Four selections aren't a lot for the Seattle Seahawks in 2026. The last time the team had almost as many was three in the 2021 draft, and that went horribly. None of those players worked out for Seattle, and none got second contracts. Maybe this year's class will be different.
What is clear is that general manager John Schneider has been on a successful roll in recent drafts, and even with only four (a number that could grow with a trade back or two), the GM will likely find some winners. That includes going with an interior defensive lineman relatively early, as Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine recently suggested.
In a recent article about one surprising need each team has entering the draft, Ballentine believes Seattle's need is at defensive tackle. He isn't wrong, but the issue isn't a lack of talent but the age of many of the players expected to produce.
NFL analyst suggests the Seattle Seahawks should target a defensive tackle early in the 2026 draft
Ballentine writes, "Leonard Williams and Brandon Pili are set to become free agents in 2027. Williams will obviously be a priority re-signing, but the Seahawks might want to use one of those four picks to add a player who could be ready to be in the rotation by next season."
Williams should be a priority to re-sign, but he will be 33 years old when the 2027 season begins, and might not get a long-term deal. Jarran Reed has been a stalwart on the Seahawks' defensive line for most of his career, but he will be 33 in Week 1 of 2026.
Pili is just 27, but he has yet to prove he will be a long-time contributor for head coach Mike Macdonald's defense. He is huge and a good run-stopper, but of the young players on the roster, only Byron Murphy II has shown to be a well-rounded tackle who can get to quarterbacks and slow the run.
The hope, of course, is that ascending second-year pro Riley Mills will be much more productive as he will be fully healthy for the first time. He missed much of last season after recovering from a knee injury suffered at Notre Dame. He proved his strength during a play in Super Bowl LX that resulted in a sack.
Ballentine points out that Florida State's Darrell Jackson Jr. would be a good fit for Seattle. He is 6'5" and 315 pounds, but with a frame where he could add another 20 pounds. He will likely need to gain mass to have a long-term productive NFL career.
The idea is that the Seattle Seahawks would take Jackson at the backend of the third round. After which, the team would currently have only one other choice, and that is in the sixth round. Jackson will be long gone before that.
What Jackson would need to work on is his pass-rush technique. In college, he was much more of a run-stopper, and Seattle needs more than that with Williams and Reed getting older. Jackson needs to gain some strength, too, but under the direction of Mike Macdonald, he would eventually become quite good.