With Seattle Seahawks training camp getting closer, fans have already made their pick for the position group they want to track most: the secondary.
In this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, defensive backs took the top spot with 42% of the vote. Running backs weren’t far behind at 34%, while the offensive line was the only other group to reach double digits at 11%. Wide receiver finished at 4%, and both interior defensive line and tight end checked in at 3%.
The interest in Seattle’s defensive backs makes sense. Josh Jobe is set to step into a full-time starting role after signing a contract extension this offseason, taking over on the outside full time in place of Riq Woolen. Jobe earned that chance with his play last season, but camp will be the first real look at how he handles the job over a full year.
There’s plenty going on behind him, too. Nick Emmanwori is entering his second NFL season with much bigger expectations after a promising rookie year, and rookie Julian Neal will try to earn a spot in sub-packages. Neal could end up battling Nehemiah Pritchett, who began offseason work with Seattle’s first-team dime defense and will try to keep that role once the pads go on.
Safety may be the most competitive part of the group. Ty Okada seems to have the edge for a starting job after winning the staff’s trust last season and filling in whenever Julian Love or Coby Bryant were out. Okada started 11 games in 2025 and finished with 65 total tackles, 46 solo stops, six passes defended, one interception, and 1.5 sacks, giving Seattle a dependable piece in Mike Macdonald’s defense.
Still, the job isn’t settled. Second-round rookie Bud Clark brings strong ball production, range, and the ability to handle multiple roles in the secondary, which makes him one of the more interesting defensive rookies on the roster. Rodney Thomas II is also in the mix after drawing praise all offseason for his intelligence, communication, and physical style of play, and he brings 42 career NFL starts with him.
That combination of versatility and matchup-driven personnel packages is a big reason the secondary drew so much attention from fans.
Running backs came in second, and that slot is easy to explain. Seattle’s backfield looks different now than it did at the end of last season. Kenneth Walker III is gone, and Zach Charbonnet is entering camp while recovering from an injury, so there’s no clear answer yet on when he’ll be ready for full participation.
That leaves rookie Jadarian Price in the spotlight. First-year backs always bring questions, and Price now has a chance to show how quickly he can adjust to the NFL and where he fits in the rotation. With Charbonnet’s timeline still uncertain and carries opening up after Walker’s departure, Price could be in the mix right away.
The offensive line landing at 11% reflects continued interest in a unit that has changed a lot over the last two offseasons. The projected starters look more stable than they have in recent years, but there will still be plenty of focus on the depth chart and how quickly the group comes together under Brian Fleury.
One surprise from the poll: edge rusher didn’t crack the top three, even though the position has one of the most intriguing storylines on the roster. Derick Hall is starting the first season of his contract extension and trying to establish himself as Seattle’s top pass rusher, while DeMarcus Lawrence returns healthy after an injury-shortened 2025 season. Behind them, Jared Ivey, Connor O’Toole, and Aidan Hubbard are all competing for roles, making the edge rotation one of camp’s most interesting battles.
For now, the secondary has the fans’ attention. But by the end of August, the edge group could be the one everyone is talking about.
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For Baltimore, the ripple effect is especially interesting. The Ravens are currently valued at around $6 billion, but a Seahawks-style premium could make that figure look conservative in a hurry, even though Steve Bisciotti has given no indication he wants to sell. Bisciottis long-term hold on the team has kept Baltimore off the market, but this sale suggests the practical price of even a non-selling franchise may be climbing faster than the public estimates have been willing to admit. [Read more 🡒]
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The bigger question is whether the price would be worth it. Seattle has draft capital to work with, and Las Vegas could be open to dealing from its rebuild, which makes the framework of a move easier to imagine than most big-name trades. Even so, any serious push would require the Seahawks to decide how far they want to go in win-now mode, and whether this is the kind of gamble that changes their ceiling or just drains resources they may need elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]