The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 season with a target on their backs.
After winning Super Bowl 60, Seattle is no longer the up-and-coming contender. The Seahawks are now the defending champions, and every opponent on their schedule will be looking to take them down. While championship rosters are built on star power, repeating success often comes down to whether veteran players can sustain or even elevate their performance from one season to the next.
That raises one of the biggest questions facing
the Seahawks this season: Which veterans can maintain or improve their production in 2026, and which players could be at risk of regression?
The spotlight naturally begins with quarterback Sam Darnold. After leading Seattle to a championship in his first season with the organization, Darnold enters Year 2 with increased familiarity in the offense and a full offseason working with offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. Continuity at quarterback is one of the biggest advantages a team can have, and Seattle is betting Darnold can take another step forward rather than simply repeat last year’s performance.
At wide receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba faces a different challenge. The Seahawks rewarded their star receiver with a massive extension after he established himself as one of the league’s elite playmakers. The question is no longer whether Smith-Njigba can produce. The question is whether he can continue performing at an All-Pro level while becoming the focal point of opposing defensive game plans every week.
On defense, Derick Hall may be one of Seattle’s most important players in 2026. Entering Year 4 and coming off a lucrative contract extension, Hall appears poised to become the face of the Seahawks pass rush. His development has been steady each season, and if that trajectory continues, a double-digit sack campaign could be within reach. A 10-to-12 sack season would not only validate Seattle’s investment but could also elevate Hall into the conversation among the NFL’s top edge rushers.
Devon Witherspoon remains another player with a legitimate opportunity to raise his game. Already one of the NFL’s most versatile defensive backs, Witherspoon possesses the talent to become the league’s best cornerback. The next step is creating more game-changing plays through interceptions, forced fumbles, and turnovers that swing momentum.
Meanwhile, Leonard Williams continues to be one of the NFL’s most disruptive defensive linemen. Despite consistently impacting games, Williams often flies under the national radar. If he can maintain his dominant level of play, Seattle’s defense should remain among the NFL’s best.
Of course, not every veteran is guaranteed to repeat past success. Increased expectations, age, injuries, and changing roles can all lead to regression. Identifying which players can continue performing at a championship level may ultimately determine whether Seattle can make another deep postseason run.
The Seahawks proved they could climb to the top of the mountain in 2025. The challenge now is staying there.
Which Seahawks are most likely to repeat (or improve) their 2025 production?
Which Seahawks are most likely to regress from their 2025 production?
Want to hear the full discussion? Check out the latest episode of Hawks Eye Live, where we break down Sam Darnold’s Year 2 outlook, whether Jaxon Smith-Njigba can remain among the NFL’s elite receivers, Derick Hall’s potential for a 10-12 sack season, Devon Witherspoon’s quest to become the league’s top cornerback, Leonard Williams’ continued dominance, the veterans most likely to regress, and the five Seahawks players facing the most pressure entering the 2026 season.
Stay Loud. Be Proud. Go Hawks!
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