Avery Smith’s introduction to Seattle came with a little shock.
The new Seahawks cornerback said he’d never heard of a team trading for a rookie UFDA before the regular season, which makes his arrival in Seattle stand out even more. The Seahawks sent a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Chargers to get him, and Smith is now part of a defensive backfield that has a long track record of turning unexpected additions into useful pieces.
Smith’s surprise was the headline here, but he’s not the only player drawing attention around Seattle. The Seahawks offense is getting buzz for having room to grow into something bigger this season, and there’s also already talk about which players could be next in line for contract extensions after an offseason filled with major money deals.
On the roster front, the Seahawks are also set to open the 2026 season at home against the New England Patriots on Wednesday, September 9, in a Super Bowl LX rematch. Michael Bumpus and Nasser Kyobe broke down that matchup on Seahawks.com.
There’s plenty of broader team chatter around the franchise, too. The Seattle Times profiled the 12 co-owners of the Seahawks and the Khosla family, while ESPN revisited one of Matt Hasselbeck’s favorite memories from his 10-year run as the team’s quarterback as part of a look at what the new owners can learn from the Allens’ legacy.
Elsewhere, Seattle’s offensive line is being watched closely, with one report suggesting offensive tackle could still be an issue. And in the podcast and preview space, “The Athletic Football Show” and the Sea Hawkers Podcast are both taking a close look at what to expect from the defending Super Bowl champions in 2026.
Around the NFC West, the Cardinals extended receiver Michael Wilson, the 49ers added Khalid Kareem while placing Sam Okuayinonu on injured reserve, and Rams coach Sean McVay said every player on the roster is expected to travel to Australia for Week 1, though Aaron Donald remains “TBD” for his availability against San Francisco.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Invited A Serious Character Debate With This Signing
The Seahawks decision to add cornerback Terrion Arnold after final roster cuts is the kind of move that invites a closer look at how they weigh talent against off-field concerns. General manager John Schneider said the organization feels confident in Arnolds character based on its own evaluation, and that matters because Seattle is trying to build out its secondary while staying true to the standards it says it values.
It also puts the team in a familiar spot for a contender: adding a player who can help on the field while knowing the optics will be part of the conversation. Around the division, the Cardinals passed on waiver-wire claims and said they were comfortable with their roster, while the Rams are managing Aaron Donald with a revised contract that points to a limited workload. Seattle, meanwhile, has chosen to take on a different kind of risk, and the long-term answer on that bet will depend on far more than just coverage snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Face An Early Defensive Problem With Real Stakes
The Seahawks may be heading into Week 1 with an unexpected hole on defense, as Nick Emmanwori is considered iffy at best for the opener against the Patriots after an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. Seattle had been counting on him to be part of the early-season mix, and his availability is already in question before the regular season even gets going.
A longer absence would matter even more because the next game comes quickly against the Cardinals, and no final decisions have been made on how long this could linger. If Emmanwori cannot go, rookie Avery Smith is the likeliest candidate to handle the nickel cornerback job, turning an early injury concern into a real test for a secondary that may have to adjust on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Need A Familiar Answer In The Secondary
The Seahawks have added a familiar face back into the mix in the secondary, bringing veteran safety DAnthony Bell onto the practice squad after his earlier run with the team this season. Bell spent most of 2025 in Seattle before brief stops with the Panthers, and his return gives the defense a player who already knows the system and the expectations that come with it.
Seattles need at safety has grown with injuries thinning the group, which makes Bells arrival more than just a routine roster shuffle. For a team trying to steady the back end of the defense, having a known option on hand can matter quickly, even if the bigger question around the secondary still needs a longer-term answer. [Read more 🡒]