Cornerback Colton Hood emerges as Seattle's potential first-round solution, addressing defensive gaps with physicality and ball-hawking skills.
The Seattle Seahawks have lost a few key pieces of their defense to free agency so far this offseason, so the team could reload before the beginning of the 2026 season.
And they could do so through the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
In a recent mock draft by PFF's Jordan Plocher, he has them doing exactly that and taking Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the final pick of the first round of his mock.
"Hood finished the 2025 season having surrendered only 28 catches for 318 yards and one touchdown in coverage for an 80.3 PFF coverage grade," Plocher writes. "He is very effective in press coverage, disrupting wide receivers at the line of scrimmage with his jam... Like the Seahawks, the Tennessee Volunteers’ preferred defensive coverage call in 2025 was Cover 3. And Hood’s most-played zone coverage role was a deep-third defender in Cover 3, which he handled on 92 snaps."
Hood fits the mold of what head coach Mike Macdonald looks for in a defensive back. At six feet and around 200 pounds, he brings a physical presence to the position, along with the versatility to thrive in both man and zone coverage schemes. His aggressive play style and willingness to support against the run make him a natural fit in a defense that values toughness and discipline.
Hood racked up 50 total tackles, eight passes defended, and even 4.5 tackles for loss in his one and only year with the Volunteers. He was also able to show his elite ball-hawk skills with an interception that he was able to take all the way back to the house.
Ultimately, this mock draft selection highlights a familiar strategy for the Seahawks—investing in athletic, high-upside defenders who fit their identity. If Colton Hood is on the board when Seattle picks, it’s easy to see why he could be the choice to keep this defense playing at an elite level.
The team might have lost a number of crucial players to free agency, but that does not mean that they cannot reload and defend their Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2025 against those who would try and take it from them.