Draft Blueprint w/ Danny Kelly (The Ringer)
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In this episode of Seahawks Man 2 Man, hosts Michael Sean Dugar and Christopher Kidd welcome back Danny Kelly of The Ringer for a deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft, focusing on the Seattle Seahawks' needs and potential picks. With the Seahawks coming off a Super Bowl victory and facing roster turnover—particularly the loss of running back Kenneth Walker—the conversation centers on how Seattle might address key positions like running back, cornerback, edge rusher, and safety. Danny emphasizes the importance of 'explosiveness' and 'aggressive playmaking' in draft evaluation, using comps like DK Metcalf and Kyron Williams to illustrate ideal traits. He highlights potential targets such as Jadarian Price, Mike Washington, and Jonah Coleman at running back, Dejan Stribling and Ted Hurst at wide receiver, and Avion Terrell, Chris Johnson, and D'Angelo Pons at cornerback. On defense, he praises power rushers like Gabe Aakis and Derek Moore, advocating for physical, bull-rushing edge defenders over pure speed specialists. The discussion also touches on the challenges of evaluating safeties and linebackers, with Danny noting the difficulty of projecting players based on body type alone. He concludes by promoting his upcoming Ringer NFL Draft Show coverage in Los Angeles and reflecting on the emotional toll of draft grading.
The Seahawks should prioritize addressing the running back position after Kenneth Walker's departure, with a focus on explosive, playmaking talent like Mike Washington and Jadarian Price.
Danny Kelly favors power-based edge rushers like Gabe Aakis and Derek Moore over speed-focused pass rushers, valuing physicality and bull-rushing ability.
Cornerback depth is strong in this draft, making it a prime target for Seattle at pick 32, with Avion Terrell and Chris Johnson standing out as top fits.
Safeties remain a tricky position to evaluate, but players like Emmanuel McNeil Warren and A.J. Halsey offer unique skill sets that could fit Seattle’s defensive identity.
The Seahawks’ draft strategy should balance immediate impact with long-term fit, avoiding 'cute' picks and focusing on players with high football IQ and competitive fire.
Welcome & Draft Context
Hosts Michael Sean Dugar and Christopher Kidd introduce the episode, promote their social media channels, and set the stage for a deep dive into the 2026 NFL Draft with guest Danny Kelly. They highlight the importance of the draft cycle and the value of Danny’s annual Ringer draft guide.
Running Back Needs & Key Targets
“That's like Dick ridiculous numbers at that weight. Think of when DK ran against all those other sprinters. You could definitely tell when the camera panned all the runners before they had the starting line, oh, which one's the football player? This buff as hell guy in the spandex right here that just doesn't look like everyone else.”
Wide Receiver & Offensive Depth
The conversation shifts to the wide receiver position, with Danny highlighting Dejan Stribling and Ted Hurst as potential fits for the Seahawks. He praises Stribling’s blocking and vertical threat, while noting Hurst’s size, suddenness, and catch radius as key assets.
Cornerback & Defensive Strategy
“He just plays balls to the wall at all times. He's constantly, he just tenacious style to him. I think he will struggle just a little bit with bigger, more physical receivers because he doesn't have that size. But other than that, I think he's a really, really good player.”
Edge Rusher & Power vs. Speed Debate
“He's just an absolute... He's merciless as a hitter. He clobbers the crap out of people. And anytime he gets close to a quarterback, I'm like... trying to yell at them to like run I'm getting get out of there man you gotta go like you better get out of there he's gonna kill you uh because he hits people so hard he he's just made out of smite.”
“He's just an absolute... He's merciless as a hitter. He clobbers the crap out of people. And anytime he gets close to a quarterback, I'm like... trying to yell at them to like run I'm getting get out of there man you gotta go like you better get out of there he's gonna kill you uh because he hits people so hard he he's just made out of smite.”
“That's like Dick ridiculous numbers at that weight. Think of when DK ran against all those other sprinters. You could definitely tell when the camera panned all the runners before they had the starting line, oh, which one's the football player? This buff as hell guy in the spandex right here that just doesn't look like everyone else.”
“He just plays balls to the wall at all times. He's constantly, he just tenacious style to him. I think he will struggle just a little bit with bigger, more physical receivers because he doesn't have that size. But other than that, I think he's a really, really good player.”
Hosts
Guest
Seattle Seahawks
organization
Danny Kelly
person
Kenneth Walker
person
The Ringer
organization
DK Metcalf
person
Jadarian Price
person
Mike Washington
person
Jonah Coleman
person
Avion Terrell
person
Dejan Stribling
person
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