The Seattle Seahawks have a long season of college tape ahead of them, and Week Two offered a few names worth filing away for 2027 draft watch.
At the top of that list is Drew Mestemaker, who put together a wild day against Oregon. Yes, the stat line came with some baggage - two interceptions and a 96-yard pick six - but the bigger picture still jumps off the page.
Mestemaker threw for 317 yards and ran for another 109, helped his team put up 39 points, and powered a program-defining upset. He looks the part of a dual-threat quarterback with real juice, and he’s the kind of player who makes you keep the tab open.
Justice Haynes is another name worth tracking, even if his team’s season may not end up looking pretty. The former Michigan and Alabama back put up 81 rushing yards and a touchdown, but the more interesting development came in the passing game.
Haynes added six catches for 36 yards and another score, which matters because receiving was not really part of his profile before. That’s the sort of growth NFL teams notice.
Up front, LSU center Braelin Moore kept building his case in a class that doesn’t look loaded at the top. Oregon’s Iapani Laloulu has been the name to know at center for a while, but Moore is making it harder to treat that spot as settled. He posted a 73.5 PFF grade while keeping his quarterback clean, and the overall center group appears deeper than it is elite.
Bear Alexander also turned in a solid showing in the trenches for Oregon, even as the Ducks headed toward what could be a disappointing season. Against Oklahoma State, he logged four tackles and a quarterback hit.
The Cowboys ran for 237 yards, but roughly half of that came from the quarterback, which keeps Alexander’s work in perspective. He looks like a potential NFL nose tackle.
Michigan edge rusher Daley deserves attention too. In a tough win over Oklahoma, he stacked up eight tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a batted pass. The edge class is strong, and Daley isn’t sitting at the very top of it, but he has the profile of a day two pick.
Then there’s Auburn linebacker Atkins, who may have been the most intriguing pass-rush note of the weekend. He had only 40 total snaps and rushed the quarterback on just 11 of them, but still finished with five pressures.
He added four tackles and allowed 19 yards on four coverage targets. That’s the kind of disruption that gets a scout’s attention fast.
In Other News...
Seahawks May Have A Surprise Week 2 Spark Fans Will Love
Sam Darnolds hip and glute issue has opened the door for a different look under center in Week 2, with Drew Lock expected to start for Seattle. It also puts Jalen Milroe in position as the backup, and that alone gives the Seahawks a little extra intrigue heading into the matchup with the Arizona Cardinals.
Dan Graziano of ESPN noted that Milroe could be sprinkled in for gadget or trick plays, which makes sense given the value his running ability can add to an offense looking for an edge. Even if he is not taking over the game plan, the possibility of Milroe popping up in a key spot gives Seattle a wrinkle worth watching as it tries to create opportunities against Arizona. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Have A Week 2 Availability Problem Against Arizona
Tory Hortons return to full practice was one of the brighter notes in Seattles build toward its Week 2 meeting with Arizona, a welcome sign after he spent much of his recovery away from the field following a tibia fracture. After missing so much time since last season, simply getting Horton back into a full session matters for a team trying to settle into the early part of the schedule.
The injury report, though, was hardly clean. Sam Darnold was held out with a glute injury, Nick Emmanwori was limited by ankle and hip issues, and Ty Okada and Cooper Kupp were among the other players who were limited or did not participate. For a Seahawks team trying to sort out its availability picture before facing the Cardinals, the bigger question now is how many of those names will be ready when the game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Macdonalds Defense Is Changing How Fans See These Seahawks
Mike Macdonalds defense is starting to change the way people look at these Seahawks, and Sunday offered another reminder of why. Seattles unit came up big late, turning the fourth quarter into a showcase with three interceptions and three sacks, the kind of closing stretch that can flip the mood around a team in a hurry. Macdonald credited both his coaching staff and his players for the way they adapted and carried out the defensive plan, which has become a defining feature of this group.
The bigger picture is just as striking. Seattle has now gone 29 straight games without allowing a 100-yard rusher, a run that speaks to how consistently this defense has controlled the ground game. And with uncertainty still hanging over the return of starting quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks may need that edge on defense even more as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]