Seahawks are in prime position to shake up the 2026 NFL Draft, and they can potentially ruin an NFC West rival's draft plans
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Seattle Seahawks can add much-needed draft capital in the 2026 NFL Draft and ruin an expected plan of one of their biggest rivals with one single move, and it could be brilliant. The Seattle Seahawks don’t have a large war chest of picks in the 2026 NFL Draft .
The team only owns four picks in the class, but three of them come in the top 100. It seems like a near lock that Seattle will trade back at some point in this draft. They would get the best return if that trade back comes at pick 32.
The icing on top would be the chance to ruin one of their NFC West rivals’ projected ideal draft plan. View this post on Instagram Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Gary A.
Vasquez-Imagn Images Seahawks should trade out of round 1 to gain more NFL Draft capital, and they could screw over the Cardinals The Seahawks’ first selection in this week’s draft is the final first-round pick at 32. So if they opted to trade back, it would mean they would be moving out of round one altogether. This may annoy some fans, but I honestly think it would be a very smart idea for Seattle to consider.
It also wouldn’t be a new concept. The 32nd pick has been traded twice since 2020 and four times since 2015. The most recent came in 2024, when the Carolina Panthers traded up with the Buffalo Bills to take Xavier Legette.