The Seahawks have already given their fans plenty to celebrate after a 14-3 season and a Super Bowl LX win over the New England Patriots, but the conversation around Seattle now turns to what comes next. With the regular season about to begin and a rematch with the Patriots on deck, there’s plenty of optimism around this group - and a few spots that could still make fans uneasy.
At the center of it all is Sam Darnold, who arrived with plenty of noise around him after Seattle moved on from Geno Smith. Critics were quick to label the move a downgrade, even after Darnold’s 2024 success with the Minnesota Vikings and Smith’s decline. Darnold answered that skepticism by helping lead Seattle to a title, and now he enters Year 2 with the franchise carrying more confidence than ever.
What should help even more is the familiarity he now has with his pass catchers. Darnold has a full season with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp behind him, plus an entire offseason working with Rashid Shaheed. That kind of continuity can make a real difference, especially when the offense is adjusting to a new voice.
That change comes in the form of Brian Fleury, who steps in after Klint Kubiak left to become head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Fleury previously served as run game coordinator and tight ends coach for the San Francisco 49ers, and because he comes from the same coaching tree as Kubiak, the transition should be smoother than most. Even so, there could be a learning curve early in the season.
The backfield also looks different after losing Kenneth Walker III. Seattle is turning to rookie Jadarian Price, and while he still has plenty to prove after serving as the RB2 at Notre Dame behind Jeremiyah Love, his upside is hard to ignore. Price brings big-play ability and real value as a receiver, and that gives the Seahawks a fresh layer of excitement even if he doesn’t immediately match Walker’s production.
On defense, Devon Witherspoon remains one of the headliners, and his new contract extension only reinforces how important he is to the unit. He’s joined by Josh Jobe at corner and a safety group that includes Julian Love, Nick Emmanwori, and Ty Okada. That’s a strong core, but the concern is what comes after Witherspoon and Jobe.
Seattle knows that weakness, which is part of why it brought in Trevon Diggs after two difficult seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and a brief stop with the Green Bay Packers. The team also took a swing on Terrion Arnold, a clear sign that it understands just how thin things can get at cornerback.
The defensive line, though, is a different story. Leonard Williams is still the anchor, Byron Murphy is quickly rising, and Jarran Reed continues to be part of a group that gets overlooked more than it should. On the edge, DeMarcus Lawrence gives Seattle another tough piece, and second-year defensive tackle Rylie Mills adds even more intrigue to a front that looks like one of the biggest reasons for excitement in 2026.
In Other News...
Seahawks Just Invited A Serious Character Debate With This Signing
The Seahawks made a notable addition at cornerback in Terrion Arnold, a move that immediately drew more attention than most late roster tweaks. It is the kind of signing that says as much about how Seattle is balancing talent and risk as it does about the player himself, especially at a time when every roster spot carries extra weight and the team is still sorting out its long view in the secondary.
John Schneider said the organizations evaluation left it confident in Arnolds character, even with pending felony charges still hanging over the situation. For Seattle, the football fit is only part of the story now, because the signing brings a real off-field question into the foreground and leaves the Seahawks to answer whether they were comfortable enough with the background to make the move in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Suddenly Need A Familiar Answer In The Secondary
The Seahawks have brought back a familiar face at a position that has been under real strain. Veteran safety DAnthony Bell has rejoined Seattle on the practice squad, giving the team another experienced option after he spent most of the 2025 season in the building before short stops with the Panthers. For a secondary dealing with injuries to other players, the move offers a layer of stability and some much-needed insurance.
Bell already knows the system, which matters when a team is trying to patch together the back end on short notice. His return does not solve everything, but it gives Seattle a depth piece who can step in quickly if needed and keeps a player the coaching staff already knows close to the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Already Have A New Pass Rush Question Brewing
With the Seahawks getting ready for their regular season opener against the Patriots, the long view is already starting to come into focus on defense. A recent mock draft from Justin Melo has Seattle landing Oregon edge defender Matayo Uiagalelei in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft, a reminder that pass rush remains one of the most closely watched spots on the roster even as the new season begins.
Uiagaleleis profile is built around his ability to get after the quarterback, and he is expected to be a key piece for Oregon this fall. For Seattle, any projection that early brings the conversation back to the same familiar place: whether the Seahawks will need to keep investing at the top of the draft to keep their front four stocked with impact talent. [Read more 🡒]