“I’m the most physical corner in this draft class.”
That is what Seattle Seahawks cornerback Julian Neal told reporters in the conference call with the media after his selection as the 99th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Physical cornerbacks seem to be a staple here in Seattle. Fans can think back to players like Brandon Browner, Byron Maxwell, Marcus Trufant, Shaquill Griffin, and more recently with Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe. But one name I didn’t mention seems to be one people who have watched
Neal in practice and watched his tape seem to tie him to, Richard Sherman:
Pre-draft when reviewing players, there were some comparisons to other big name cornerbacks like Jalen Ramsey, especially with his combine numbers. While all these comps are great and should get fans excited, how much of a fit is Julian Neal with the Mike Macdonald Seahawks? In Part 3 of my series deep diving into the Seahawks draft picks, I will be looking at the third-round pick, see how he fits the type of player Mike likes to have on the team and what his role could be in 2027 and beyond!
Per the above analysis by Dane Brugler, he said that Neal has the physicality and ball awareness to go up against some of the bigger wide receivers in the NFL. Physicality and ball awareness seem to be two traits that Mike is emphasizing with his secondary players. He also looks for players that are high level athletes and have versatility. With a Relative Athletic Score of 9.28, Neal certainly has the athleticism. At 6’2” and 203lbs with nearly 33” arms and 9.5” hands, he is built more like a safety than your typical corner. With testing results of 40” vertical jump and 11’2” broad jump, he is also an explosive athlete. With Neal having played wide receiver in high school as well as safety and cornerback in college, he has the multi-positional versatility that Mike seems to look for in his defensive backs. Over his three years as a starter in college, he averaged 33 total tackles per year, 5 passes defended per year, two interceptions in both 2024 and 2025, and even a sack in 2024. Neal claiming he is the most physical cornerback in the draft is not just talk. It seems to also be backed up by the stats.
As for personality, Neal seems to be a fit as well. He is one of only a few players to participate in all the testing at the NFL combine, which shows a dedication to showing teams how serious he is. As noted in Dane Brugler’s The Beast, Neal said, “I’ll die on the field, if I need to,” which is a part of that MOB (Mission over BS) mentality that the Seahawks defense prides itself in. Someone who is willing to give it their all out on the field, not let up, and attack each play is something fellow secondary members such as Devon Witherspoon, Julian Love, Josh Jobe, Ty Okada, and fellow rookie Bud Clark are noted to have as well. Neal also noted while on the Wyman & Bob show that he admires how the Seahawks mentality seems to be humble in how they go about their business, how they are open to learning and want to learn the game, and when they are on the field they are crazy about the game:
Now what will Neal’s position be as a rookie? Well, he will be competing for that CB3 position that was held by Riq Woolen. Players such as Nehemiah Pritchett, Shemar Jean-Charles, Noah Igbinoghene, and fellow rookies Andre Fuller and Michael Dansby will also put their hat in the ring to get that position. I do believe that Julian Neal will make his case and could very well be the one who gets the job. As Emory Hunt wrote about Neal, he is “Good with his hands in all aspects of his play. Uses them well at the line of scrimmage in press and when disengaging from a block to get in on the run game to his side,” which are qualities that Mike looks for in his corners. With the Seahawks utilizing Nickel (5 DB) packages 73.4% of the time, having a corner who is willing to assist in run support, be physical, is good with his hands to shed blocks, and attack the ball is key. Certainly sounds like Julian Neal, and it sounds like his most frequently mentioned comp, Richard Sherman, whom he got to meet in rookie minicamp and get advice from.
The future is bright for this young man. I believe there is a path forward where in 2026 he could be the Seahawks CB3, but in the future he could very well eventually work his way up to being CB2. The way he plays, his mentality and his work ethic certainly paints the picture of him being a long term Seahawk. I cannot wait till the preseason to get our first look at Julian Neal playing on the field in a Seahawks uniform.
