2026 Seattle Seahawks in Three Players
The offseason is upon us. Let's take a look at all 32 teams.
Onto the 29th edition of our offseason series!
Instead of reviewing all 32 drafts and adding casual commentary, I will be doing this instead.
We will go through every single team, in alphabetical order, and quickly discuss three players:
a favorite free agent signing
a favorite draft pick
and a player already entrenched on the roster
Not necessarily the best, or the top, or the one's who will play the biggest role, just one of choice.
The Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks are up.
Free Agent Signing
EDGE Dante Fowler Jr
Fowler was the 3rd overall pick back in 2015. He's now entering his 11th season on his 6th team, with 58.5 career sacks. Fowler started 11 games last year in Dallas.
The Seahawks signed Fowler to a 1 year, $2.5m contract.
Here is a cut-up of the good from Fowler's 2025 season.
Seattle did not bring in many outside free agents this offseason. Fowler projects to have the biggest role, in my opinion.
He steps in and takes Boye Mafe's spot in the pass rush rotation, sliding in behind Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu, and Derick Hall.
Fowler is one of those guys who has bounced around the league, but has provided elite production as a rotational pass rusher. Over the years:
3.0 sacks, 13.5% pressure rate
10.5 sacks, 14.5% pressure rate
4.0 sacks, 19.3% pressure rate
6.0 sacks, 17.1% pressure rate
Fowler's first step is incredible, even as he turns 32 years old. His get-off is still among the top class of the NFL.
It's his superpower, being able to impact the pocket consistently just off his first step, putting stress on the offensive tackle. This also sets up his inside moves.
And Fowler can even go to a power move, which can be effective because his get-off can cause offensive tackles to be off balance. Even though Fowler may get a "speed" rusher designation, he comes in at over 260lbs, and that strength shows up.
Fowler is probably more of an average run defender.
He can hold the point of attack decently. His arms are shorter, but his strength shows up. He has the vision and quickness to dart and make clean tackles on running backs, but does not always effect the run game on the line of scrimmage. It's in more of a playmaking fashion.
However, Fowler simply won't be defending the run that often, especially on this Seahawks team. His role is a rotational edge rusher, namely a rotational designated rusher, at that.
Fowler is the 4th string edge rusher for Seattle. He'll play around 30% of snaps, with under 30% of those snaps coming against the run.
This was a great depth signing for Seattle. I find it to be literally zero risk, in terms of value. Best case scenario, Seattle stays healthy again and Dante Fowler feels like a cheat code against tired offensive tackles. Offenses won't get downs off. Worst case scenario, their defensive ends are banged up and Fowler's role increases. But even then, he's still a good player, he just won't be as effective as Boye Mafe, who he is effectively replacing.
Fowler will give positive contributions as a pass rusher on a Super Bowl caliber defense. He should once again put up plus numbers, as he will see one on one matchups and little chip help.
Draftee
CB Julian Neal
Neal was the 99th pick of this years' draft, coming out of the University of Arkansas. A San Francisco kid! I can not believe he was riding the bench at Fresno State, where he attended for the first four years of his collegiate career, before transferring to Arkansas, where he started 12 games and had 2 INTs and 10 PBUs.
Here is a cut-up of Neal's season at Arkansas, courtesy of @NoFlagsFilm on Twitter/X.
Seattle's cornerback room is very good, but Neal could get an opportunity to see the field soon.
Pro Bowl CB Riq Woolen left in free agency this offseason, but he was splitting snaps with now projected starter Josh Jobe, who signed a 3 year, $24m contract this offseason. He'll start across from All-Pro Devon Witherspoon. I view Neal as the next man up.
However, Witherspoon has slot flexibility. And current nickel Nick Emmanwori is coming off an ankle surgery. Also, Seattle would often use Emmanwori more as a LB than a nickel player, so you would see Woolen, Jobe, Witherspoon, and Emmanwori grace the field all at once. In 2026, Neal would take Woolen's spot.
I think there is a good chance Julian Neal sees real playing time as a rookie.
Neal is replacing a guy in Woolen who had a very unique frame. But Neal has an elite CB frame in his own right. Standing at 6'2, 203lbs, with an 89th percentile arm length. He is also incredibly explosive.
Neal has the length to thrive as a press corner, in deep zones, but also is a strong enough tackler in the run game to sit in flat coverages.
When it comes to the run game, or screen game, Neal can play in the NFL. Because, as a CB, the desire is half the battle. Neal can shed blockers to get to the ballcarrier, he is physical, but he's also a sound tackler in the open field.
Neal's struggles may come in deep coverage. His length helps here, because his long arms can disrupt the catch point. But he does not posses the long speed to catch up when beaten deep, and is also just susceptible to getting beat deep in general.
He isn't that fluid when turning upfield, so the transition to matching the receiver on deep routes, or just out of press coverage, is not smooth.
I believe Neal's potential is quite high, but it will be his willingness, and skill, in the run game that will help him see the field early on. Coaches, especially in Seattle, love guys who not only love helping in the run game, but are good at it.
This seems like a great replacement for Woolen, and even though there is no clear path for Neal to start anytime soon, he could help provide flexibility in the defensive backfield with the unique talents of Witherspoon and Emmanwori.
In-House Player
S Ty Okada
Okada was an undrafted free agent out of Montana State in 2023. He started 11 games in 2025, racking up 65 tackles and an INT.
Here is a cut-up of the good from Okada's 2025 season.
The Seahawks lost safety Coby Bryant in free agency, and Okada will slide into his place. Seattle has both of their safeties play interchangeable roles, so Okada's role when replacing Julian Love in 2025 should not differ much.
He is almost exclusively deep, or at least at 10 yards as a split safety, rarely creeping up into the box or slot positioning.
Okada plays much bigger than his listed size of 5'11, 193lbs.
He is solid coming downhill, finding the gaps in the run game. He knows how to not overplay, occupying the cutback lanes. He is a good tackler in open space, something Bryant was good at as well.
While I think Okada can struggle in coverage, he plays the ball extremely well, even to the point where it makes up for the fact that he is behind in coverage. He's sometimes just slow to close gaps, Okada does not possess the ability to break quickly in tight spaces, a rough look when he is responsible for a man in coverage.
The big issue with Okada on film is the lapses in coverage. There were times where he simply appeared to be in the completely wrong position, and the Seahawks allowed an explosive play because of it. Now, I can't be 100% this is Okada's fault, so I won't dock him too much. But the way he floats around in zone coverage, sometimes looking lost, does indicate he may be the problem.
I think this is why Okada looks better coming downhill, because he does not have great feel for what's behind him.
Although Okada does not always appear to be in the right place, he's a very solid safety for Seattle. I do view this as a downgrade from Bryant, but I do not think the difference is significant enough to "cost" the Seahawks a game.
Ty Okada has also only started 11 games in his career. He has so much room to improve, and the defense he is surrounded by will help him. Seattle is right to have confidence in him.
Thanks for reading through our 29th edition of previewing all 32 teams in 3 players!
Apologies for the defensive heavy article. This Seahawks offense is essentially running back the same starters, with a 1st round pick at RB. But these guys will be stepping up in place of who was lost in free agency, so I found them to be most relevant to the scope of Seattle's season.
Let me know who else on the Seahawks is worth monitoring this season, good or bad!
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers articles, news, and opinions!
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