The Seahawks may be carrying the confidence of a Super Bowl title into camp, but that doesn’t mean everyone on the roster can breathe easy. Once the preseason kicks in, the spotlight gets harsh fast, and a few players are heading into August with everything to prove.
That’s especially true for quarterback Jalen Milroe. Seattle clearly likes him, but there’s no such thing as a free pass here.
As a rookie, Milroe barely saw the field, finishing with just three carries for four rushing yards. That lack of action had more to do with Sam Darnold staying healthy all year in 2025 than anything else.
When Milroe did get preseason chances, he flashed. Now he needs to do it again.
The setup should help. Darnold isn’t expected to log much preseason work, which should give Milroe real chances to show what he can do.
The Seahawks may not be ready to move on from him as a prospect, and if things go sideways, a practice squad return remains a possibility. But the bigger picture is simple: if Milroe doesn’t make noise in his sophomore season, the league’s interest could start to cool.
Linebacker Chris Paul Jr. is in a far tougher spot. The Rams took him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, then cut him before the regular season.
Seattle grabbed him for the practice squad and has kept him around since. Even so, his path to the roster looks blocked.
Back in June, Brandon Nelson of Seattle Seahawks OnSI laid out the reality in blunt terms: “Chris will probably be vying for a practice squad spot again in 2026. Seattle is very solid at the linebacker position, with Ernest Jones and Drake Thomas starting,” Nelson wrote.
“Their depth is also a strength, Tyrice Knight and Patrick O’Connell providing immediate backup. Chazz Surratt lingers as a special teamer as well.
There’s just no room for Paul at this time.”
That leaves Paul in a fight just to stick around. His best-case outcome may be another practice squad berth in Seattle, which means this preseason matters a whole lot for a player trying to keep his career moving forward.
Then there’s Noah Igbinoghene, a defensive back trying to carve out a role after the Seahawks lost pieces in the secondary during free agency. Seattle did add reinforcements, but the math isn’t exactly working in his favor. Riq Woolen and Coby Bryant were important parts of that group, and Macdonald’s system makes every spot count.
Igbinoghene brings experience in both the slot and on the boundary, which gives him some appeal as a depth piece. But he still has to prove Seattle can’t afford to let him go. Nick Emmanwori already handles a lot of snaps out of the slot, and second-round pick Bud Clark gives Macdonald another option at safety, including the chance to lean on three-safety looks.
For Igbinoghene, August is about convincing the Seahawks that his versatility is worth keeping. For Milroe and Paul, it’s about making sure the preseason doesn’t turn into a dead end.
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