The Seahawks’ early 2027 draft board is already starting to take shape, and edge rusher jumps off the page as a spot that could get thin fast. Seattle has four right now, but by the time free agency opens in March, that number could be down to one. Derick Hall, who was just extended, is the only one that looks like a lock to still be in Seattle in 2027.
That’s why this position makes so much sense to start with. NFL teams need three to five playable edge rushers to survive a game, and the Seahawks may be staring at a reset.
Dante Fowler Jr just turned 32 and is on a one year contract. Uchenna Nwosu is entering the last year of his deal, and although he won’t turn 30 until late December, the team could still move on because of his injury issues.
DeMarcus Lawrence is 34 and nearly retired this offseason, so there’s a real chance he does it next year. The message is simple: more help is needed.
There are two edge rushers who already look like top-ten locks: South Carolina’s Dylan Stewart and Texas’ Colin Simmons. Both are almost certainly out of Seattle’s range, which leaves a much wider field behind them.
One name that fits what Mike Macdonald tends to want is Florida State’s Patrick Payton Uiagalelei. He’s a good stress test for Macdonald’s preference for big, powerful edge players, even if they give up a little in speed and quickness.
Some people may see him as a pure 4-3, hand-in-the-dirt end, but Macdonald has had success with that type before. Jadeveon Clowney in Baltimore comes to mind.
Uiagalelei is over 270 pounds and still brings real athletic ability. He has long arms, power, legitimate pass-rush moves, and better agility than you’d expect at that size.
He doesn’t quite have the traits to push into blue-chip territory, but a strong 2026 season could put him in the late first or early second round. He’s an interesting fit.
Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson is another big-bodied end who looks tailor-made for Macdonald’s system. He has the strength to hold the edge, the power to drive into the backfield, and a workable set of moves for a college player. The tradeoff is obvious: he isn’t the kind of sudden athlete some teams will be chasing.
His production is still catching up to the frame. Jackson has been at Ohio State for four seasons, but only became a real contributor last year, finishing with 11 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
A lot of the appeal comes from what he looks like and how he plays physically. This season is his chance to make that profile feel more proven.
Then there’s Texas A&M’s Cashius Pierre, who may have the highest ceiling of the bunch. He broke out in 2025 with 14.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks, and now he has a chance to become one of the best edge rushers in the class.
He can win in multiple ways as a pass rusher, and he’s just as sturdy and smart against the run. Even some of his rough edges, including tackling and technique, could improve with more time.
Pierre also looks like the rare edge who could fit just about anywhere. That kind of versatility is exactly why he could keep rising.
A late first-round jump would not be a surprise, and neither would Seattle deciding he’s the kind of player worth targeting. The interest is real.
Louisville’s Isaac Lubin is the final name on the list, and he brings a different kind of appeal. He was excellent at Coastal Carolina in 2024, transferred to Louisville for 2025, and kept producing at a high level. Over two seasons, he has piled up 18 sacks, which is enough to get scouts paying attention.
Lubin offers value because he can do a little of everything. He has strength against the run, juice as a pass rusher, and even coverage ability.
He isn’t explosive in the same way as the elite edge prospects, and there’s still some disagreement about his size, with sources putting him anywhere from around 240 to 260 pounds. That matters.
But if he checks out at a basic level, he looks worth a second-round pick.
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For Seattle, though, the bigger takeaway is the broader timeline. The Rams have leaned toward star-driven roster building, while the Seahawks have been shaping their future around a different mix of age, development and front office philosophy. Donalds return would certainly matter in the division, but it does not change the fact that Seattles long-term outlook is still built on a more stable foundation than the one that has defined Los Angeles in recent years. [Read more 🡒]