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Seattle Seahawks 2026 7-round NFL mock draft: John Schneider stays ahead of his team's future needs

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Kyle Crabbs | Last updated Mar 28, 2026 9:49 AM ET

Drafting for the defending Super Bowl champions isn't always hard. It kind of is for the Seattle Seahawks.

I mean that in the best way possible — because while it is true that the Seahawks lost a few key players this offseason, they are generally rolling back the nucleus of a team that became an absolute wagon down the stretch. So how do you conduct a mock draft for a team like that? You focus on the rich getting richer. That's exactly what I aspire to do in this 2026 7-round Seattle Seahawks mock draft.

Seattle Seahawks 2026 7-round NFL mock draft stays ahead of future needs

Nov 29, 2025; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Lanorris Sellers (16) passes under pressure from Clemson Tigers defensive end T.J. Parker (3) in the first quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

32nd overall – EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson Tigers

One player the Seahawks did lose was pass rusher Boye Mafe, who signed a handsome contract with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. Seattle has since made no additions to the defensive front of any kind, leaving them vulnerable to potential depth issues if the injury bug strikes the team this fall. TJ Parker feels like the right blend of size, length, and physicality to assume a role in that rotation.

Parker may or may not make it to the end of the first round. But he was on the board in the simulation I used for this exercise and that was a great relief — as it gave me an obvious pick for a marquee position.

Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

64th overall – DL Gracen Halt0n, Oklahoma Sooners

This one may not have been as obvious of a pick. But let's talk about Gracen Halton, the football player. He's a twitched up penetrator who I absolutely love as a pass rusher. Seattle has plenty of juice up front — and that defensive front was the engine for much of the team's playoff run. But how many eggs can we keep in the Jarran Reed basket long-term? He's 34 years old by the end of this upcoming season. Will Leonard Williams be back with the team after 2026, as he's entering into a contract year?

Sometimes the best move you can make as a contending team is protecting yourself and giving yourself options for key roles in case the dollars don't line up.

Scott Sewell-Imagn Images

96th overall – SAF VJ Payne, Kansas State Wildcats

Another one of the players that the Seahawks did lost this offseason was safety Coby Bryant . I love the potential of Kansas State's VJ Payne playing in the same defensive backfield as Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori. Part of the magic that Mike Macdonald creates is with keeping opposing teams guessing for who is executing what part of the scheme. Payne has versatility, coverage diversity, and explosiveness to go with his 6-foot-3 frame. He'd be a stellar counterpunch as we anticipate teams starting to key on Emmanwori moving forward as a "tell" for the scheme.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

188th overall – RB Adam Randall, Clemson Tigers

Seattle's biggest hole is at running back. It's pretty incredible. And while Kenneth Walker is off to Kansas City to play with the Chiefs, I'll happily nail down an intriguing option like Adam Randall, a supersized runner who used to play wide receiver, as my new addition behind Zach Charbonnet and newly acquired Emmanuel Wilson.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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