Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 Draft Receives ‘F’ Grade Amid Reach Concerns

The Athletic’s Austin Mock assigned the Seattle Seahawks an “F” for their 2026 NFL Draft, citing three perceived reaches within the first 100 selections. Seattle selected running back Jadarian Price at No. 32, safety Bud Clark at No. 64, and cornerback Julian Neal at No. 99. Mock argues each pick fell beyond consensus projections, reducing the draft’s overall value.

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Seattle entered the draft with limited capital, making only three picks inside the top 100 and four inside the top 150. The need for a running-back tandem intensified after Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III departed in free agency, leaving Zach Charbonnet and Kenny McIntosh returning from torn ACLs and Emmanuel Wilson as the sole external addition. The franchise’s 2012 draft class previously received an “F” grade, underscoring recurring concerns about draft efficiency.

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• Consensus big-board ranking: Price listed No. 47, yet taken at No. 32.

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• Draft capital: 3 selections in top 100, 4 in top 150.

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• Contract comparisons: Price’s four-year, $16.7 million rookie deal versus Cardinals’ Jeremiah Love’s four-year, $53 million contract.

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• Salary-value gap: Walker’s Chiefs deal averages $14.3 million per season, roughly matching Price’s entire contract value.

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NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah characterized the class as lacking standout talent. A Notre Dame coach suggested that Price’s development remains ongoing. Seahawks officials noted that the organization explored trading back from the No. 32 slot, but five trades were completed before their turn, limiting flexibility.

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Mock’s grading system emphasizes “surplus value” by comparing draft positions to veteran salaries. He contends that selecting a running back earlier than necessary and reaching at safety and cornerback positions undermines Seattle’s ability to sustain its recent dominance. Mock also highlights that the Cardinals, the other team to draft a running back in the first round, received an identical “F” grade, pointing to broader valuation challenges for the position.

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Securing a reliable running-back tandem could influence Seattle’s offensive balance and its prospects for returning to the Super Bowl. The disparity between rookie contracts and free-agent deals raises questions about long-term salary-cap management. A perceived draft failure may affect fan perception and future trade-off strategies.

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The article provides no direct response from Seahawks management regarding Mock’s grade or the trade-back attempts. Additionally, while Mock critiques the picks, alternative analytical perspectives on the selections’ potential upside are absent, leaving a gap in balanced evaluation.

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• “boringly good” — Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network

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• “Seattle should’ve been willing to take,” — Austin Mock, The Athletic

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• “3 overall pick and the 32nd overall pick is pretty massive here.” — Austin Mock

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• “47 (on the consensus board) felt very slim.” — Austin Mock

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