The Seattle Seahawks had eleven picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. They had eight in this year’s edition. Of the eleven rookies in 2025, ten of them saw action in an NFL game for the Hawks. Five played at least 200 snaps, and two were integral members of the Super Bowl champs. The 2026 class is not going to have anywhere near that kind of impact.
There are perfectly good reasons for this. In 2025, Seattle was a rebuilding team. They had missed the playoffs several years in a row, and general manager John Schneider decided to trade away or release some of his bigger-name veterans to accumulate those picks. Then, for the most part, he nailed the selections.
Schneider went into this year’s draft as the defending champion. Despite losing several key players to free agency, the Seahawks had a loaded roster. It would be hard for any rookie to crash the party. And as the draft began, the Seahawks only had four picks. Schneider did some wheeling and dealing to add a handful of late-rounders.
What kind of impact will the Seattle Seahawks' 2026 draft class have this season?
Including special teams plays, those ten rookies from 2025 were on the field for a total of almost 3,000 snaps last year. This year, there’s a chance that number will not surpass 1,000. Leaving aside special teams for a moment, Seattle only has one incoming draft pick likely to play at least 500 snaps. That is top pick Jadarian Price.
There is a decent chance that third-round pick Julian Neal will surpass that number as well, but it is hard to be certain of that since the cornerback has been battling an injury and has not gotten as much work as the team might have wanted during camp. The Seahawks cornerback room is in a constant state of flux.
Had he remained healthy, second-round pick Bud Clark almost certainly would have earned a significant role in the secondary as well. Whether he technically became a starter or not, Clark seemed on track for a lot of snaps. But after suffering a broken ankle during the preseason, that will have to wait until next year.
After Price, Clark, and Neal, the remaining five picks do not figure to have a major impact this season. Only one of those five – fifth-round guard Beau Stephens - made the final 53-man roster. The other four players were signed to the practice squad.
That actually constitutes a minor improvement over 2025, when seventh-round running back Damien Martinez did not make either the roster or the practice squad.
Of course, any of the final four picks could work their way up to the roster. Injuries will play a major part in that. Emmanuel Henderson looked good in the final preseason game and could dress for Sundays if Seattle needs a kick returner or receiver.
Andre Fuller and Michael Dansby, two late-round cornerbacks, have a decent chance of moving up given the tendency of cornerbacks to miss time with injuries. But neither f is expected to play a significant role. If they are elevated, they will be on the field for their special teams play and as insurance in the event of an emergency.
Nose tackle Deven Eastern appears to have beaten out three other developmental interior linemen for a practice squad spot, but he is a ways away from contributing on Sundays.
Beau Stephens may turn out to be the biggest wild card in the mix. Seattle was eager to acquire him. Schneider gave up a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft to choose him in the fifth round. Right now, Stephens does not look ready for the NFL, but should he improve over the next few months, he may get a chance.
Were it to happen, it would probably be a bad sign for Seattle because Stephens' likely path to a lot of playing time is an injury or poor play by one of the guards penciled in ahead of him on the depth chart. Stephens, along with several other young linemen, seems pointed more toward 2027, when there could be an opening on the line at right guard.
Price is the key. That was clear from the moment Schneider chose him with the final pick of the first round. He is the only rookie who will be counted on to play a major role on the offense.
Seattle’s other running backs – Emanuel Wilson, George Holani, and, when he returns from the PUP list, Zach Charbonnet – are all grinders. They will get tough yards. They will block. They will be on the field in short-yardage situations.
Price is the only potential home run hitter in the running back room. He will be counted on to provide the type of explosive plays that Kenneth Walker III gave the club last year. His success or failure will go a long way toward determining how effective the Seahawks offense will be this year.
His fellow draftees may contribute on a small scale in 2026, but the club has other options to use if they struggle. Jadarian Price is the only one who needs to play like a first-round pick early on.
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