On Saturday, The Athletic published an article written by Nick Baumgardner detailing the best UDFA fits this offseason in the NFL by team. A Northwestern EDGE who signed with the Seattle Seahawks after the NFL Draft was among the list.
Aidan Hubbard, who spent four seasons with the Wildcats, was viewed as a player who could have potentially been selected on the final day of the draft. Instead, he found himself searching for a contract after day three concluded, and he landed in Seattle.
"A former off-ball linebacker who bulked up into a college edge, Hubbard is a very explosive presence with quick feet and great balance," the article said. "He's quick off the snap, plays with great knee bend and knows what he's doing versus the run."
The Seahawks are a team that could use effective edge rushers, despite the fact that their defense was top of the league in 2025. In the NFL, you can never have too many pass rushers, and Seattle lost three of its rotational pieces in the position room this offseason.
Hubbard fits nicely in this landing spot, so it isn't hard to see him getting an extended look in training camp. Should he produce well in that pressure-packed environment, he could feasibly earn himself a roster spot come September.
With the Wildcats, Hubbard had 20.5 career sacks, most of them coming towards the end of his tenure. In 2025, he had a career high 7.5 sacks after two straight seasons finishing with six.
Hubbard really was a model of consistency in Evanston. Rarely missing games for injuries, he competed in double-digit contests for the Wildcats in every season of his career. And he was productive in all of them.
Hubbard also finished with 105 career tackles and 26.5 TFLs. None of his numbers blow you away, but they suggest a player who doesn't take games off and is always attacking the QB with maximum effort.
With Northwestern, Hubbard was also a leader in the locker room. He'll bring that quality to Seattle along with his production and physical traits. It's becoming increasingly rare to see four-year players at one school, but Hubbard is one of them.
The challenge will be hanging in there athletically against much bigger and more physically dominant tackles. In the NFL, there won't be many free shots at the quarterback. You have to earn it even more than you do in college, where there's more likely to be a pass blocking miscommunication.
But after not getting drafted, Hubbard will be able to test his luck in a good environment with a decent shot to make some noise. It's hard to ask for much more.