The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 NFL season as defending champions, which means the spotlight will naturally fall on their biggest stars: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy II. However, Seattle’s bid for a repeat title may also hinge on quieter contributors.
Jake Bobo and Derick Hall are two players who fit this description. Bobo’s size, blocking ability, and reliability provide the offense with a valuable complementary weapon, while Hall’s expanded role on the edge could become critical after changes in the pass-rush rotation.
Kupp’s return is significant, too. After winning another Super Bowl and facing questions about retirement, the veteran wide receiver has made it clear that he still loves playing. This keeps Seattle’s receiving corps experienced, competitive, and tough to crack.
The Seahawks find themselves in a better position than many teams when it comes to making roster decisions after minicamp. This is the reward for having built a championship roster, but it also presents challenges, and good teams don't just cut anonymous camp bodies. They sometimes move on from players with skills, experience, or potential simply because the numbers do not work in their favor. Seattle's roster is deep enough that the final spots for receiver, cornerback, linebacker, and special teams could become fiercely contested as training camp and preseason games approach.
While minicamp did not determine the 53-man roster, it did highlight how little room there may be for players without a defined role on game days. The official depth chart already shows several areas where the top of the roster feels relatively settled. At receiver, Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Bobo, and Smith-Njigba make up the core. On defense, the Seahawks have significant pieces along the front, and the secondary has added young competition through the draft.
This leads us to two players who stand out as vulnerable after minicamp, not because they lack ability, but because Seattle's competition may be too severe around them.
Tyrone Broden, CB
Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (5) reacts with wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (4) after a first down catch during the third quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Tyrone Broden is one of the more interesting names on the roster due to his unique profile. At 6-foot-5, he has a frame that immediately draws attention, and a defensive back with this kind of length gives coaches something to work with, especially in a league where taller receivers can create matchup problems, but being intriguing is not the same as being secure in a roster spot.
The primary issue is that Seattle’s cornerback room has become crowded, and Broden’s prospects depend on whether the coaching staff views him as a unique developmental defender or just another body in a group with newer investments. Size is an advantage, but proving his value on special teams and showing consistent coverage will be crucial. Back-end corners rarely make the roster solely based on their physical attributes, as they must also excel in special teams, tackle effectively, endure preseason challenges, and demonstrate reliability if injuries require them to step in.
This is where the pressure begins. Seattle’s defense under Mike Macdonald values versatility, communication, and disguise, and a corner who can handle multiple assignments has a fighting chance. Conversely, a player still too raw may be challenging to retain, especially on a team pursuing immediate success. The Seahawks are trying to win again now.
If he does not make the initial roster, Broden could still have a practice squad appeal. His size is worth developing, and teams often like to keep players with unique physical traits around, but this situation also highlights the risk he faces. If a player seems more like a project than a reliable game-day contributor, he may be pushed off the 53-man roster in favor of someone with clearer immediate value.
The addition of rookie players complicates matters further. Drafted players commonly receive the benefit of the doubt, especially when the front office has invested resources to bring them in. Veterans with established special teams roles are often retained because coaches are familiar with their contributions, and this leaves players in the middle fighting uphill.
Broden’s best-case scenario is that he must become too valuable on special teams to be cut and demonstrate enough growth in coverage to merit continued patience. If he achieves this, his size will strengthen his case. If he does not, Seattle’s improved depth in the secondary could make him one of the first players squeezed off the roster.
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Patrick O’Connell, LB
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (57) during warmups prior to the game at Lumen Field.
Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Patrick O’Connell faces a unique challenge as a linebacker. While the linebacker position is not as crowded as the cornerback position on paper, the roles are more defined. This isn’t necessarily a bad situation, but it is a narrow path. For a backup linebacker, the expectations are that he must be assignment-sound on defense, reliable in coverage, physical against the run, and valuable on special teams.
If he isn’t going to play regular defensive snaps, he needs to be one of the stronger special teams players on the roster. Otherwise, justifying his spot over a defensive back, edge rusher, or an offensive player with more potential becomes challenging.
The flexibility of the Seattle roster exacerbates O’Connell’s challenge, and this is where the math becomes stringent for them, because if Seattle carries five off-ball linebackers, O’Connell has a clearer path. However, if the number is four, each preseason snap gains significance. A defending champion may prefer to use that extra spot in the secondary, where injuries and matchup strategies demand depth, or on the defensive front, where rotation is vital over a long season.
He also has to contend with the fact that his potential may not be as apparent as that of younger players at other positions. Coaches appreciate dependable depth, but they also have to consider a player’s ceiling. A rookie defensive back can contribute on special teams and develop into a valuable asset, or if a pass rusher presents more value at a premium position, a backup linebacker can quickly become expendable.
That doesn’t mean he is out of contention, as he has a legitimate opportunity if he performs consistently, communicates effectively, and becomes a reliable option on special teams. Coaches often retain players who can thrive in small but critical roles, especially during cutdown weekend.
The concern is that he may need to be more than simply reliable. Seattle’s roster is competitive, and quiet competence does not guarantee safety. O’Connell must distinguish himself in the vital areas for a backup linebacker, such as coverage units, tackling, consistent preseason performance, and defensive reliability when starters are off the field.
So, in the end, he walks a fine line. The Seahawks' depth leaves little room for ambiguous roles, as both O’Connell and Broden are not without hope. Each has a potential route to the roster and could make this assessment seem premature with strong training camps. The key point is not that either player has already lost his place, but rather that both need to clarify why Seattle should retain them.
For Broden, the justification must involve size, development, and special teams value in a crowded secondary. For O’Connell, it must hinge on reliability, linebacker depth, and a clear role on special teams. This is the standard expected of a championship roster.
The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 NFL season as defending champions, which means the spotlight will naturally fall on their biggest stars: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Leonard Williams, and Byron Murphy II. However, Seattle’s bid for a repeat title may also hinge on quieter contributors. Jake Bobo and Derick Hall are two players who fit this description.