Seahawks face free agency losses. Could a top cornerback prospect at pick 32 mend the defensive damage and become the next Seattle star?
The Seattle Seahawks were able to defeat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the second time in franchise history. But that was then and this is now.
And now ... the team is losing some key players in free agency.
But maybe the Seahawks could soften the blow as guys do leave ... through the 2026 NFL Draft.
Let's do the Day 1 of free agency scorecard first ...
Gone are ...
RB Kenneth Walker - Signing with Kansas City Chiefs
DB Coby Bryant - Signing with the Chicago Bears
LB Boye Mafe - Signing with the Cincinnati Bengals
If we assume that CB Tariq Woolen is also leaving?
Yes, it's great that the Seahawks are keeping corner Josh Jobe and receiver Rashid Shaheed.
But the Seahawks defense is getting a bit stripped down here.
Answer? Maybe the NFL Draft and a steal of a star with pick No. 32.
In a recent mock by PFF's Max Chadwick, he thinks that the reigning Super Bowl champions should bolster their secondary and draft Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood with the last pick in the first round.
"Devon Witherspoon may have been the NFL's highest-graded cornerback this season, but the Seahawks still need more help at the position, as both Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen are free agents," Chadwick writes. "Hood’s 80.3 PFF coverage grade in 2025 ranked sixth among SEC cornerbacks."
Hood only played one season with the Volunteers after playing a season at Colorado and his freshman year at Auburn. But in his lone year at UT, he racked up 50 total tackles, eight passes defended, and even took his one interception back to the house.
Those numbers helped establish Hood as one of the SEC’s most impactful defensive backs and earned him recognition as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to college football’s top defensive back. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways—both in coverage and against the run—has made him an appealing prospect for NFL teams looking for versatile corners.
For Seattle, Hood’s skill set could be a strong fit in a defense that has traditionally valued physical defensive backs. Scouts often highlight his size, length, and competitiveness at the catch point. He also has the athleticism to stay with receivers downfield and disrupt passing lanes, traits that are essential for boundary cornerbacks at the NFL level.
It would also be a big help to the team to draft secondary, as they just lost breakout safety Coby Bryant in free agency to the Chicago Bears.
If the Seahawks were to land Hood in the draft, they would be adding a cornerback with intriguing upside and the potential to grow into a key piece of their defense. In a league increasingly driven by high-powered passing attacks, investing in a talented young corner could be a smart long-term move for Seattle.