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The Seattle Seahawks may own the final pick of the first round, but ESPN draft analyst Field Yates does not see Seattle as a team eager to make an aggressive news up the board.
Instead, Yates identified the Seahawks as the team most likely to trade down in Round 1, pointing to two obvious reasons: Seattle enters the 2026 NFL Draft with a league-low four selections, and the No. 32 pick could be attractive to another franchise hoping to secure the fifth-year option that comes with a first-round rookie contract.
That idea should get Seahawks fans’ attention, because Seattle’s roster situation makes the logic easy to follow.
This is not a team entering the draft with one small need to clean up. The Seahawks lost running back Kenneth Walker III, cornerback Riq Woolen and edge rusher Boye Mafe in free agency. That is a meaningful hit to a roster still trying to defend a championship, and it makes it harder to justify staying put and using one premium asset on only one player.
Seahawks Have a Pick Problem Heading Into Round 1
Seattle currently holds just four draft picks: No. 32, No. 64, No. 96 and No. 188.
That is not much flexibility for a contender with multiple spots to address. A trade down would not be about backing away from the chance to add top-end talent. It would be about giving general manager John Schneider more chances to fill real holes on the roster.
And this is where Yates’ point lands. Answering the question “which team is most likely to trade down in Round 1?” Yates replied: “… But the Seahawks are a sensible pick for two obvious reasons. They enter the draft with a league-low four selections and can offer the 32nd pick to another team that wants to secure a fifth year of contract control for a prospect.”
The last pick of the first round is often one of the most movable spots in the draft. Teams looking to jump back into Round 1 for a quarterback, pass rusher or another premium prospect often see value there because of that extra year of contract control. If Seattle can turn No. 32 into more middle-round ammunition, the move would line up with both the board and the roster.
Kenneth Walker III and Riq Woolen Changed the Equation
Walker’s departure alone changed the draft conversation.
Seattle’s offense lost one of its most explosive players, and even if the Seahawks believe Zach Charbonnet can handle a larger role once healthy, running back is no longer a spot they can casually ignore. Walker gave Seattle game-breaking speed and finishing ability, and replacing that kind of production is rarely as simple as plugging in the next name.
Woolen’s exit matters too.
Whatever fans thought about his consistency, Seattle still lost a starting-caliber corner with length, range and playmaking traits that are not easy to replace. Josh Jobe gives the Seahawks another option, but Woolen’s departure still leaves a premium position looking thinner than it did a year ago.
Add in Mafe’s departure off the edge, and suddenly Seattle’s draft becomes less about chasing one ideal prospect and more about building enough volume to address several needs.
Why Trading Down Could Be Seattle’s Smartest Move
That is why Yates’ take feels more practical than dramatic.
The Seahawks do not need a flashy draft-night headline nearly as much as they need flexibility. With only four picks, every miss would hurt. Trading down from No. 32 could allow Seattle to stay in range for a useful player while adding another selection that helps address running back, cornerback or the pass rush.
For a team trying to stay in contention, that may be the smartest path.
So if the Seahawks move on draft night, the most sensible bet may not be a move up.
It may be exactly what Yates suggested, a move back that gives Seattle more chances to repair the roster after losing some of its biggest names in free agency.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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