The Seattle Seahawks, picking at 32, entered the 2026 NFL draft with just four picks. They left with eight rookies, and a recent report from ESPN’s Brady Henderson portrays the dominant trait John Schneider targeted for the whole class.
We’ll circle back to competitiveness in a moment – two reports from Henderson also stand out. On the one, it seems San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson was indeed the top hope at 32. He went to the Miami Dolphins a few picks before Seattle was on the clock.
The other report is that an additional element for the Price selection – once Johnson was off the board – was that the other running backs were way down Seattle’s board.
A Day Three value amounts essentially to a three-round gap – over 100 players – between Jadarian Price and two popular mock draft backs in Coleman and Washington Jr. That’s a much bigger disparity in talent than many had expected heading into the draft.
Back to competitiveness. In second-round pick Bud Clark, they see that intense competitiveness in the form of “super-charged playing style and spirited demeanor.”
Of third-round selection Julian Neal, Mike Macdonald acknowledged Neal has “a great work ethic, super competitive.” Neal aspires to replace Riq Woolen, one of the only players on the defense whose willingness to tackle could be questioned. Neal refers to himself as “the most physical corner in the draft.”
Iowa Guard Beau Stephens is yet another player who came in for a visit, as did Neal. They had such a high grade on him that when he was still available into the 140s, Schneider was willing to part with next year’s fourth to grab him.
Henderson concludes with a confirmation of how important competitiveness was for the 2026 draft:
It’s more than a passing thought in retrospect to reflect on the three main players who departed this free agency as well. The aforementioned and reputation-maligned Woolen is one. Kenneth Walker, who couldn’t stay on the field for parts of his career, is another. Boye Mafe, who while I’ve never heard his work ethic questioned, had a curious ability to be elite at Pass Rush Win Rate but well below average in actual production. Whatever the reason, inability to finish plays was manifest.
Clearly Macdonald and Schneider have found a vein they intend to follow. That high, self-motivated drive to be great players and great people.
At the end of the day, Seattle brought in a class of rookies that you should not expect to be overly starstruck by the defending Super Bowl champs. These guys are here to chase starting roles. Excited for camps to get going.
