The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 offseason as Super Bowl LX Champions following a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots. However, the "cost of winning" has triggered a significant transformation. Following the departure of Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak to the Raiders, Head Coach Mike Macdonald prioritized system continuity by hiring OC Brian Fleury from the San Francisco 49ers. Fleury, a product of the Shanahan tree with unique coaching experience on both the defensive and tight end/run-game sides, will take over an offense that saw Jaxon Smith-Njigba win Offensive Player of the Year. General Manager John Schneider faces challenges too as he has a rare second chance at building toward a sustainable, "draft-and-develop" dynasty.

QB-

The Darnold Stability. QB Sam Darnold has successfully transitioned from a "reclamation project" to a Super-Bowl-winning game manager. While he is the incumbent starter for the defending champions, his dynasty valuation remains that of a stable QB2. Fleury's system, which emphasizes efficiency over high-volume aerial attacks, will likely maintain Darnold's "zero-turnover" playoff floor while capping his fantasy ceiling.

* Roster Status: Sam Darnold (Incumbent Starter), QB Drew Lock (Backup), QB Jalen Milroe (Developmental Backup). Keep an eye on Milrow as a potential sleeper if he starts to cash in on his skill set in camp.

* Fantasy Perspective: Darnold is a "high-floor, low-ceiling" asset. Dynasty managers should look to "cash out" on his peak value now; Fleury's run-heavy identity limits the likelihood of Darnold ever reaching weekly QB1 status.

* Draft Strategy: This is a low-priority position for the first two days of the draft. Look for the front office to target late-round developmental depth such as QB Haynes King or QB Drew Allar to compete in the room. But if they stick to only having four draft picks it is not likely they will spend any here.

Trench Continuity. Fleury will continue with "zone-run" focus which created the high-floor, technically refined blockers that became the "key component" of Seattle's protection schemes last season.

* The Position Gaps: Right Guard remains the primary opportunity for improvement. While RG Anthony Bradford is the incumbent, he is arguably the weakest link of this group of starters.

* Draft Targets:

* Gennings Dunker (Iowa): A "powerful interior blocker" with elite power on contact. Too early at 32, and likely gone by 64, probably not the right value for a trade to get him in between.

* Logan Jones (Iowa): A sensational athlete and Rimington Trophy winner with a high ceiling. He could anchor the center of the line for a decade. Very intriguing target who may fall to 96.

* The chemistry between LG Grey Zabel and OC Jalen Sundell is the foundation of this unit, but Dunker's ability to "seal off defenders" in space could be the missing piece for moving the outside-zone scheme to an elite level and maybe making up for the questions in the running back room.

RB-

Navigating Life After K9. The Seahawks face a "challenging" 2026 RB market following the loss of Kenneth Walker III to Kansas City. This upheaval is exacerbated by the ACL uncertainty hanging over Zach Charbonnet, whose recovery timeline remains a major question mark for the start of the 2026 campaign.

* The Rotation: Currently relies on RB Emanuel Wilson, RB George Holani, and RB Jacardia Wright. None of whom have proven to possess workhorse capability.

* Draft Targets:

* Jeremiah Love (Notre Dame): The clear Round 1 premier talent but unlikely to be an option at 32.

* Jadarian Price (Notre Dame): A viable Day 2 target if the board falls correctly. Picking at 32 would likely be too high, but maybe a trade back? Almost a must pick if he is there at 64.

* Emmett Johnson (Nebraska): A Day 2 fallback with high-floor traits. I think he could be considered at 64, but may fall to 96 or later?

WR-

The JSN Era. Seattle cemented WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba's status by signing the reigning OPOY to a market-setting 4-year, $168.6M extension. The deal provides a critical "security window" for dynasty owners, locking JSN in as the undisputed volume king through his prime. The deal also benefits the team by setting a high market value, which will impact divisional rivals like the Rams in their negotiations with WR Puka Nakua.

* Roster Composition: Rashid Shaheed ($17M APY) was signed to maintain the vertical threat, and retaining WR Jake Bobo preserves a big-bodied blocker at the X-position.

* Draft Targets:

* Denzel Boston (Washington): A 6'4" frame that perfectly fits the "X" receiver profile. I think he will be gone by pick 32, but if he is there he would be hard to pass up.

* Brennan Thompson (Mississippi State): A pure speed specialist who could emerge as a post-combine riser. I think he will be there at 64 and adding him to this room would be adding strength to strength. He is almost a carbon copy of Shaheed. Imagine moving Shaheed into the backfield and playing Thompson with JSN? Yikes.

TE-

The Fleury Specialty. With Fleury's background under HC Kyle Shanahan, the tight end position is poised for a massive schematic "bump." It is likely that Seattle will continue to lean into 12 and 13 personnel usage, frequently isolating tight ends to create mismatches.

* Player Analysis: While TE AJ Barner remains a foundational blocker and the incumbent star of the 13 package, TE Elijah Arroyo is the primary breakout candidate. His athleticism allows Fleury to utilize him in an isolated role, significantly increasing his target share. Arroyo is a legitimate fantasy "sleeper." Fleury's history with TE George Kittle suggests the Seahawks will prioritize Arroyo's playmaking ability over traditional inline blocking, providing a significant targets-per-route-run increase.

K-

PK Jason Myers drastically outperformed expectations last year. This offense should mimic those opportunities if not increase them with the questions at running back. The fantasy value for Myers should stay strong through the beginning of the season.

D-

The loss of DE Boye Mafe emphasizes the need for an Edge Rusher. DT Byron Murphy II and DT Leonard Williams provide interior dominance, but HC Mike Macdonald still lacks a power-based "Alpha" edge rusher. This led to conversations about essentially trading the draft for DE Max Crosby. Not sure how real any of that was, but the fans were all about it.

The Seahawks secured linebacker stability with a 2-year, 8M-9M extension for LB Drake Thomas ($4M base with incentives reaching $4.5M). Thomas established a historic Seahawks anomaly last season, becoming the first inside linebacker in franchise history to record 3.5 sacks, 10 TFL, and 1 INT in a single year all that despite lining up for only two thirds of the total defensive snaps. He also recorded 96 total tackles, 8 passes defensed, and a fumble recovery.

Thomas and LB Ernest Jones IV have established a "culture of intense film study" that has permeated the depth chart, including LB Tyrice Knight and LB Patrick O'Connell. Because of this surplus of starting-caliber talent, LB is a very low priority for the 2026 draft, allowing Schneider to focus draft capital on the secondary.

Losing CB Tariq Woolen (Eagles) and CB Coby Bryant (Bears) was the "significant losses" of the Super Bowl run. CB Devon Witherspoon is now the undisputed leader of a unit that must navigate a "challenging" CB draft class. The signing of CB Josh Jobe and SS Ty Okada are bridge moves with some upside but ultimately risky.

* Draft Targets: To get a top corner Seattle must act with pick 32 to avoid the "cliff" in the 2026 class.

* CB Avon Terrell (Clemson): A fluid mover with elite disruption (25 PD in two years).

* CB Colton Hood (Tennessee): A physical shadow corner who excels in tight-hip coverage.

The 2026 Contender Roadmap. The Seahawks' path to a repeat hinges on Fleury's ability to maximize the tight end room and the front office's success in navigating a top-heavy draft. The organization is betting on JSN's volume to offset the loss of Walker's star power and overall risky running back room.

2026 Seattle Seahawks: Buy/Sell/Hold

* BUY: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Vacated targets lock him in as a WR1) and Elijah Arroyo (The Fleury schematic "bump").

* SELL: Sam Darnold (Cashing out on peak value after the Super Bowl run).

* HOLD: Zach Charbonnet (Wait for "ACL cloud" clarity before moving).

My early draft hopes:

32 - CB Avon Terrell or DE Cashius Howell

64 - RG Gennings Dunker or RB Jadarian Price (both are likely gone, but these are hopes)

96 - OG/OC Logan Jones

188 - RB Emmett Johnson (like I said, this early is about hopes!)

Go Hawks!

End.