The Seattle Seahawks enter 2026 as defending champions, which means every opponent on the schedule has spent the offseason circling this date. That target brings pressure, but it also creates opportunity—especially for the players who don’t make the highlight reels in August.
Everyone already knows what Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, and Leonard Williams bring to the table. But championship rosters aren’t built on star power alone. They survive because someone further down the depth chart steps into a role nobody saw coming. For Seattle, that someone could be wide receiver Jake Bobo and linebacker Derick Hall.
How Seattle Built for Sustainability Instead of Splash
The front office had a clear plan this offseason: keep the core intact and fill gaps with veterans who understand their roles. Instead of chasing a marquee free agent, they locked up return specialist Rashid Shaheed, re-signed cornerback Josh Jobe and linebacker Drake Thomas, then added Dante Fowler Jr., Harrison Bryant, and Emanuel Wilson on team-friendly deals.
In the draft, general manager John Schneider worked from the back of every round. The eight-man class prioritized value over hype—running back Jadarian Price brings explosiveness, and defensive backs Bud Clark and Julian Neal add depth. The message was consistent: the Seahawks aren’t rebuilding. They’re reloading. And that approach often opens the door for players already in the building.
Jake Bobo: The Big Target No One’s Talking About
When the conversation starts with JSN, Kupp, and Shaheed, it’s easy to overlook a 6-foot-4 wideout who doesn’t run a 4.3 forty. But Bobo has spent two seasons proving he doesn’t need elite speed to produce. He reads zone coverage like a veteran, finds the soft spots, and catches everything thrown his way. His blocking is good enough that coaches sometimes use him as an extra tight end.
The depth chart actually works in his favor. With defenses focused on Smith-Njigba underneath, Shaheed stretching the field vertically, and Kupp working the intermediate areas, Bobo will see single coverage more often than most third receivers. A 60-catch season with a significant red-zone role isn’t a stretch—it’s an expectation quietly building inside the building.
Derick Hall: The Edge Rusher Ready to Eat
The departure of Boye Mafe left a hole on the edge, and while DeMarcus Lawrence brings veteran savvy, Seattle needs a younger pass rusher to step up. Hall has the tools—explosive first step, power to convert speed into bull-rush pressure—but consistency has been the missing piece.
Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s system is designed to create one-on-one opportunities for edge rushers when interior linemen like Williams and Murphy II command double teams. Hall should benefit more than anyone from that scheme. His growth against the run has also earned him trust in three-down situations, which keeps him on the field when the game is on the line.
If he refines his counter moves and stays disciplined in his rush lanes, double-digit sacks are realistic. For a defense that already features multiple Pro Bowl talents, that possibility is both exciting for Seattle and terrifying for everyone else.
Why These Two Matter More Than the Headlines Suggest
Repeat champions don’t just maintain what they had—they need new contributors to emerge. Bobo and Hall represent the kind of internal development that separates one-year wonders from dynasties. Neither arrives with massive expectations, but both are positioned to exceed them.
By January, the stars will still carry the narratives. But the difference between another deep playoff run and a failed title defense could come down to a 6-4 receiver finding open grass and a third-year edge rusher finally rattling quarterbacks. That’s the quiet reality of championship football—and Seattle knows it.
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