Seahawks get great ‘fit’ in 3rd-round CB Julian Neal

After letting the 6-foot-4 Riq Woolen walk in free agency, the Seattle Seahawks were lacking some length in their cornerback room.

They took a big step toward filling that void on Friday night, selecting 6-foot-2, 203-pound Arkansas cornerback Julian Neal with the No. 99 overall pick in the third round of the NFL Draft.

Seahawks 2026 NFL Draft Tracker: Keep up with picks and trades

Now, the question is whether Neal can fill Woolen’s role as Seattle’s No. 3 cornerback. With three-time Pro Bowler Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe returning as the Seahawks’ top two corners, Neal will likely compete with free agent addition Noah Igbinoghene and Nehemiah Pritchett for the No. 3 spot.

“I like (drafting) the bigger-sized corner here,” former NFL wide receiver Bryan Walters said on Seattle Sports’ draft show shortly after the pick was made. “They need that on this team, especially to fill that void of Riq Woolen. So I’m excited to see what he can bring. … A Seahawks fit. A Seahawks-type player.”

THE PICK IS IN. 💪 @J12_neal

📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/a2GyN3OPwy

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 25, 2026

Neal was a late-bloomer in college, making just 16 starts over a five-year career at Fresno State and Arkansas.

After spending his first three seasons at Fresno State in a reserve role, he broke out with two interceptions, six pass breakups, a sack and five tackles for loss with the Bulldogs in 2024.

Neal then transferred to Arkansas, where he recorded two interceptions, 10 pass breakups and two tackles for loss while starting all 12 games for the Razorbacks in 2025.

When targeted in coverage this past season, Neal held opposing quarterbacks to just 27-of-48 passing for 346 yards and three touchdowns, according to Pro Football Focus.

“You see a lot of tight coverage from him,” former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman said. “And he’s pretty disciplined too, because a lot of guys will get a little bit excited and get a little bit too handsy. And some of the plays I’m looking at, he’s very disciplined and does a good job of not getting a penalty.”

Related: After trade back, Seahawks draft Arkansas CB Julian Neal at No. 99

Among qualified FBS cornerbacks, Neal ranked in the 85th percentile in PFF run defense grading and the 78th percentile in zone coverage grading. The Seahawks run a zone-heavy coverage scheme and place an emphasis on their cornerbacks being able to tackle, so both of those grades suggest Neal could be a good fit in head coach Mike Macdonald’s scheme.

“He’s a big corner and he definitely plays like it,” former NFL wide receiver Michael Bumpus said. “He’s a hitter. If he sees it, he’s gonna hit it. He’s real patient in the zone. … He waits until the ball’s delivered to go. But when he sees it, he believes it and he gets downhill.

“He sorts through the chaos in man (coverage) on crossing routes, which you’re gonna see a lot in this division. … And he’s just a confident ballplayer. (He has) long arms, uses them to his advantage, puts that hand on the hip and kind of feels the receiver. Does a good job of just being where he’s supposed to be.”

Neal didn’t run a particularly fast 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, clocking in at 4.49 seconds. But among cornerbacks, he posted the longest broad jump (11 feet, 2 inches) and the sixth-highest vertical jump (40 inches).

“He gives you range on the outside,” Bumpus said. “There’s gonna be a nice little competition at the corner spot.”

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