Seattle, WA
Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft Roundup: Who will be No. 16 pick?
The NFL combine kicked off this week, and that’s always a key part of the NFL Draft cycle for the Seattle Seahawks and the other 31 teams as they scout top prospects.
Before Seahawks, Macdonald was most ‘consequential’ hire at Michigan
Barring a trade up or down, the Hawks hold the No. 16 overall selection this year.
So who will be the first draft pick of the Mike Macdonald era? Here’s who some top NFL Draft analysts have the Seattle Seahawks taking in their most recent mock drafts.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper – Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu
Mel Kiper, who revolutionized NFL Draft coverage, has the Seahawks going local in the first round.
“OK, so guard might not be the most exciting position for a mock draft, but I can assure you that Seahawks fans should be happy with Fautanu, who could stay near where he went to college. That’s because he’s a fun offensive line prospect to watch on tape. He has excellent feet and plays hard on every snap. Fautanu started 28 games at left tackle for the Huskies, but I see his future on the interior because of his 6-foot-4 frame,” Kiper said.
Kiper noted that all three of Seattle’s Week 1 starting interior offensive linemen – center Evan Brown and guards Damien Lewis and Phil Haynes – are pending free agents.
“Seattle will have holes to fill along the interior of its line,” Kiper wrote. “And Seattle ranked 28th in rushing yards per game (92.9), surely new coordinator Ryan Grubb wants to see upgrades there. Fautanu would give this offense an instant boost.”
Fautanu to the Seahawks would mean he’d reunite with Grubb and Scott Huff, his offensive line coach at UW.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah – Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II
Daniel Jeremiah initially had the Seahawks selecting Fautanu in his last mock draft. This time around, he has the Hawks going with the other side of the ball in Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II.
“Leonard Williams is a pending free agent, but even if the Seahawks work out a deal with him, Murphy would be a nice complement on the interior defensive line,” he wrote.
NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks – Georgia tight end Brock Bowers
Jeremiah’s colleague Bucky Brooks has the Seahawks going a different route, instead drafting standout Georgia tight end Brock Bowers. Two of the Seahawks’ top tight end are pending free agents.
“Seattle needs a playmaker in the aerial attack with the potential to control the middle of the field,” Brooks said. “Bowers’ presence would create more big-play opportunities for the Seahawks’ perimeter pass catchers.”
The Ringer staff – Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner
The fine folks at The Ringer teamed up for a mock draft this week and have the Seahawks selecting an edge rusher in Alabama’s Dallas Turner.
“Once Uchenna Nwosu went down midseason, Seattle’s lack of edge-rusher depth was sorely exposed. Now, with Mike Macdonald in place as the new head coach and defensive mind, Seattle doesn’t need elite play off the edge, but versatility would sure be welcome. Turner, who is 6-foot-4 and around 245 pounds, will need to have some value as a dropper in the league to stick. I think Macdonald would welcome his quick first step and surprising toughness against the run.”
The Athletic staff – Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse
At The Athletic, that team also has the Seahawks selecting an edge rusher, but instead of Turner, it’s Florida State’s Jared Verse.
“”First-time head coach Mike Macdonald inherits a defense that a year ago finished 28th in yards per rush and 20th in yards per pass attempt. In order to return to consistent contention in the NFC West, the Seahawks need to revitalize the side of the ball that once led them to back-to-back Super Bowls. Seattle acquired Leonard Williams from the Jets before the trade deadline, but it could still use a star edge rusher on the outside, and Verse fits the bill. In his last two years as a starter at FSU, Verse totaled 18 sacks and showed flashes of the terror he could become.”
Yahoo’s Charles McDonald and Nate Tice – Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton
At Yahoo Sports, Charles McDonald and Nate Tice teamed up for a mock draft and have the Seahawks taking big defensive tackle Johnny Newton from Illinois.
“Mike Macdonald will be able to cover up a lot with his knowledge and play-calling, but the Seahawks could still use a boost of talent on the interior of their defense,” they wrote. “Newton is one of the few premier interior defensive line talents in this class and would fit well.”
More on the Seattle Seahawks
• Huard: Time for Seahawks to be done with Jamal Adams
• Why Seahawks re-signing Leonard Williams is ‘real tricky’
• How does new salary cap impact Seahawks’ offseason?
• Seahawks Draft: Why J.J. McCarthy is ‘not an easy evaluation’
• Seahawks Draft: Analyst says Texas’ Byron Murphy has best D-tackle tape
• Three reasons not to worry about Seattle Seahawks coaches not attending combine
Police are talking with a person who reported being a victim of a street robbery late tonight at or near California SW and SW Raymond. The initial report was that two Black male juveniles, both in masks and hoodies, held the victim up at gunpoint, stole their phone, and got away in a gray Tesla with no plates.
12:55 PM: Again this year, the West Seattle Junction Association has decked the heart of the business district with rainbow flags to celebrate Pride on the night of June’s WS Art Walk. As featured in our calendar and daily event list, Pride events tonight include a meetup at VAIN (4513 California SW) at 6 pm and then a “dance party” in the Walk All Ways intersection at 6:30; that’ll be followed by a drag show at Jet City Labs (4547 California SW) and the only event on the slate that’ not all-ages, an 8:30 pm afterparty at The Poggie.
ADDED 3:15 PM: Victoria at VAIN sent several reasons to stop there at the start of tonight’s celebration – “We have a limited number of Pride flags to give away before we proceed down to the intersection. We have a small run of West Seattle Pride shirts to sell. PFLAG wil have an info table with some giveaways as well.”
We’re just a few days from the first 2026 FIFA World Cup match in Seattle.
If you like driving, you should probably just avoid Seattle. Using your car is not going to be easy on game days. As King County executive Girmay Zahilay said during preparations, “for visitors and residents, our message is simple: leave the driving to us.”
Transit is really going to be the only way to get near the stadium district on those six match days.
Seattle has created an exclusion or no-go zone from Yesler south through the stadiums on those days. The southern border of the exclusion zone is Edgar Martinez Drive. You will only be able to drive southbound on 1st Avenue. That’s the only street available to cars from about four hours before matches until the traffic has cleared.
Alaskan Way will remain open. So will 4th Avenue.
Pioneer Square will be off-limits to almost all car traffic. Street parking is also a casualty. Those spots will go away as early as 2 a.m. on game days. There is no drive-up lot parking on match days. Those parking passes for lots outside the exclusion zone must be purchased in advance.
Sound Transit is the best way to get to the matches
CEO Dow Constantine shared this piece of advice.
“From the north, we’re going to encourage you to use Pioneer Square Station,” he said. “If you’re coming from the east, we’re going to encourage you to use the International District Chinatown Station. If you’re coming from the south, we’re going to encourage you to use the Stadium Station. All of these give you ready access to Seattle Stadium and to all the festivities around the matches.”
And Sound Transit has increased train frequency to move as many people as possible.
“Operationally, on game days, we will increase service on the 1 and 2 Lines, so we’ll be running eight-minute service on all the lines all evening long,” Constantine said. “That means four-minute service all day long from the International District to Lynnwood.”
The ferry service is maxing its capacity to meet demand. So is King County Metro.
Here are the dates you want to avoid being in downtown Seattle if you’re not going to games.
June 15. June 19. June 24. June 26. July 1. July 6.
Most construction is taking this time off to provide as much space as possible during the event.
You can ride bikes and scooters through the exclusion zone, but you will be subject to an 8 mph speed limit.
Chris Sullivan is a traffic reporter for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Follow KIRO Newsradio traffic on X.
Follow @https://twitter.com/newsguysully
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