Stacy Rost: 3 ways the Seahawks can still improve in 2026

How do you improve a Super Bowl-winning team?

Seahawks on ‘Hard Knocks’: What stood out from episode 2

It’s a question every NFL champion asks itself after winning, and it’s something few have been able to do. After all, it’s hard to go up when you’re at the top of the mountain. A 13-win season and top-three scoring defense would technically be regression for the Seattle Seahawks, and the rarity of repeating – along with a stacked Los Angeles Rams roster – is probably why oddsmakers don’t have them as the Super Bowl favorite this year.

They lost their Super Bowl MVP and several defenders to free agency, and their offensive coordinator left to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. A healthy amount of doubt is perfectly fair. But are critics overlooking the areas where the Seahawks might take a step forward?

Here’s what has a chance to improve for Seattle in 2026:

Offensive line

It’s hard to judge the performance of several position groups during training camp, but that’s especially true for the offensive line. So, this possibility is borrowing instead from something the Seahawks haven’t had much of: continuity.

All five of last year’s starters (Charles Cross, Grey Zabel, Jalen Sundell, Anthony Bradford and Abraham Lucas) are returning. It’s an uncommon situation already in the NFL, but that’s especially true for Seattle, a team that’s had a rotating door at center (including one player, Connor Williams, who retired midseason) and brief stints from free agents elsewhere on the line.

Pro Football Focus slotted the group 15th overall in its preseason O-line rankings – a far cry from previous seasons that saw them routinely hovering in the bottom third of the league.

Wide receiver depth

Not many analysts are doubting whether Jaxon Smith-Njigba is an elite wide receiver, but you’ll find many wondering whether the Seahawks’ offense can still get by with that massive 36% target share for their top pass catcher (the most for any receiver since 2012). The difference this year? They’ve got two more options.

The Seahawks added speedster Rashid Shaheed at the deadline, and while they struggled to integrate him fully into the offense, a full offseason of work with his new team and quarterback can make a difference there.

“It wasn’t as hard for him (to adapt to the language of the offense) because he ran the offense the year before with Klint (Kubiak),” wide receiver Cody White said of his teammate. “But just having him for a full year, seeing the capabilities he (has), and then it allows the offensive coordinator to be able to put him in certain spots where he knows he can be successful. So, he’s been great this whole offseason.”

Second-year wideout Tory Horton also has a chance to make an impact. He netted an efficient five touchdowns on just 13 receptions last year, but a shin injury limited him to just eight games.

“If he didn’t get hurt last year, who knows what kind of year he would’ve had as a rookie,” Seahawks Radio Network analyst Bryan Walters told Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “Who knows if Rashid Shaheed would even be here though, that’s the other thing, because (Horton) got hurt and they brought in Shaheed the next week. Was that a coincidence? I don’t know.

“But I mean (right now) they have four receivers that Sam Darnold will have no hesitancy throwing to. We haven’t seen that depth in the wide receiver room in a while.”

2nd-year Seahawks

Speaking of Horton, a number of second-year Seahawks who didn’t get a chance to make the biggest splash in 2025 because of injury are healthy and have a chance to make a greater impact this season.

Defensive lineman Rylie Mills appeared in just four regular-season games for Seattle last year – he recorded his first career sack in the Super Bowl – and brings depth to a position group that’s already one of the best in football.

Tight end Elijah Arroyo, a second-round draft pick last year, has a chance to build on a quiet rookie campaign and is drawing buzz at camp. As a reminder, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler last summer called Arroyo one of the steals of the draft and a top-25 talent in his class who dropped because of durability concerns. If he can stay healthy, there’s potential to evolve as a downfield threat.

“I definitely feel like I left some food on the table as far as an individual standpoint,” Arroyo recently told Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob.

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