SEATTLE - The Seahawks’ camp has given a clearer picture of where a few key pieces fit, and Rashid Shaheed sits near the top of that list.
The fifth-year receiver arrived in Seattle at the trade deadline last year, which meant he had to jump into the offense without the benefit of a full offseason. That’s changed now.
The staff has watched his confidence grow, and the continuity has helped too, with Brian Fleury coming over from San Francisco, the same place 2025 OC Klint Kubiak came from. Shaheed has spent much of his career moving through different schemes, but now he’s getting a steadier runway.
The Seahawks like his elusiveness as much as his elite straight-line speed, and there’s a real chance to carve out a gadget role for him in the mold of what teams used to do with Deebo Samuel Sr. How that affects Cooper Kupp will be worth watching, especially with Kupp also likely to be competing with tight end Elijah Arroyo and fullback Robbie Ouzts for snaps as the team sorts through personnel groupings.
That same offensive continuity is helping the rest of the unit, too. Fleury’s arrival as offensive coordinator has opened the door for a Year 2 jump from several players who might have been slowed by a system change otherwise.
What Kubiak put on film last season translates cleanly for Fleury, and that has helped Sam Darnold build on what he did in 2024. Fleury has also given Darnold the kind of ownership he believes the quarterback has earned, and that has led to conversations about expanding the offense and even adding some elements Darnold liked two years ago in Minnesota.
Grey Zabel has benefited from that stability as well. After playing at an All-Pro level as a rookie, he’s back with confidence and looks positioned to be a leader for the group around him.
There’s plenty of familiarity on defense, too. Uchenna Nwosu, Derick Hall and Dante Fowler have all put together solid offseasons, Julian Love is back with intention in everything he does, and Leonard Williams and Ernest Jones IV have looked steady.
The place where Seattle could really separate itself, though, is with younger players taking another step. Byron Murphy II is the big name there.
He’s still only scratching the surface as a pass rusher, but he has the kind of upside that could turn him into a Geno Atkins-type of game-wrecker in the middle of the defense. Drake Thomas is another one to keep an eye on.
At 26, he’s no longer just a backup fighting for snaps; he’s become a true starter and looks like a real playmaker after running off a lot of tackles in the backfield last year.
The biggest uncertainty on that side of the ball is the secondary, especially after the departures of Coby Bryant to the Bears and Riq Woolen to the Eagles. Seattle used the draft to address it, taking TCU safety Bud Clark in the second round and Arkansas corner Julian Neal.
Both are expected to be in the mix right away, and the hope is that the depth at those spots will create real competition in the coming weeks. Ty Okada is first up in Bryant’s spot, with Clark needing to beat him out, while Rodney Thomas can also play there because of his versatility.
On the corner side, Neal will battle Nehemiah Pritchett and Noah Igbinoghene to line up with Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe on the first defense. With Neal practicing, there’s at least an opening for a new contract for him in the coming weeks.
A couple of injured players are also shaping the picture. Zach Charbonnet’s availability for Week 1 sounds like it could go right down to the wire, and the Seahawks are expected to handle him carefully so they can get his best when it matters most.
That makes first-round pick Jadarian Price an important piece, especially after he showed how hungry he is to prove himself after playing as a complement to Jeremiyah Love at Notre Dame. The team is also sorting out the running back roles so the right players end up in the right spots.
Nick Emmanwori is another name to watch after ankle surgery, with similar uncertainty around his Week 1 status. His absence has at least given the staff a chance to see encouraging signs from linebacker Tyrice Knight and safety D’Anthony Bell, since Emmanwori effectively covers both of those roles.
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