Why did the Seahawks pick defense, defense, defense with their three picks in the final round of the NFL draft?
Because with coach Mike Macdonald in Seattle, just like during their march to winning the Super Bowl last season, defense rules.
Cornerbacks Andre Fuller from Toledo and Michael Dansby from Arizona book-ended Minnesota defensive tackle Deven Eastern as the Seahawks’ choices in the seventh round to end the draft Saturday.
Seattle’s top-ranked defense from 2025 lost cornerback Riq Woolen in free agency to Philadelphia. Starting safety Coby Bryant signed as a first-time free agent for riches with Chicago.
General manager John Schneider and Macdonald responded those departures by drafting three cornerbacks and safety among Seattle’s eight selections in this draft.
Five of the eight picks were for Macdonald’s defense, the league’s top-ranked unit last season.
Curiously, none of those five rookie defensive players picked are edge rushers. That’s an area of need for the Seahawks with outside linebacker Boye Mafe signing with Cincinnati last month, Derick Hall entering the final year of his contract and Pro Bowl end/outside linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence turning 34 in three days.
Now, edge rusher could be an addition in later stages of free agency into this summer.
Deven Eastern of the Minnesota Golden Gophers participtates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
A new defensive tackle
Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is entering his age-34 season. Byron Murphy, the team’s first-round pick two years ago, is excelling — and thus in line for a big payday this time next year to stay in Seattle.
And Macdonald can not accumulate too much depth on the interior front of the NFL’s top-ranked defense.
That’s why Eastern, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound defensive tackle from the University of Minnesota, was Seattle’s second of three choices in the seventh round Saturday.
Like with seven guys they’ve drafted in the last two years, Seahawks coaches made extra effort to get to know Eastern. He is the fourth of seven picks in this draft who visited the Seahawks on a top-30 pre-draft visit.
Nick Emmanwori, Tory Horton and Bryce Cabledue were the 2025 Seahawks draft choices who made top-30 visits to Seattle.
“Great organization. I wanted to be a Seahawk,” Eastern said by phone Saturday afternoon after he became the 242nd-overall choice in this draft. “Super-proud to get picked by them.”
He said based upon his pre-draft visit Seattle’s coaching staff “are a lot of people that are willing to pour into me and develop me as a player.”
Eastern has college experience playing different defensive-tackle techniques:shading one side of the offense’s center, the inside shoulder of the guard, the outside shoulder of the guard. That’s what Reed and Murphy do exceptionally well in Macdonald’s changing, multiple defensive front.
“The first thing that comes to mind when you think of a defensive tackle is violence,” Eastern said. “That’s what I am.
“I like to bring the energy. I like to be violent.”
Eastern’s reaction when the Seahawks called?
“It was a dream come true,” he said. “You know, just to even get a call is, was a dream. But to be able to get a call from such a great team, and such a great staff and organization is everything.”
Defensive lineman Deven Eastern #91 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers makes a tackle during the second half on running back Leshon Williams #4 of the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on October 21, 2023, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
(Matthew Holst/Getty Images)Cornerbacks galore
Dansby, a Raiders fan growing up and attending McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, began his college career at San Jose State. He transferred to Arizona when SJSU’s coaching staff went to Tucson in a coaching change two years ago.
Dansby is 5-11 and 180 pounds. That’s smaller than Fuller and Julian Neal, Seattle’s third-round pick from Arkansas and Fresno State Friday night.
“I’m a man-coverage corner, for sure. Press-man,” Dansby said on the phone Saturday afternoon after he got drafted.
He’s the second Seahawks draft pick Saturday who specializes in being the “gunner,” the outside, wide coverage man near the sideline on punts.
“Gunner is my thing,” Dansby said. “Gunner is definitely where I’m going to make my money this season.”
As for being the newest Seahawk, joining the Super Bowl champions, Dansby said: “I’m beyond excited, beyond blessed. Words can’t describe, can’t come out, about how excited I am.”
TEMPE, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 28: Defensive back Michael Dansby #25 of the Arizona Wildcats breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Jaren Hamilton #16 of the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half at Sun Devil Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. This year’s game is the 99th annual Territorial Cup game between the rival Arizona schools. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)