The Seahawks head into 2026 with a lot already working in their favor, but the offense still has a few moving parts that could decide how far it goes. Seattle was third in scoring last season, and keeping that level under new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury won’t be simple. Still, there are three players who stand out as real X factors for an offense that already has one of the league’s biggest stars in Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a revived Sam Darnold at quarterback.
Smith-Njigba is the obvious place to start. No non-quarterback in the league had a better offensive season.
He finished with 119 catches, a league-high 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns, turning in a breakout year that put him right at the center of everything Seattle did. He was constantly open, and the way he won as a route-runner made him look like the best in the league at his craft.
That’s why the Seahawks can lean on him again even with Fleury taking over the offense. The new coordinator is expected to bring more trick plays and more unique looks for the reigning offensive player of the year, which only adds to the possibilities around Smith-Njigba. He remains viewed by some as a fringe top-five receiver, and that kind of status can be fuel all by itself.
The other name drawing buzz all offseason is Rashid Shaheed. ESPN’s Seth Walder believes Shaheed can be the X Factor this year, and there’s a real case for that.
After being traded, Shaheed gave Seattle a spark as a return specialist, scoring three touchdowns across the regular season and postseason. On offense, though, the production was modest: 15 receptions for 188 yards and no touchdowns in nine games.
What changes now is time. Shaheed gets a full offseason to settle in, build chemistry with Darnold and become more comfortable in the Seahawks’ offense.
Fleury also has a history of getting dynamic players involved, and he did that with the San Francisco 49ers last season. If Shaheed’s role grows the way the Seahawks hope, he could force defenses to pay attention to more than just Smith-Njigba.
Then there’s Jadarian Price, who enters a much tougher situation as a rookie. Replacing a Super Bowl MVP like Kenneth Walker III is no small task, but Seattle used a first-round pick on Price because of the talent they see in him. The team believes in his athleticism, speed and playmaking ability, and he won’t be asked to carry the full load right away while Zach Charbonnet misses part of the season recovering from a torn ACL.
Price has a chance to become a real weapon behind an offensive line that is powerful and still developing. Early in the draft process, he was viewed as having offensive rookie of the year potential, and that kind of upside is exactly why he matters here. If he adapts quickly to an offense that should be friendly to the run game, he could get plenty of chances even after Charbonnet returns healthy.
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