The Seattle Seahawks suffered some attrition this offseason, as every team does. The difference for head coach Mike Macdonald's team is that the players lost were instrumental in helping the team win the Super Bowl last season. They won't be easily replaced.
The positive is that Seattle had a deep roster, and players who didn't have to play huge roles last season will get a better chance to do so in 2026 and beyond. Some of the defenders, for instance, might have an opportunity to not only replace the players who left but also improve their positions.
The fun part for 12s will be watching the defense come together again. One can assume that Macdonald will field another elite unit. Likely, in a somewhat unexpected way.
Three Seattle Seahawks defenders who could be in for explosive seasons in 2026
Defensive lineman Rylie Mills
Mills might be the defender most ready to break out for the Seahawks. He was injured late in his college career and missed much of his rookie season. He made an impact in the Super Bowl with a sack, showing raw power that was extremely impressive.
He is expected to fit more along the defensive line, though he should get snaps at edge rusher, too. What he lacks in extreme quickness, he more than makes up for with his strength. He can likely set a hard edge against the run, the way that Derick Hall does.
Mills was chosen in the fifth round, but would have been chosen higher if not for his injury at Notre Dame. That was a gift for the Seahawks, though, and one that will likely keep paying off for many years to come.
Rookie defensive back Bud Clark
Part of the brilliance of Macdonald's defensive design is that it doesn't always take a player a year to learn how to be a perfect fit. Nick Emmanwori, for instance, was fantastic as a rookie in 2025 and a key part of the defense throughout the season.
Clark appears to be the kind of player who would excel in Macdonald's scheme. He's versatile and can play safety and slot corner, much in the way Emmanwori can. While he isn't as big as Emmanwori, he did prove in college that he is a ball-hawk, so where Seattle plays him will be interesting to watch.
In fact, the entire defensive backfield will be. Safety Coby Bryant signed with the Chicago Bears in free agency, and Ty Okada might replace him. Or, Macdonald might be able to get very creative in a way that only he is smart enough to figure out, and that 12s can just enjoy seeing unfold.
Edge rusher Connor O'Toole
O'Toole might have needed a year in the NFL to truly acclimate to the power and speed of the league. The undrafted free agent was a low-end risk to keep around in 2025, and he didn't have a chance to produce much. What makes him intriguing is his elite athleticism.
The edge rusher might also have a chance to get more reps in 2026 because the team might be hoping for even more from him in 2027. His position group has a lot of talent, but is also one of the older spots on the team. DeMarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Dante Fowler are expected to be strong producers this coming season, but all will be older than 30 in 2027.
While Seattle is almost certainly going to address edge rusher in next year's draft and, possibly, in free agency, O'Toole might be a keeper and an important piece of the group in the coming seasons, but he first needs to show he can do good things this season. If so, he will likely turn into the Seattle Seahawks' latest UDFA gem.
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