super Bowl because of luck. They won because they had an extremely well-coached collection of top-tier players who rose to every occasion. Some of those players were more “top-tier” than others. As they look to repeat in 2026, which players are most essential?
“Important” doesn’t necessarily mean “best.” But there is a lot of overlap. Players like Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II are among the very best in the league at their position, but since they play essentially the same position, the team can better withstand the loss of either. They also have pretty good depth behind them with Jarran Reed, Rylie Mills, and Brandon Pili.
Players become essential in part due to that question of depth. Since Schneider has built one of the best top-to-bottom rosters in the NFL, the question of depth doesn’t always come into play. But no team is stacked at every spot on the field.
Rashid Shaheed nearly cracked this list, but I am hopeful that Tory Horton will relieve him of some of his return duties this season. If the second-year player can do so effectively, the potential loss of Shaheed doesn’t sting quite as much. That same logic applies to several other positions. Beginning with …
Grey Zabel – left guard
At this early stage in his career, Zabel is not the Seahawks’ best offensive lineman. That would be left tackle Charles Cross. Right tackle Abraham Lucas is arguably better as well. However, if projected swing tackle Josh Jones is healthy, the loss of either starting tackle does not spell doom. (Maybe that makes Jones the most essential lineman of all.)
But Zabel is not so important simply based on supply and demand. His arrival last year calmed a troubled line. The Seahawks were a mess in 2024. Multiple factors went into turning that problem into a solid unit, but none was as big as Zabel’s arrival.
He was chosen with the clear intent of being a quality Day One starter, and that’s exactly what he became. There are a lot of question marks behind him on the depth chart. Until Christian Haynes, Bryce Cabeldue, or Beau Stephens proves his worth, Zabel’s presence is essential.
Nick Emmanwori – safety
Emmanwori – and the player who comes next – defies the depth-related factor in this equation. Emmanwori is a safety, and the Seahawks are loaded at safety. Julian Love is borderline elite. Ty Okada proved his value last year when Love was out for an extended stretch.
A lot is expected of rookie Bud Clark, and even further down the depth chart, the Seahawks have players who could probably start on several teams.
Of course, that logic treats Emmanwori as a safety and nothing else. Clearly, he is far more than that. His ability to line up virtually anywhere and then move in any direction is one of the keys to Seattle’s dominant defense.
The pairing of a unique athlete like Emmanwori and a creative defensive mind like Mike Macdonald is a match made in heaven. Seattle’s defense is good enough to remain tough without Emmanwori. With him, they are terrifying.
Devon Witherspoon – cornerback
Everything I just wrote about Emmanwori applies to Devon Witherspoon. He is not as big and fast as his younger teammate, but now entering his fourth season, he has the acumen to rank as the league’s best cornerback.
Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had him ranked that way – by a wide margin. He was third-best in coverage and pass rush, and topped the list against the run. He is as complete a football player as you are likely to find.
The Seahawks do have other serviceable corners, but none can do what Spoon does. As with Emmanwori, it is his versatility that makes him such a devastating player. He may well be the prototypical slot corner – quick enough to hang with the traditional slot receivers and strong enough to handle the newer “big” slots.
Macdonald wants him in the middle of the field where he can affect every play. In a sense, Witherspoon and Emmanwori are a matched set. Not many teams have a single defensive back with their athleticism and versatility. Having both on the field creates endless nightmares for opposing offenses.
Sam Darnold – quarterback
Of course, Darnold is essential to the Seahawks' success. Drew Lock is a decent backup, and the Seahawks' chances to repeat would not be seriously damaged if he had to play a handful of games. But they need Darnold to seriously challenge for another title. That is true regardless of the dominant defense.
Darnold can make big plays at any point. Though he may still make a few too many bad throws, the odd turnover is more than offset by the positive plays he creates. And perhaps even more than his actual production, the Seahawks signal-caller sets the exact right tone for the franchise. He is quiet. He is confident. And at crunch time, he has developed into a stone-cold killer.
That describes Macdonald as well. When you have that unified aura coming from the coach and QB, it generally bodes well for a team’s identity. Seattle would have a hard time replacing Darnold’s arm. They might have an even tougher time replacing his understated leadership.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba – wide receiver
This is pretty simple, right? JSN was the NFL’s offensive player of the year in 2025 (the league’s engravers notwithstanding). He was one of two elite offensive playmakers on the club. The other – Kenneth Walker III – is now gone. The new structure of the running back room remains an open question. Seattle has a lot of potential at receiver and tight end, but none of it is rock solid.
It was a dangerous sign last year when more than half of Darnold’s targets in week one went to Smith-Njigba, and that was likely not sustainable. Indeed, the offense did find a way to get AJ Barner, Cooper Kupp, Zach Charbonnet, and others more involved. But I was wrong. The offense leaned on JSN all season, and he delivered.
This year, without Walker, new coordinator Brian Fleury will have to find ways to prevent opposing defenses from focusing entirely on his biggest star. JSN could be used as a decoy throughout the upcoming season. But when key moments arise and the offense needs a big play, it will still be Jaxon Smith-Njigba taking center stage. And, more than likely, delivering as he did in his magical 2025 season.
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