Position-by-position Thoughts On The Seahawks Roster Ahead Of Free Agency

Free agency is right around the corner, which makes this the perfect time to take a hard look at the Seattle Seahawks roster. This isn’t just about listing needs — it’s about depth, urgency, and where Seattle must act aggressively versus where it can afford patience.

Let’s go position by position.

Quarterback

There’s not much to debate here.

Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl and erased any remaining doubts about his long-term viability. He’s the franchise quarterback.

Drew Lock remains under contract as the backup, providing continuity and experience. Jalen Milroe is still a developmental project. Unless an intriguing trade offer appears for Milroe (maybe Lock??), Seattle likely keeps him and simply adds an undrafted arm for offseason reps.

No real urgency here.

Running Back

This is where things get complicated.

The Super Bowl MVP is headed for free agency, and reports suggest his asking price may exceed Seattle’s comfort zone. Think somewhere between the recent $8 million-per-year RB market floor and the roughly $14 million franchise tag ceiling.

Zach Charbonnet’s injury clouds the picture even more. He’s likely to miss the entire offseason program and could begin the year on the PUP list. Behind them, George Holani and Kenny McIntosh both carry durability concerns and limited production. Velus Jones and Cam Akers were practice squad options and may get a look, but neither solves the problem outright.

If Walker walks, running back becomes a major draft priority — possibly as high as Seattle’s second selection, or even the first after a trade down.

Wide Receiver

On paper, this group looks strong.

The WR1, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, is arguably the best receiver in football and is due for a massive extension. The concern lies behind him.

Cooper Kupp delivered in key moments but didn’t post traditional WR2 volume numbers. Add age and injury history, and there’s risk involved. Rashid Shaheed is a free agent who should draw outside interest. Tory Horton has immense upside but significant injury uncertainty. Jake Bobo and Dareke Young are both unrestricted free agents.

This room is solid — but fragile.

Tight End

Seattle should feel comfortable here, but there are nuances worth noting.

AJ Barner had a fantastic season and established himself as a dependable two-way tight end. His ability to block and contribute in the passing game makes him a foundational piece.

Elijah Arroyo brings legitimate vertical receiving upside. The challenge, as always, is durability. If healthy, he changes the spacing dynamics of the offense. If not, Seattle must rely more heavily on structure than explosiveness.

The new offensive coordinator’s background as a tight ends coach is significant. That typically signals heavier personnel usage, more two-TE sets, and greater schematic emphasis on the position.

Eric Saubert provides veteran blocking presence and special teams value. Seattle could very well add another low-cost veteran or UDFA with a similar profile to maintain competition and depth.

This is not a need position, but maintaining balance between blocking reliability and receiving upside will be key.

Offensive Tackle

The starters have been re-signed, stabilizing the edges of the offensive line.

Re-signing Josh Jones makes strong sense. His versatility allowed Seattle to survive injuries, particularly when Charles Cross missed time late in the season. Jones can play both tackle spots and even slide inside in emergency situations.

Amari Kight appears to have the coaching staff’s trust as a developmental piece. Still, depth at tackle is never something you ignore. Seattle could follow its recent model: adding another affordable veteran with positional flexibility to compete in camp.

The priority here isn’t replacing starters — it’s ensuring the injury contingency plan remains strong.

Offensive Guard

Right guard remains the position many fans would most like to see upgraded.

Anthony Bradford was retained before 2025, which signals organizational patience. That patience likely continues into 2026. However, Bradford remains the weakest link along the starting offensive line, particularly in pass protection consistency.

Christian Haynes, despite being older than Bradford, has not demonstrated the consistency or earned the coaching staff’s full trust to claim the job outright. That leaves Seattle in a spot where competition must be added.

The draft offers viable guard prospects, and free agency could present mid-tier veterans capable of pushing Bradford. Even if Bradford opens as the starter, raising the internal competition level is critical.

At minimum, depth must improve. Ideally, performance ceiling does too.

Center

Center was another concern entering last season.

The 2026 free agent class at center is not particularly deep, nor is the top of the draft class loaded at the position (but there are good option in day 2 and 3). Jalen Sundell played well after returning from injury, but he doesn’t project as a long-term locked-in answer.

The key difference from right guard is Olu Oluwatimi. He has already shown he can handle starting duties at a competent level. That makes the situation less urgent, but not fully resolved.

If Seattle believes Olu can take another developmental leap, they may stand pat. If not, this becomes a quiet-but-important upgrade area.

Defensive Line (Interior)

If DeMarcus Lawrence retires, the impact goes beyond on-field production. His leadership and edge-setting presence against the run would be difficult to replicate.

Looking at the interior defensive line as a whole, there is depth and rotational flexibility. Rylie Mills is an intriguing developmental prospect with upside. Still, succession planning matters. Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams remain productive veterans, but neither play forever.

Adding a younger interior disruptor — particularly one with pass-rush juice — would make sense. This isn’t just about 2026. It’s about avoiding a future reset at defensive tackle.

EDGE

EDGE is more concerning long-term.

Derick Hall is currently the clearest future building block at the position. Beyond him, the long-term projection becomes murkier.

The draft class offers a variety of profiles — speed rushers, power-based edge setters, hybrid stand-up players. Free agency may also present rotational options.

If Lawrence retires and no major free agent addition is made, this position quickly moves toward the top of the priority list.

Linebacker

Ernest Jones elevated the entire unit with his play, and his presence clearly boosted Drake Thomas’s effectiveness as well. Thomas is expected to receive a restricted free agent tender if he hasn’t already.

Tyrice Knight remains an intriguing developmental player based on flashes from his rookie season. However, he was primarily a backup, and beyond him the depth chart thins out quickly.

Seattle was forced to rely on Patrick O’Connell in critical moments last season, including against the Tennessee Titans. That highlights the fragility of the depth here.

Adding an athletic linebacker through the draft — someone who can develop behind the starters but contribute on special teams immediately — would be a smart and cost-effective move.

Cornerback

Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe are at the center of the conversation. It’s hard to imagine both leaving, but the more realistic scenario is Woolen testing the market. His physical profile — size, length, and speed — is highly valued across the league, especially for teams that rely heavily on zone concepts with deep outside responsibility. If he walks, Seattle loses exactly the type of corner who has no other option in the roster.

Jobe, on the other hand, feels like the more likely re-signing candidate, but that doesn’t mean he’ll come cheap. He had strong stretches, showed competitiveness at the catch point, and proved capable of handling physical assignments. That kind of play tends to raise a player’s market value. The concern isn’t just financial; it’s structural. Committing significant money to a player who hasn’t definitively established himself as a true CB1 could limit flexibility elsewhere.

Even if Jobe returns, losing Woolen would create a noticeable void in terms of length and top-end athleticism on the outside. And even if Woolen somehow stays, depth remains fragile. Cornerback is one of those positions where injuries can unravel defensive stability quickly.

For that reason, regardless of what happens in free agency, drafting at least one corner with the physical traits this scheme prioritizes feels almost mandatory.

Safety

Safety is more complicated than it initially appears.

Coby Bryant is a free agent, and realistically, the open market may offer him more than Seattle is willing to match. It’s worth remembering that the team attempted to extend him earlier in the year but failed to reach an agreement due to a gap in valuation. Now, after a strong and more visible season, that gap is likely even wider.

If Bryant departs, Seattle loses valuable versatility on the back end — particularly in sub-packages and hybrid alignments. His ability to move around the formation added flexibility to the defensive structure, something increasingly important in modern NFL defenses.

The encouraging factor is the 2026 draft class at safety. It’s widely viewed as extremely athletic, with multiple high-upside prospects capable of playing single-high, rotating into split safety looks, or dropping into the box depending on coverage structure. That athletic profile aligns well with what Seattle typically prioritizes on the back end.

Still, replacing Bryant with a rookie carries inherent short-term risk. The decision becomes philosophical: overpay to retain a proven, versatile defender, or reset the position with a younger, more athletic — and cheaper — option.

Either way, safety has quietly shifted from a stable position to one that could define how flexible this defense remains moving forward.

Final Thoughts

As free agency approaches, the roster doesn’t feel broken — but it does feel delicate in key spots.

Running back remains the most volatile situation. Interior offensive line still demands competition and possible upgrades. EDGE needs long-term reinforcement, especially if a veteran departure materializes. Cornerback hinges heavily on how the Woolen and Jobe situations unfold. Safety could become a strategic pivot point depending on Bryant’s market.

This isn’t about a rebuild. It’s about protecting a championship window.

Seattle has a strong core in place. The challenge now is navigating free agency without creating new weaknesses while quietly preparing for the next two to three seasons.

That’s where smart cap management, disciplined valuation, and a strong draft class become critical.

The window is open. The margin for error is not.