ESPN Delivers Huge Praise for Seahawks In 2026 Roster Rankings

Since the turn of the century, only two NFL franchises have successfully defended their Super Bowl crown from the season prior. 

Tom Brady's New England Patriots won back-to-back Super Bowls following the 2003 and 2004 seasons, while Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to the same feat following the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.

Fresh off their second-ever Super Bowl victory, the Seattle Seahawks will look to become the third organization to do so in 2026. 

And according to ESPN, Seattle certainly has the personnel in place to repeat — although two NFC rivals may stand in its way. 

When ranking every roster in the NFL, Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder placed the Seahawks at No. 3, only behind the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams. 

Ironically, those organizations account for three of the four Super Bowl champions the NFC has produced since the 2020s began. 

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Clay listed Seattle's interior defensive line as the team's biggest strength ... pointing to head coach Mike Macdonald's "stacked" front six. He also identified the Seahawks' biggest weakness as the running back room following the departure of Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III. 

However, Clay did cite first-rounder Jadarian Price as a potential "standout" from the depleted unit. 

Walder was tasked with highlighting the Seahawks' 2026 X factor, offering Rashid Shaheed as the answer. 

If the buzz coming out of Seattle is to be trusted, Walder may be spot-on in his prediction. 

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"A little intel on Seattle. More motion and shifts in the offense. They will have that with Brian Fleury. I'm told Sam Darnold is really comfortable with that," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler recently said on NFL Live. "Rashid Shaheed, we know, is fast. He had a strong spring. I was told he and Sam Darnold are hitting it off. They're going to give him more."

The trio rounded out their justification of the No. 3 ranking by emphasizing a non-starter, Derrick Hall. 

The Seahawks handed Hall — who posted two sacks and a forced fumble in the Super Bowl LX victory over the New England Patriots — a new three-year, $42 million extension this offseason.

That financial commitment may lead to an increased role in Macdonald's hybrid 3-4 nickel system.

While Clay, Schatz and Walder believe Seattle's roster ranks among the league's best ... and the franchise has the Super Bowl ring to prove it ... the Seahawks won't be focused on those ranked behind them this season. 

To replicate last season's success, Seattle will likely need to topple the Rams (again) or the Eagles en route to So-Fi Stadium for Super Bowl LXI. 

But if Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Seattle's ferocious defense can do so, the Seahawks will become just the third franchise this century to repeat as Super Bowl champions.