2026 OTAs thread

[Donn Beach]

Yeah, LB, the competition can go beyond position...i was thinking there seemed a fair amount of competition. And it's not really cutting then as trying to get them to the practice squad. There seemed a lot of talent, a competitive camp. Even Bradford, if he got cut he's probably picked up by another team. He's the starting guard off of the SB winning team

[Donn Beach]

Here's the blurb on Bradford

Nobody on the Seahawks roster has seemingly faced as much criticism throughout his career as Bradford. With tons of Twitter clips showing Bradford falling down and missing blocks, most NFL fans (especially within Seahawks circles) believe that Bradford is one of the worsts player in the league. That is far from the case. However, there is still room for improvement. With the Seahawks drafting Iowa’s Beau Stephens, along with Bradford entering his contract year, this is a true “prove-it” year for him.

There are a lot of ways 2026 can go for Bradford. He can make a big jump and cement himself as a true difference maker at guard, leading to a big payday. He also can show some struggles and potentially be replaced by Stephens, or even another one of Seattle’s promising young guards (Bryce Cabeldue, Mason Richman) mid-season. Time will tell how 2026 looks like.

[D-train]

I thought Ivey was an Edge not a DE.

I would also question them keeping 5 safeties and 4 TEs + 2 FBs while only 3 RBs and 5 WRs.

Yes I thought the same thing I think Macintosh makes the team if he's healthy. I actually like him more than George

[D-train]

Here's the blurb on Bradford

Nobody on the Seahawks roster has seemingly faced as much criticism throughout his career as Bradford. With tons of Twitter clips showing Bradford falling down and missing blocks, most NFL fans (especially within Seahawks circles) believe that Bradford is one of the worsts player in the league. That is far from the case. However, there is still room for improvement. With the Seahawks drafting Iowa’s Beau Stephens, along with Bradford entering his contract year, this is a true “prove-it” year for him.

There are a lot of ways 2026 can go for Bradford. He can make a big jump and cement himself as a true difference maker at guard, leading to a big payday. He also can show some struggles and potentially be replaced by Stephens, or even another one of Seattle’s promising young guards (Bryce Cabeldue, Mason Richman) mid-season. Time will tell how 2026 looks like.

I cannot believe people still call X Twitter it's so weird. Guessing that group of people doesn't call the Guardians the Indians or the commanders the Redskins

[rockycola]

I thought Ivey was an Edge not a DE.

I would also question them keeping 5 safeties and 4 TEs + 2 FBs while only 3 RBs and 5 WRs.

Yes I thought the same thing I think Macintosh makes the team if he's healthy. I actually like him more than George

I was ecstatic with the Kenny selection but he's frail, fragile, injury-prone.
Holani, so far, is much more healthy/viable in the running game and k-o return/special teams availability.

I vote George. If McIntosh can be kept as pup, I'd like to see him get another chance. And, maybe he's healthy and beats out Holani.
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[Donn Beach]

Might be noted, the Seahawks have had excellent attendance at their voluntary OTAs even though MM had allowed remote attendance. Witherspoon is there. This in contrast to like the Ravens who have a new HC and offense to install and Lamar Jackson isn't there.

[D-train]

Might be noted, the Seahawks have had excellent attendance at their voluntary OTAs even though MM had allowed remote attendance. Witherspoon is there. This in contrast to like the Ravens who have a new HC and offense to install and Lamar Jackson isn't there.

Lamar is holding out. I predict that franchise is in for a rough patch that started when MM got out and came to the promised land...

[auroraave]

I predict this year the offensive line will be considered a strength of the team - yeah, including Bradford - who now has had several years to learn and grow - and he has improved. Playing together as a unit is really the best way to grow line play. Dude also seems to stay healthy, and now has competition for the positions - or at least improved depth in that area.

Now imagine this team has 11 picks in the next draft which is considered to be a stronger draft class. This team is just so well positioned for success for the forseeable future. I would like to see the QB room depth addressed - Lock or MIlroe as the #2? Can't just expect Darnold to never get injured. This may be the right draft to grab another QB.

[Donn Beach]

I predict this year the offensive line will be considered a strength of the team - yeah, including Bradford - who now has had several years to learn and grow - and he has improved. Playing together as a unit is really the best way to grow line play. Dude also seems to stay healthy, and now has competition for the positions - or at least improved depth in that area.

Now imagine this team has 11 picks in the next draft which is considered to be a stronger draft class. This team is just so well positioned for success for the forseeable future. I would like to see the QB room depth addressed - Lock or MIlroe as the #2? Can't just expect Darnold to never get injured. This may be the right draft to grab another QB.

Yeah, I agree. I pointed out awhile ago, the entire offensive line starters and bench are all returning. I think they have talent and now they are going to have continuity which really is what's important for a O line.

[D-train]

By Bob Condotta
Seattle Times staff reporter
For the first time since that glorious Feb. 8 afternoon in Santa Clara, the Seahawks will gather as one team on a football field Tuesday at the VMAC.

The occasion is the first of what are scheduled to be six OTAs — or Organized Team Activities — over the next two weeks. OTAs is basically just a fancy collective-bargaining-agreement term used to describe what is and isn’t allowed. What isn’t allowed is contact. What is allowed are 11-on-11 offense vs. defense drills.

Up to this point, the offense and defense have had to work separately.

Seattle will also have a mandatory minicamp June 9-11 with the same noncontact rules before breaking for the summer and then returning for the beginning of training camp in late July.

Here are five storylines to watch as OTAs begin.

Setting a tone for a new season
OTAs mark yet another milestone in Seattle’s attempt to win another Super Bowl — just don’t say they are “defending’’ their Super Bowl title, as coach Mike Macdonald has made clear his message to the team is that last year was last year and this is this year.

“We’re a new team, and we have to rebecome the team that we’re destined to be,’’ Macdonald said in March.

How new the Seahawks are, though, may be overblown in some circles. The Seahawks posted a banner in their indoor facility last week. Of the 79 players listed on the banner, all but 10 remain on the roster.

Still, even with a team of mostly returnees, Macdonald will view establishing a new chemistry like the kind that helped carry last year’s group to a Super Bowl title as critical.

He felt the team having close to full attendance at OTAs last year — the offseason program is officially voluntary other than the one-week minicamp — was critical to the players forging a belief with the coaching staff and each other.


“We would not be here if the guys didn’t buy-in the way they did and work the way they did in the offseason,’’ Macdonald said shortly before the Super Bowl.

Fully integrating the rookies
The rookies have had their own minicamp and two weeks of working with vets in phase two. But this week marks the first time they’ll be together with all of the veterans in 11-on-11 sessions. That will give the coaching staff its best view yet of how well the rookies are learning the playbook and generally adapting to the NFL.

That may be most important for what is a small undrafted rookie class of just seven. The overall strength of Seattle’s roster won’t make it easy for any UDFA to make the 53 this year. But one to watch is defensive end Aidan Hubbard of Northwestern who got the most guaranteed money of the UDFAs at $267,500, according to OvertheCap.com, which includes $247,500 salary for the 2026 season.

Acclimating to Brian Fleury’s offense
The biggest change for the Seahawks may be the loss of last year’s offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak — now the head coach of the Raiders. He was replaced by Brian Fleury, who last year was the run game coordinator and tight ends coach with the 49ers. Fleury comes out of the same Mike/Kyle Shanahan-based offense and outside zone run scheme as did Kubiak, so the Seahawks are counting on a pretty smooth transition.

But there will inevitably be some tweaks to the system and some new terminology for players to learn, and the offense finally getting to work against the defense will give coaches a good sense of where things stand.

Getting an early read on position battles
The Seahawks return all but two official starters from the Super Bowl win over the Patriots — running back and game MVP Kenneth Walker III and safety Coby Bryant. Key rotational players cornerback Riq Woolen and rush end Boye Mafe also signed elsewhere in free agency.

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Seattle drafted or signed potential replacements for each — first-round pick Jadarian Price for Walker; second-round pick Bud Clark for Bryant; third-round pick Julian Neal for Woolen; and veteran free agent signee Dante Fowler Jr. for Mafe.

But others are in the mix.

Free agent signee Emanuel Wilson will compete with Price; returnee Ty Okada may be the front-runner heading into camp to replace Bryant and Seattle also signed veteran Rodney Thomas II to compete at safety; returnee Nehemiah Pritchett and free agent signee Noah Igbinoghene will also vie to replace Woolen; and a host of young returnees that includes Jared Ivey, Connor O’Toole and Jamie Sheriff will compete at rush end.

While starters return everywhere else, a couple other spots could also become competitive, most notably right guard. Anthony Bradford is the incumbent and played the third-most snaps of any offensive player last season. But he is also entering the final year of his rookie contract and Seattle made a trade to move up to draft Beau Stephens in the fifth round out of Iowa and installed him at right guard during rookie minicamp.

That OTAs and minicamp are no contact limits the evaluation of linemen in particular. But first impressions will be made nonetheless.

Will there be any surprises?
OTAs — which are also the first chance for media to see the team since the end of the previous season — sometimes help reveal if there are any unexpected personnel situations emerging.

Seattle’s biggest contractual question remaining this offseason is getting an extension completed with cornerback Devon Witherspoon, who appears in line for a new deal making him potentially the highest-paid player at his position in league history.

ESPN reported this weekend that the Seahawks made an initial offer to Witherspoon “several weeks ago’’ but that the two sides “do not yet appear to be close to an agreement.’’

Witherspoon, though, has been shown in pictures on the team’s website having participated in phases one and two of the offseason program.