The Seattle Seahawk were a little bit busier in Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft than expected. They started the week with just a sixth-round pick, gained a sixth-round pick as part of a third-round pick swap that also netted them cornerback Julian Neal. They tacked on a fifth-rounder by sacrificing a 2027 fourth-rounder, landing All-American Iowa guard Beau Stephens. With a couple of sixths to play with, the Seahawks used No. 188 to trade down 11 spots and gain a seventh-rounder from the New York Jets.
Following the trade, the Seahawks selected…
Emmanuel Henderson Jr, WR, Kansas
Henderson was a former Alabama player who transferred to Kansas, catching 45 passes for 766 yards and 5 touchdowns in addition to 18 kick returns for 455 yards and a touchdown on special teams. He was first-team All-Big XII as a receiver and returner and is otherwise a player with one year of productivity.
The write-up from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler:
A one-year starter at Kansas, Henderson lined up mostly outside (67.2 percent of snaps) in offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski’s scheme. Once a highly recruited running back, he moved to wide receiver but struggled to see offensive reps over three seasons at Alabama. He transferred to the Jayhawks in 2025 and ranked No. 5 in the Big 12 with 1,237 all-purpose yards, earning All-Big 12 honors as both a receiver and return man.
Henderson has the type of downfield speed that threatens defenses before the game even starts. He tracks the deep ball well — he ran go routes at a higher clip (36.8 percent) than anyone else in college football last season. As his meager production would indicate, he lacks route-running refinement, and physicality mid-route can disrupt his cadence. His smaller hands and penchant for body catches lead to drops, but he has impressive body control to adjust and secure errant throws.
Henderson projects to compete for a roster spot either as a bottom-end of the depth chart receiver or a potential option as a kick returner.
Seattle Seahawks 2026 NFL Draft picks
Round 1, Pick 32: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Round 2, Pick 64: Bud Clark, S, TCU
Round 3, Pick 99: Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
Round 5, Pick 148: Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
Remaining Day 3 Seahawks draft picks
Round 6: No. 216 (from Pittsburgh Steelers)
Round 7: No. 242 (from New York Jets)
