Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald sure seems to like to collect versatile defensive backs like Nick Emmanwori, Julian Neal, Bud Clark, amd Andre Fuller. If he could, Macdonald would start 11 defensive backs on defense. The defense lives in nickel and dime formation with multiple cornerbacks and safeties on the field playing a variety of roles. Adding to Macdonald’s collection, with their last pick in the 2026 NFL draft, the Seahawks selected Arizona cornerback Michael Dansby. With the depth
at cornerback, how can Dansby make his way onto the team? How does he fit with the Seahawks? With this final entry in the series, let’s dive in.
At 5’11” and 185 lbs, Dansby is the prototypical size for a cornerback in the NFL, and is around the same size as many cornerbacks on the Seahawks roster, including Devon Witherspoon, Josh Jobe, and Nehemiah Pritchett to name a few. Dansby did not participate in the Combine nor a Pro Day, so there are no official testing to go off of to see any comparisons to NFL players. From his style of play, some comparisons to J.C. Jackson could be made. Both are willing tacklers, seem to have a nose for the football, and can get into the backfield. For an on the team comparison, he is similar to Witherspoon. Per Curtis Crabtree, with a trainer, Dansby ran a 4.25 40 yard dash.
Macdonald preferred style of cornerback is one who is explosive, can assist in stopping the run, and can be effective all over the backfield. Dansby is that style of defender. Seen more as a slot corner, he has been a very consistent tackler with a nose for the football. In his four years playing in college, Dansby averaged 22 total tackles a season, six passes defended, two interceptions, and had three tackles for loss throughout his career. His best season came in 2024 when he played for San Jose State, where he had 37 tackles, six passes defended, half a tackle for loss and two interceptions. In 2023, Dansby took one interception for a 98 yard touchdown. With only two members of the 2025 Seahawks secondary getting more than one interception, and neither one of them being on the team, Dansby could help provide a spark to the secondary.
Dansby has stated that he is a man-coverage cornerback, but he also thrives in a zone style defense. He “is able to play that upfield inside leverage before quickly breaking and challenging the reception at the catch point,” per Emory Hunt’s review. He is also a solid blitzer, being “able to really spring toward the backfield from a dead standstill. Solid form tackler as well, which also helps out on the perimeter,” which sounds a lot like Witherspoon. Pairing Dansby and Witherspoon together on blitz schemes could be something Macdonald could look into.
Dansby has already started to make a name for himself in rookie training camp and OTAs. He has had a few picks, and several reporters have noted that he has been one of the early stars of the offseason. There is still work to be done, though. While Dansby is not afraid to get his hands dirty and tackle, he will need to improve his tackling. He has had several tackles broken, and that is not something Macdonald will tolerate from his defensive players.
Dansby states that he is a gunner on special teams. Being able to contribute on special teams is going to big for him. There are eight other cornerbacks vying for the average of five active roster spots and two practice squad spots. Working with special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh, showing off that 4.2 second speed running down the field on kickoffs, and stopping the returner could be the difference in making the team or being cut.
As a seventh round pick, Dansby could be someone the Seahawks initially waive on the initial cut down and bring back onto the practice squad. Many fans get scared of the prospect of preseason favorites getting claimed off waivers, but only approximately 30 out of the 1,180 or so cut players get claimed off waivers. That is about two percent of the cut players being claimed. If Dansby were to be cut, or any other players were to be cut, it is highly likely that the Seahawks could bring them back onto the practice squad.
With Dansby among the offseason standouts, the process of doing what he needs to do to make the team has begun. If he continues to excel in training camp and in the preseason both in coverage on defense and on special teams, I can see him making the initial 53 man roster along with Witherspoon and Jobe. He has great faith in himself that he can get it done and become a contributor to the defense he watched most out of all the defenses in the NFL.
