Pre-Snap Reads 4/23: Happy Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft – The Art of Waiting for the Seahawks

The coffee is brewing, the mock drafts are finally dead, and the war rooms are lit. Today, April 23rd, 2026, marks the beginning of the NFL Draft, a sacred holiday for football fans everywhere. For the Seattle Seahawks faithful, however, this day comes with a familiar, bittersweet premonition: we are likely waiting. The day has finally arrived where our beloved Seahawks trade out of the first round, forcing us to hold our breath until tomorrow for that first taste of new talent. It is a tradition as old as the John Schneider era itself, but this year, the stakes feel different. The roster is stacked. The vision is clear. And the draft is thin.

Let’s be honest: the last time the front office had this few picks, they kind of goofed. We can argue semantics until the cows come home, but the 2022 draft class remains a point of contention. I will still go to bat for Tre Brown. If not for the injury bug that bit him harder than a Seattle mosquito, Brown would have been a well above-average cornerback. The talent was always there—the instincts, the swagger, the ability to play sticky coverage. But “if” is the most dangerous word in sports. This time around, in a draft cycle widely described as “thin,” the Seahawks have an improved vision where it pertains to evaluating prospects. They aren’t just throwing darts. They are looking for specific cherries to top a roster that is, arguably, the best in the league.

If the Seahawks aren’t the 1A team in the NFC, they are certainly the 1B to the Los Angeles Rams. That rivalry is heating up, and the draft is where margins are won. Whom they choose, when they choose them, and at what position, are all going to be intriguing theater for the next couple days—even with a lack of selections. So, enjoy yourself this weekend. Hang with us. It should be a fun one. Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks!

#np I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty. Because drafting is a romantic, chaotic mess.

The Trade-Back Tango: Why Pick No. 32 is a Hot Potato

Let’s cut to the chase: the Seahawks currently hold pick No. 32, the final selection of the first round. In a normal year, that is a prime spot to snag a falling talent or a specialist. In 2026, it is a prime spot to trade back. The logic is simple economics. The Seahawks have a shallow draft capital pool. Moving from 32 to the top of the second round (picks 33-40) could net them an extra third or fourth-rounder. For a team with the best roster in the league, depth is the only weakness. They don’t need a superstar; they need contributors on cheap contracts.

I’ve been tracking the buzz, and every prospect the Seahawks are linked to who could be a first round pick according to Seaside Joe, feels like a smoke screen. The names are there, but the urgency to grab them at 32 is low. The front office knows that the “thin” draft means that the value in the late first and early second rounds is nearly identical. Why force a pick when you can accumulate more swings?

My final pick for who the Seahawks will draft on Thursday (or Friday) is not a player. It is a phone call. They will trade back. The only question is how far. Expect a team desperate for a fifth-year option on a quarterback or a specific offensive lineman to come calling. The Seahawks will listen, smile, and hand the baton to Day 2.

Edge Rusher or Cornerback? The Brock Huard Debate

If, by some miracle, the Seahawks stay put at No. 32, the draft room will likely be split between two premium positions. Brock Huard has been all over the radio waves, and he has offered two distinct flavors for Seattle’s first pick.

First, the pass rush. Brock recently highlighted one school, two draft fits at edge rusher for the Seahawks via Seattle Sports. The connection is obvious: the Seahawks need a young, bendy edge to pair with the existing rotation. The school in question? We can speculate, but the archetype is clear: a high-motor, twitched-up athlete who can win with speed and a counter move. The Seahawks have historically loved these traits (think Darrell Taylor, albeit with mixed results). If a specific edge rusher falls to 32, it is the safest bet for a team that wants to pressure Matthew Stafford and Brock Purdy.

On the flip side, Brock also labeled an ‘unbelievably dynamic’ CB as a perfect fit for the Seahawks in the first round. As the NFL Draft has drawn nearer, much of the buzz about who the Seattle Seahawks could take at No. 32 overall has come down to two players: Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price and San Diego St. cornerback Chris Johnson.

Let’s talk about that. Chris Johnson is a ballhawk. He has the length and the recovery speed that Mike Macdonald craves in his defensive backs. The Seahawks secondary is already good, but adding a dynamic, physical corner would make it elite. Meanwhile, Jadarian Price is a home-run hitter out of the backfield. Pairing him with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet would give Seattle a three-headed monster that could control the clock and the line of scrimmage.

My read: If they stay at 32, Chris Johnson is the pick. You can find running backs later. Elite cornerbacks with his traits rarely fall this far.

The “Thin” Draft Myth: Why Seattle’s Strategy Works

There is a narrative floating around that the 2026 NFL Draft class is “thin.” That is a lazy take. It is “thin” at the very top—there is no generational quarterback prospect. But from picks 20 through 80, this class is deep with role players, special teams aces, and scheme-specific stars. That is exactly where the Seahawks operate best.

The Seahawks have an improved vision where it pertains to prospects. They are no longer reaching for project players in the third round. They are targeting specific athletic profiles that fit Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme and Ryan Grubb’s offensive philosophy. The roster is clearly the best in the league, if not 1B to the Los Angeles Rams. Any additional talent on this team is cherries on top.

That is a luxury. Most teams are drafting for need. The Seahawks are drafting for depth and competition. That is why you will see them target positions like:

• Offensive Line: A swing tackle who can play guard.
• Safety: A versatile chess piece for the back end.
• Wide Receiver: A deep threat to stretch the field for Geno Smith.
• Linebacker: A coverage specialist to replace a departing veteran.

They don’t need a hero. They need a puzzle piece. And in a “thin” draft, those puzzle pieces are plentiful.

Final Predictions and a Song for the Weekend

So, what happens tonight? Here is my official Pre-Snap Reads prediction:

1. The Seahawks will trade out of the first round. Mark it down. They will swap pick No. 32 for a second-rounder (likely in the 38-42 range) and a fourth-round pick. This gives them three picks in the top 100, which is the sweet spot for this class.

2. They will target a cornerback early on Day 2. If Chris Johnson is off the board, expect a run on someone like a small-school riser or a power-conference cover man. Macdonald wants to dictate the pass game, not react to it.

3. A surprise running back will be selected. Don’t be shocked if the Seahawks grab a back like a sleeper from the ACC or Big Ten in the third round. The running back room is good, but it lacks a true home-run hitter if Price goes elsewhere.

4. No quarterback will be drafted. Geno Smith is the guy. Sam Howell is the backup. They will add an undrafted free agent or a veteran later.

As the music plays—I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty—remember that the draft is a marathon, not a sprint. The Seahawks are playing chess while the rest of the league plays checkers. They know that winning in April doesn’t guarantee winning in January. But with a roster this talented, any addition is a luxury we should cherish.

Enjoy the theater. Enjoy the waiting. And above all, enjoy the fact that our team is at the top of the mountain. The Rams are looking up at us, and the rest of the NFC is scrambling to catch up.

Thanks for being here. Hang with us. It should be a fun one.

Go, ‘Hawks!

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.