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Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026?
Let's look at the Seattle Seahawks, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field.
Seattle Seahawks 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact?
The Seahawks selection of Jadarian Price (first round) was one of the most egregious need-based reaches in recent memory, and the only time I can remember an injury directly determining the outcome of a first-round selection. If Zach Charbonnet doesn’t tear his ACL during Seattle’s playoff run, it’s safe to assume Price does not hear his name called in the first round. But Charbonnet’s injury and Kenneth Walker’s departure left Seattle without a running back, so John Schneider reached for the only remaining running back on the board who could plausibly be plugged in as a rookie starter.
Price should be a capable starter behind a good offensive line, though he’ll need to prove he can avoid negative plays and protect the football. During his three years in college, Price fumbled once every 70 carries. Compare that to the college numbers of Walker (once every 240) and Charbonnet (once every 283). Price also returned kicks in college and has home-run speed, but if ball security remains an issue, he could quickly fall out of favor in Seattle.
Bud Clark (second round) will have a chance to compete for playing time, though his exact role is unclear. Clark primarily played the strong safety role at TCU, but is undersized for lining up in the box and showed off impressive range and ball-hawk skills when he did get an opportunity in the deep secondary. Ty Okada probably played well enough last year to get the first crack at replacing Coby Bryant at free safety, but Clark could be in the mix for that role as well.
Julian Neal (third round) is the prototypical Seahawks cornerback with elite length and a physical style of play. It’s hard to fully trust his breakout year in 2025 because he had just four career starts before his redshirt-senior year, but his ball-hawk rate was 101% above expected based on route-adjusted data, and his 33-inch arms are an indication that elite production might be repeatable.
Neal will be joined in the secondary by Andre Fuller (sixth round), who doesn’t have elite length but does play a physical brand of football. The secondary got crowded quickly during the draft, so Fuller will have to fight for a roster spot with Michael Dansby (seventh round) also in that competition. Dansby played on the outside in college, though his lack of size might make him a better fit at nickel in the pros.
Beau Stephens (fifth round) will provide depth on the interior offensive line and might be a mid-round steal if he can stay healthy in the pros. Like most Iowa linemen, he’s fundamentally sound and committed just two penalties over his final two years in college. Stephens should be a trustworthy backup as a rookie with the potential to compete for a starting job in 2027 if Anthony Bradford is re-signed.
Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (sixth round) was a surprising selection because he is primarily valuable as a return specialist, but Seattle just re-signed Rashid Shaheed this offseason. As a receiver, he can be used to stretch the field, but has an underdeveloped route tree and lacks the physicality to do much else. Last year at Kansas, 38% of his targets were at least 20 yards downfield. If he makes the roster, Seattle will likely have a small package of plays that feature his speed, either as the target or a decoy.
Deven Eastern (seventh round) is a nose tackle with elite length for the interior line (34-inch arms). He will likely compete with Brandon Pili for snaps as Byron Murphy’s backup and possibly see some action on early downs.
Seattle added some much-needed depth to the roster through the draft, especially to a secondary that was hit hard by free agency. But this draft will ultimately be viewed through the lens of what Price is able to accomplish. Selections driven purely by need rarely pan out, and it’s particularly risky to draft for need at a less impactful position.
This analysis continues in the 2026 Football Preview
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