Seahawks Bolster Roster with 11 Draft Picks

Seattle addresses key needs on both sides of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:26am

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting various football players and draft prospects in dynamic, overlapping shapes and planes of navy blue, emerald green, and crimson red, capturing the energy and strategy of the NFL Draft.The Seahawks' aggressive approach in the 2026 NFL Draft aims to reshape the team's roster and put them back in contention in the NFC West.Renton Today

The Seattle Seahawks had a productive 2026 NFL Draft, using their 11 picks to address several areas of need on the roster. The team started by selecting North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the first round, who has the versatility to play multiple offensive line positions. They also traded up to grab South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who will join a talented secondary. The Seahawks added depth at wide receiver and tight end, and continued to rebuild their quarterback room behind new starter Sam Darnold.

Why it matters

After a disappointing 2025 season, the Seahawks were aggressive in the draft to reload their roster and position themselves to compete for a division title and playoff berth in 2026. The team addressed several key areas of need, including the offensive line, secondary, and pass-catching positions, giving them more talent and depth across the board.

The details

The Seahawks' draft haul included 11 total picks, starting with the selection of North Dakota State guard Grey Zabel in the first round. Zabel has the versatility to play multiple offensive line positions, and the team expects him to compete for the starting left guard job. In the second round, Seattle traded up to select South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who has drawn comparisons to Ravens star Kyle Hamilton. The Seahawks also added depth at wide receiver, taking Tory Horton from Colorado State and Ricky White III from UNLV. At tight end, the team drafted Elijah Arroyo from Miami in the second round to potentially replace the departing Noah Fant, and Robbie Ouzts from Alabama, who is expected to transition to fullback.

  • The Seahawks made their first pick, selecting Grey Zabel, with the 18th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft.
  • Seattle traded up to take Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick in the second round.
  • The Seahawks added wide receivers Tory Horton and Ricky White III in the fifth and seventh rounds, respectively.
  • Seattle drafted tight end Elijah Arroyo in the second round and fullback Robbie Ouzts in the fifth round.

The players

Grey Zabel

A versatile offensive lineman from North Dakota State, who the Seahawks selected in the first round with the 18th overall pick. Zabel has the ability to play all five positions on the offensive line.

Nick Emmanwori

A 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety from South Carolina, who the Seahawks traded up to select in the second round with the 35th overall pick. Emmanwori has drawn comparisons to Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.

Tory Horton

A wide receiver from Colorado State, whom the Seahawks selected in the fifth round to add depth and competition at the position.

Ricky White III

A wide receiver from UNLV, whom the Seahawks selected in the seventh round to provide additional options in the passing game.

Elijah Arroyo

A tight end from Miami, whom the Seahawks drafted in the second round as a potential replacement for the departing Noah Fant.

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What they’re saying

“Hopefully we find a home for him at one position and he lives there for a really long time for us. But I think it just speaks to his savvy. It's not easy to find those guys that can play interior and at tackle. So, he's one of them, and he's ours now.”

— Mike Macdonald, Head Coach

“They said me and him are very similar but I can still work on some things to get up to his All-Pro level now. I'm bigger, faster, things like that.”

— Nick Emmanwori, Safety

“Tory is an underrated guy, in our opinion. He can return punts, his catch radius. He's long, competitive, very fast receiver.”

— John Schneider, General Manager

“Wherever I'm a receiver, I feel like that's where I thrive. Just being able to spread out and create mismatches.”

— Elijah Arroyo, Tight End

“You know that you're working with somebody that has experience, and gets a lot of production out of a guy in my role. I'm very excited to make that transition to the next level and work with these coaches to better myself and succeed in the role that they envision for me.”

— Robbie Ouzts, Fullback

What’s next

The Seahawks will now turn their attention to offseason workouts and training camp, where the new draft picks will compete for starting jobs and roster spots. The team's performance in the 2026 season will determine if their draft class was a success in addressing the team's needs.

The takeaway

The Seahawks' 2026 draft class appears to have addressed several key areas of need, including the offensive line, secondary, and pass-catching positions. The team was aggressive in targeting specific players they believe can contribute immediately and help the team compete for a division title and playoff berth this season. If the new additions can make an impact, the Seahawks could be poised to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 campaign.