It’s often difficult for NFL draft analysts to project who the Super Bowl participants are going to select in the upcoming class. That’s mostly the case because it’s impossible to completely predict the 30 players going off the board before they finally make their pick. But there’s another reason it will be hard to project who Mike Macdonald and the Seattle Seahawks might select this year.
There’s no obvious holes on the Seattle roster.
That’s what Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald and Nate Tice argued in their latest mock draft released Tuesday. For that reason, the pair of analysts had the Seahawks making a luxury pick of sorts at No. 32 overall.
Seattle landed Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell as the final selection in the first round of the latest Yahoo Sports mock draft.
“The Seahawks have hit the ‘no clue, let’s mock them a pass rusher’ level in their roster building,” wrote McDonald and Tice. “They don’t have too many holes that can immediately be plugged here, so let’s just give them another front seven player to add to that defense.”
The Seahawks already have a strong pass rush. Seattle finished tied for seventh with 47 sacks in the 2025 regular season. The Seahawks also ended the season in the top six in pressure and hurry rate despite blitzing seldomly.
Howell, though, would strengthen the Seahawks pass rush even more. Howell posted 11.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss on his way to All-American honors in 2025.
What Cashius Howell Could Bring to Seahawks Defense
It’s not often an NFL team, even one in the Super Bowl, can afford a luxury pick. The Seahawks, though, could be in that position this spring.
Macdonald’s team finished ranked in the top eight in the major offensive and defensive categories this past season. Seattle’s defense led the league in points allowed while the offense scored the third-most points.
The Seahawks will see a couple key players reach free agency this offseason, particularly in the secondary. Both cornerbacks Josh Jobe and Riq Woolen, along with safety Coby Bryant, will be unrestricted free agents.
But the Seahawks are set to have the fifth-most cap space in the league this spring. The team will likely have the ability to re-sign the incumbent players they wish.
So rather than filling a need late in the first round, the Seahawks could stay ahead of the curve and target a key defensive position such as edge rusher.
Howell needed a year to adjust to SEC play. After transferring from Bowling Green, he had four sacks with 8.5 tackles for loss during his first season with the Aggies in 2024.
But he became an All-American last season.
Over five college campaigns, Howell posted 27 sacks with 35.5 tackles for loss in 56 games. He also had 15 pass defenses, three forced fumbles and an interception.
Seahawks Projected Edge Rushing Depth Entering 2026
In addition to the free agents in the secondary, edge rusher Boye Mafe will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Mafe didn’t produce as much statistically in 2025 as in years past. But in 65 games over four years, he’s posted 20 sacks and 24 tackles for loss.
If the Seahawks don’t bring back Mafe, they could view Howell as a suitable replacement. Howell, though, could be extra insurance even if Mafe returns.
Seattle didn’t have a defender post more than seven sacks in the regular season. But, the team had four players with at least six sacks. Two of those defenders were defensive tackles — Byron Murphy and Leonard Williams, who each had seven sacks.
Uchenna Nwosu led the Seahawks edge rushers with seven sacks as well.
Seahawks Predicted to Make Luxury Defensive Addition in 2026 NFL Offseason