The Seahawks just won a Super Bowl — and they might already be bracing for change.
With uncertainty looming in the secondary and only four draft picks in hand, Seattle could be forced into a bold decision at No. 32 overall.
And one name is suddenly gaining traction: Avieon Terrell.
Draft Pressure Is Real in Seattle
Head coach Mike Macdonald and the Seahawks enter the 2026 NFL Draft with just four selections. That limited capital naturally sparks one obvious strategy — trade back, accumulate picks, reload depth.
In a recent company-wide mock draft, The Athletic’s David DeChant attempted exactly that.
No takers.
So instead of maneuvering, Seattle stood firm at No. 32 — and grabbed what was widely viewed as the best player remaining on the board: Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell.
Not a luxury pick.
A necessity.
Why Cornerback Suddenly Matters
On paper, Seattle’s defense looks strong. But the future of the secondary is far from settled.
Riq Woolen and Josh Jobe are pending free agents. Safety Coby Bryant’s contract is also expiring. That’s significant turnover risk for a team built on defensive versatility under Macdonald.
While the Seahawks could re-sign one of those corners to pair with Devon Witherspoon — who has blossomed into a cornerstone piece — depth becomes critical in a scheme that thrives on rotation and matchup flexibility.
Macdonald doesn’t just want starters.
He wants options.
And Terrell would give him exactly that.
The Terrell Profile
Avieon Terrell may not have the imposing size of his older brother, Falcons standout A.J. Terrell, but what he lacks in stature he compensates for in instincts and explosiveness.
Last season at Clemson, Terrell posted:
- 48 total tackles
- 4.5 tackles for loss
- 9 pass breakups
- 3 sacks
- 5 forced fumbles
Over 39 college games, he compiled 25 pass defenses, eight forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
He’s disruptive. Aggressive. And athletic.
“It’s hard to find athletic cornerbacks with instincts and playmaking ability like Terrell’s beyond the early rounds,” DeChant noted.
That scarcity matters at pick No. 32.
The Witherspoon Blueprint
Seattle has already shown it’s willing to overlook traditional size thresholds.
General manager John Schneider drafted an undersized Devon Witherspoon early in 2023 — and that gamble paid off in a big way.
If Terrell lands in Seattle, it wouldn’t be a deviation from philosophy.
It would be a continuation of it.
Pairing Terrell with Witherspoon, while potentially sliding Nick Emmanwori into slot duties, could give Macdonald one of the NFL’s most flexible young secondaries.
And for a coach who just won a Super Bowl as a defensive mastermind, flexibility is currency.
Reloading a Champion
The Seahawks aren’t drafting from desperation.
They’re drafting from foresight.
Championship windows close quickly when depth erodes. Seattle’s front office knows that defending a title is harder than winning one.
With limited picks and looming free-agent questions, the Seahawks may not have the luxury of waiting for cornerback help in later rounds.
At No. 32, Terrell could represent the perfect blend of value and insurance.
Seattle doesn’t need a headline-grabbing move.
It needs sustainable dominance.
And if the board falls this way, Mike Macdonald may quietly reload his secondary before anyone realizes it’s happening.
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