RENTON, Wash. — The confetti from Super Bowl LX has barely settled, but the reality of life at the top is already hitting the Seattle Seahawks. Following a 29-13 victory over the Patriots in February, General Manager John Schneider watched a core of his championship roster vanish in free agency. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III is now a Kansas City Chief, and lockdown corner Riq Woolen joined the Eagles. With only four picks in the upcoming draft, starting at No. 32, Seattle must hunt for value over volume.
The Seahawks are in a tight spot. They kept Rashid Shaheed and Josh Jobe, but the departure of Walker and a late-playoff ACL tear for Zach Charbonnet left the backfield decimated. Head coach Mike Macdonald needs “his guys”—players with high football IQ and physical traits that punch above their draft slot. While the 32nd pick is a luxury, the real work starts on Day 2 and Day 3.
The atmosphere at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center is focused. You can see the staff grinding through tape late into the evening. Schneider has made a career of finding starters in the late rounds, and this year, he has no other choice. The 12s expect a repeat, but the roster currently has more holes than a target at a shooting range.
“We aren’t looking to replace the guys we lost with clones. We want players who have that edge, that hunger. Winning one ring is great, but the standard here is staying at the top. We need guys who can step in and hit someone on Day 1.”— Mike Macdonald, Seahawks Head Coach
Seattle’s draft strategy will determine if they remain the NFC’s alpha or if the Los Angeles Rams reclaim the West. Without a clear replacement for Walker’s 1,200-yard production, the offense risks becoming too reliant on Sam Darnold. The Seahawks hold picks at 32, 64, 96, and 188. If Schneider fails to find a starting-caliber corner and a rotational back, the defense of the Lombardi Trophy will be an uphill battle against a surging 49ers squad. The first round kicks off in three weeks, and the clock is ticking on a championship window that feels narrower than it did in February.
