The Seahawks Traded Away a 2027 Fourth Rounder and Still Have 11 Picks. That's the Whole Story.

Two weeks out from the NFL Draft, and John Schneider has already made a move that tells you everything about how Seattle is thinking long term. The Seahawks gave up their 2027 fourth round pick during draft weekend to move back into this year's fifth round and grab Beau Stephens. Yeah, they traded away future capital. But here's the thing: they still have 11 picks waiting for them next April, and that's plenty to work with.

What Seattle's Draft Cupboard Actually Looks Like

The Seahawks' 2027 haul includes a first rounder, a second, a third, and a sixth and seventh round pick. But the real depth comes from comp picks. Seattle is projected to land four compensatory selections, all lined up in the fifth round. Those comp picks are conditional based on how free agency shakes out this season, so the exact order isn't locked in yet. There's also a conditional pick from the Michael Jerrell trade stashed in the seventh round.

That's 11 total picks heading into next April. Not bad for a team that just gave one away.

Why John Schneider Didn't Have to Panic

The draft was advertised as deeper this year, so having as many picks as possible was clearly the goal for Schneider and Mike Macdonald's staff. The good news? Even after dealing away that fourth rounder to land Stephens, Seattle's treasure chest is still packed. There's no need to stress about the Dante Fowler Jr. acquisition either, since we're past the compensatory pick formula window. Any signing the team makes now won't cancel out a comp pick.

With 11 picks in hand, Schneider might not even need to trade for more draft capital next offseason. That's the kind of position you want to be in heading into April.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.