Super Bowl Champs Are Hunting in the Secondary: Here's Why A.J. Haulcy Matters
One month until the Seahawks are back on the clock at the 2026 NFL Draft, and Mike Macdonald's crew just hosted LSU safety A.J. Haulcy for an official visit. This is a big deal because the early pattern is crystal clear: Seattle is locked in on upgrading the secondary, and Haulcy fits the mold perfectly.
Who Is A.J. Haulcy and Why Should We Care?
This guy is the real deal. Listed at 6'0 and 215 pounds, Haulcy didn't take the typical five-star recruit path to stardom. Instead, he bounced around to three schools and absolutely crushed it at every stop. At LSU, he earned first-team All-American honors and first-team All-SEC recognition. Before that, he was first-team All-Big 12 at Houston, and he started his college career as a second-team All-Mountain West safety as a freshman at New Mexico.
Over four seasons, he played 12 games apiece and racked up 10 interceptions and 19 passes defensed. He also logged 4.5 tackles for loss. That's not just solid, that's consistent production across multiple championship-level programs.
What Does the Film Say?
Lance Zierlein's scouting report describes Haulcy as a throwback safety with a compact, densely muscled frame and legitimate pro instincts. He's a rare blend of ballhawk and enforcer who can slide into passing lanes for takeaways or run through receivers to disrupt plays. His pattern recognition and instincts are top notch, and he reacts decisively to what he sees.
The knock? He ran a 4.52-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 1.62 split, and that lack of sustained top-end speed could create issues in man coverage. He's more effective playing forward than in deep zone coverage, and his open-field tackling needs work even though he's rock-steady as a finisher. Still, his frame and game are already pro-ready. Zierlein projects him as a good NFL starter in a zone-heavy scheme.
Where Does He Fit for Seattle?
Haulcy is projecting as a second or third-round pick right now. The Seahawks have selections at No. 64 and 96, which puts him squarely in their range. With depth at safety potentially needing reinforcement beyond just signing Rodney Thomas II, this visit makes total sense.
The Seahawks have also hosted cornerbacks Andre Fuller from Toledo, Chris Johnson from San Diego State, Daylen Everette from Georgia, and Jalon Kilgore from South Carolina. They even brought in Kennesaw State running back Coleman Bennett. One month out, the message is loud and clear: secondary depth is the priority. Let's see what John Schneider decides when the real work begins in Pittsburgh.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.