General manager John Schneider suggested the Seattle Seahawks are still looking for another edge rusher this offseason when he spoke to reporters Saturday after the 2026 NFL Draft ended. Head coach Mike Macdonald, though, expressed a lot of confidence in the depth the team already has along the edge.
Although the Seahawks didn’t select an edge rusher in the draft, Macdonald may have a new prospect to be excited about in the position group.
On Thursday, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox named one undrafted free agent for each team with the best chance of making that team’s roster. For the Seahawks, Knox picked edge rusher Aidan Hubbard.
“The Seattle Seahawks entered draft weekend with only four selections. While they added some late-round picks by trading down, they didn’t quite have the draft capital to replace every void that was created in free agency,” wrote Knox.
Running back Jadarian Price, safety Bud Clark, and cornerback Julian Neal will help replace Kenneth Walker III, Coby Bryant, and Riq Woolen, respectively. However, the Seahawks didn’t draft a clear replacement for outgoing edge-defender Boye Mafe.
“Enter Aidan Hubbard, who has signed with Seattle. The 6’4″½”, 260-pound prospect out of Northwestern should have a good chance to stick as part of Seattle’s edge rotation.”
Hubbard posted 20.5 sacks with 26.5 tackles for loss in 47 games at Northwestern during his college career. In 2025, he had 28 combined tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
Undrafted Free Agent Aidan Hubbard Projected to Make Seahawks Roster
Given Seattle’s lack of edge rushing depth, it makes sense one of the team’s undrafted free agents at the position has the best chance to make the roster. As Knox wrote, the Seahawks have yet to really replace departed free agent Boye Mafe.
But the Bleacher Report analyst also seems to like what Hubbard will bring to the table.
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein saw Hubbard as a potential late Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
“Hubbard is a good athlete with adequate burst, change-of-direction quickness and agility,” wrote Zierlein. “His game against Oregon was a clear indicator that more size and strength are needed to survive run-defending rigors as a down lineman.
“A full-time spot as an odd-front edge rusher could be in his wheelhouse, though.
“With more strength and rush development, Hubbard could develop into an average edge defender.”
Hubbard was rather consistent at Northwestern the past three seasons. He had six sacks in both 2023 and 2024. Hubbard then posted a career high in the category during his final college campaign.
Edge Rushers on Seahawks 2026 Offseason Roster
The Seahawks didn’t use the 2026 NFL Draft to address edge rusher. But they clearly used undrafted free agency.
In addition to Hubbard, the Seahawks added Oklahoma’s Marvin Jones Jr. and TCU’s Devean Deal to the edge rushing room. So, to make the roster, Hubbard will first have to outperform those two undrafted edge rushers.
Even without Mafe, though, Hubbard will have other stiff competition to earn a Seahawks roster spot.
Demarcus Lawrence, Uchenna Nwosu and Drake Thomas will all return for Seattle next season. On Saturday, Macdonald also expressed confidence in Jared Ivey, Jamie Sheriff, Connor O’Toole and Jalen Gaines.
Hubbard might not directly compete with all of those final four linebackers. Depth chart websites, such as Ourlads, list those four players at different positions.
On the Seahawks official roster, the team simply calls all four players “linebackers.”
Knox made it clear, though, that with his talent and the absence of Mafe, Hubbard has as good a shot as any undrafted free agent of making the defending Super Bowl champions.
Seahawks Could Have Edge Rushing Solution Already on Roster