Seahawks day 3 draft results

Seahawks complete their 2026 draft class with 8 new players

If the Seahawks were dead set on prioritizing a starting running back over everything, then their decision to draft Jadarian Price in the first round looks brilliant in hindsight. Running backs who we were once bandying about as “solid” fallback options on day two were actually viewed by the league as barely being worthy of second chair on a committee.

In what’s already being called one of the weakest draft classes of all-time, the third running back off of the board was Kaelon Black to the 49ers at pick 3.90.

ESPN’s 15th-ranked running back (not overall, 15th-ranked RUNNING BACK), Black was not even invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.

It took 58 picks to go from Price to Black.

The next running back would not be drafted until day three, when Washington’s Jonah Coleman went 108th overall to the Broncos. A player Seahawks fans discussed a lot as a worthy comparison to Price, Coleman ended up being drafted 76 picks after him.

Mike Washington Jr., another player in that mix with Coleman, was the only other back to go in the fourth round. He’ll play for Klint Kubiak in Las Vegas.

That means that after the Seahawks drafted Price, this is how the RB class went:

• 2nd round: 0 RB

• 3rd round: 1 RB

• 4th round: 2 RB

• 5th round: 3 RB

• 6th round: 2 RB

There were 36 receivers drafted before the seventh round compared to 10 running backs. More receivers were drafted in the third round (9) alone than there were running backs between Price at 32 and Demond Claiborne at pick 198 (8).

Had the Seahawks not drafted Price—and again, it could still be argued that Seattle didn’t have to be so intent on filling this need when there are still other options at running back between now and the season—it would have been a reach to take one in rounds 2 or 3 and they didn’t have a pick in round 4 until they traded for Beau Stephens on Saturday.

All of the backs after Price are not viewed by the league as above-average starters.

When’s the last time we said something like that about running backs?

Here’s how the Seahawks handled day 3 of the draft, trading picks to go from having one selection in the sixth to ending up with five:

5.148 - G Beau Stephens, Iowa

The Seahawks traded a 2027 fourth round pick to the Browns in order to draft Stephens in the fifth round. It’s almost a no-win trade for Cleveland because they give up pick 148 this year so that they can get a pick that could be roughly 135-140 next year.

I keep saying it: This draft class is getting no respect from the NFL. Teams want out of it so bad that they’ll just give up their picks this year for equal picks next year.

Stephens is reunited with former Iowa teammate Mason Richman, a seventh round offensive line pick by Seattle in 2025.

There probably is not going to be a competition at right guard this year but if Anthony Bradford gets hurt or plays his way out of a job then Stephens could have the chops to step in this season. He was not blamed for any sacks in the past three seasons, but Stephens has a long injury history and is considered to be a below-average athlete who also has short arms.

Dane Brugler’s summary:

Stephens embraces the physicality of the position and delivers pop at contact in all phases. In the run game, he can generate movement blocking down and has a feel for how lanes develop. His stubborn hands help him sustain, but his edges leak and marginal body control makes it tough for him to get out of compromised positions. Overall, Stephens might struggle compensating for his lack of ideal length and athleticism, but blocking awareness and the power in his hands give him a fighting chance. Given his coachability and mental maturation, he can earn a backup role as a rookie and eventually push for on-field reps.

For what it’s worth, Dane ranked Stephens higher on his big board than Keagen Trost, an offensive line prospect who the Rams drafted in the third round.

6.199 - WR Emmanuel Henderson, Jr., Kansas

He’s 6’1, 185 lbs, and he ran a 4.44, which is pretty fast. But he has 8.5” hands, smallest in the class. A big-time running back recruit in 2022, Henderson chose Alabama but couldn’t get playing time either in the back field or as a receiver so he transferred to Kansas in 2025.

He had 766 yards and 5 touchdowns with the Jayhawks last year and was named the best kick returner in the conference. When I saw that Seattle drafted a receiver in the sixth round my first thought was “I guarantee he’s a special teamer” and sure enough Henderson could a) be a gunner for Jay Harbuagh and/or b) compete to return kicks.

Henderson was Dane’s 40th ranked receiver in the class, which is another way of saying that there’s a big group of players at the position (call it, the guys ranked 25th-50th or so) who aren’t necessarily better than one another but just different flavors of tea. It just depends on what you’re in the mood for.

This is a move to replace Dareke Young more than it is anything else.

7.236 - CB Andre Fuller, Toledo

A day after drafting Julian Neal with the 99th pick, the Seahawks took another cornerback with almost the same size (6’1, 203 lbs) and speed (they both ran a 4.49 40-yard dash) in the seventh round. The biggest difference of the tape would be that Fuller has 30 1/4” arms, about 2.5” shorter than Neal’s.

A no-star recruit, Fuller turned a breakout season with Arkansas-Pine Bluff in 2021 into a transfer up to Toledo in 2022, where he spent two seasons as a backup safety. Moving to corner in 2024, Fuller expected to find his groove but a sports hernia cost him most of the season. That means 2025 was his sixth year of college football (are these elongated careers going to end any time soon???) and by far his best, which isn’t that surprising really because he was in college by the time some of his opponents were going into 7th grade.

Dane had this to say:

Just a one-year starter in the FBS, Fuller put himself in draftable territory with his 2025 performance (42.3 percent completion rate when targeted). He has a natural feel as a man-cover defender to get physical at the line, quickly find his balance (regardless of his footwork) and stay with route runners through the stem. His recovery speed is lacking, but when in phase, he can find the ball downfield and turn potential deep catches into incompletions. His eye level from off coverage and open-field tackling are solid but need additional work.

Overall, Fuller has only adequate speed and plays with grabby tendencies, but he is a good-sized athlete who has smooth transitions and confidence in coverage to make plays on the football.

If pointing out Fuller’s advanced age comes off as harsh, I don’t mean it to be. In this class, however, Fuller is more like a rookie minicamp invitee who got drafted in the seventh round because the class has no day three depth. He played six years of college football and then finally had one good season and it came at Toledo. It’s a win for Fuller if he makes the practice squad.

7.242 - DT Deven Eastern, Minnesota

The year that Seattle parts ways with a defensive lineman who played for Minnesota, they also draft one. He started 39 games for the Gophers over the last three seasons.

Eastern is 6’5, 315 lbs, with long 34” arms.

Dane:

With his size and sturdy lower half, Eastern sports an NFL-ready body and uses his extension to lock out and hold his ground in the run game. However, his taller stature can work against him when defending both the run and the pass. He tends to rely too heavily on his body and raw strength to maneuver his way to the football and needs to continue developing his instincts. Overall, Eastern lacks efficiency and balance in his block reactions, but his frame and presence will be good starting points for a patient coaching staff. He can provide depth as the shade in even fronts or head-up in odd schemes.

He’s probably someone who Seattle hopes could stick around long enough to contribute in a couple of years.

7.255 - CB Michael Dansby, Arizona

Seattle’s final pick is also the fourth defensive back added in 2026. Dansby was Dane’s 100th-ranked cornerback! 100!

This is reaching really, really deep for a player and there’s not a lot written about Dansby because he probably wasn’t expecting to be drafted at all. Here he is at the “American Bowl” showcase:

Dansby played at San Jose State prior to transferring to Arizona in 2025. He had two interceptions and 10 pass breakups last season.

The 2026 Seahawks draft class!

1.32 - RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame

2.64 - S Bud Clark, TCU

3.99 - CB Julian Neal, Arkansas

5.148 - G Beau Stephens, Iowa

6.199 - WR/ST Emmanuel Henderson, Kansas

7.236 - CB Andre Fuller, Toledo

7.242 - DT Deven Eastern, Minnesota

7.255 - CB Michael Dansby, Arizona

The Seahawks entered with four picks and left with eight.

What did you think?

Seaside Joe 2609