From undrafted underdog to a defensive "force multiplier," the Montana State standout aims to outshine high-draft picks and solidify his starting role in Seattle’s elite secondary.
The Seattle Seahawks have spent the last few years building one of the NFL’s deepest and most physical defenses. Names like Ernest Jones, Devon Witherspoon and the pass rush naturally draw attention, but one of the team’s most important under-the-radar contributors may be a former undrafted free agent who once struggled just to stay on the active roster.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski, he lists the player who he believes is every NFL franchise's "best-kept secret". For the reigning Super Bowl champions, he thinks that player is safety Ty Okada.
"The Seahawks may like Okada as a player and he may become a permanent starter. At the same time, Seattle drafted Bud Clark in this year's second round," Sobleski writes. "Clark brings the class' best ball skills to the lineup. Even so, Okada's familiarity with the system, quick trigger and outstanding tackling will keep him on the field one way or another."
Okada’s rise has been anything but conventional.
After spending much of his first two NFL seasons bouncing between the practice squad and active roster, the former Montana State standout finally broke through in 2025.
Injuries and opportunity opened the door, but Okada made sure it didn’t close again. He appeared in 17 games, started 11, and finished with 65 tackles, 1.5 sacks, an interception, and six pass breakups while helping anchor one of the league’s top defenses.
More importantly, Seattle trusted him.
That trust matters because the Seahawks are entering a transition at safety. With Coby Bryant departing in free agency, Okada appears positioned to compete for a larger role despite the organization drafting Bud Clark in the second round.
The Seahawks have repeatedly shown they value players who embrace multiple roles, and Okada fits that mold. He has contributed on defense, special teams and in rotational packages.
Earlier this year, he described himself as a "force multiplier," someone willing to do whatever helps teammates succeed. That mentality has helped turn him from roster bubble player into potential starter.
Seattle’s secondary already has stars.
What contenders need, though, are overlooked players who quietly stabilize the defense week after week. Okada may have become exactly that.
If he locks down a starting role in 2026, that label likely won’t last much longer.
