Seattle\u2019s top-ranked defense from 2025 lost cornerback Riq Woolen in free agency to Philadelphia<\/a>. Starting safety Coby Bryant signed as a first-time free agent<\/a> for riches with Chicago.<\/p>\n General manager John Schneider and Macdonald responded those departures by drafting three cornerbacks and safety among Seattle\u2019s eight selections in this draft.<\/p>\n Five of the eight picks were for Macdonald\u2019s defense, the league\u2019s top-ranked unit last season.<\/p>\n Curiously, none of those five rookie defensive players picked are edge rushers. That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Now, edge rusher could be an addition in later stages of free agency into this summer.<\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n A new defensive tackle<\/p>\n Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is entering his age-34 season. Byron Murphy, the team\u2019s first-round pick two years ago, is excelling \u2014 and thus in line for a big payday this time next year to stay in Seattle.<\/p>\n And Macdonald can not accumulate too much depth on the interior front of the NFL\u2019s top-ranked defense.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why Eastern, a 6-foot-5, 315-pound defensive tackle from the University of Minnesota, was Seattle\u2019s second of three choices in the seventh round Saturday.<\/p>\n Like with seven guys they\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n Nick Emmanwori, Tory Horton and Bryce Cabledue were the 2025 Seahawks draft choices who made top-30 visits to Seattle.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat organization. I wanted to be a Seahawk,\u201d Eastern said by phone Saturday afternoon after he became the 242nd-overall choice in this draft. \u201cSuper-proud to get picked by them.\u201d<\/p>\n He said based upon his pre-draft visit Seattle\u2019s coaching staff \u201care a lot of people that are willing to pour into me and develop me as a player.\u201d<\/p>\n Eastern has college experience playing different defensive-tackle techniques:shading one side of the offense\u2019s center, the inside shoulder of the guard, the outside shoulder of the guard. That\u2019s what Reed and Murphy do exceptionally well in Macdonald\u2019s changing, multiple defensive front.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first thing that comes to mind when you think of a defensive tackle is violence,\u201d Eastern said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I am.<\/p>\n \u201cI like to bring the energy. I like to be violent.\u201d<\/p>\n Eastern\u2019s reaction when the Seahawks called?<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a dream come true,\u201d he said. \u201cYou 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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)<\/p>\n (Matthew Holst\/Getty Images)Cornerbacks galore<\/p>\n 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\u2019s coaching staff went to Tucson in a coaching change two years ago.<\/p>\n![\"Deven](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/5975b4aec43dfaa4651aa36678cb2634.jpeg\"\/)
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