Iowa guard Beau Stephens leads Seattle Seahawks selections on day three of NFL Draft

RENTON, Wash. - Iowa guard Beau Stephens was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the NFL Draft to lead their collection of day three selections.

Seattle entered the final day of the draft with just two sixth-round picks scheduled, one of which was acquired on Friday night by trading down late in the third round. The Seahawks ultimately couldn't let two full rounds of the draft slide by on Saturday without finding a way to get involved. Seattle dealt a 2027 fourth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns in order to add a fifth-round pick, No. 145 overall, to add a sixth selection to their total collection for the weekend.

"It was too big of a gap and too much talent there," general manager John Schneider said. "

The move allowed the team to grab Stephens, who started 24 games at left guard for the Hawkeyes over the last two seasons, and 10 games at right guard in 2022. Stephens was a first-team All-Big-Ten selection last year as the Hawkeys won the Joe Moore Award as the best offensive line in college football.

"You’re going to get a mauler in the run game; technical in the pass game," Stephens said in a conference call with reporters. "Love to go into hit, I’m not one to shy away from contact, for sure. More overall, just a professional-type person, a person that takes things seriously and a guy that’s from Iowa, who was always considered an underdog, always has that chip on his shoulder. The hay is never in the barn is what Coach (Kirk) Ferentz says. That’s just the kind of mentality Iowa culture has, and what I’ve embodied."

Stephens was teammates at Iowa with Seattle lineman Mason Richman, who was a seventh-round pick of the Seahawks last year.

"Having another guy there as well from Iowa to kind of show me the ropes right away. It’s going to be awesome and I couldn’t ask for anything more honestly," Stephens said.

"We’re going to be friends for life so it’s just awesome to have a guy who’s going to be there at my wedding this summer, to have him around. He was kind of a big brother for me in college."

Dane Brugler of TheAthletic.com provided the following scouting report on Stephens from his annual draft guide.

A three-year starter at Iowa, Stephens lined up at left guard in offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s zone-blocking scheme. After struggling and losing his starting job as an underclassman, he fought through that adversity, got healthy and developed into an All-Big Ten player as a senior. He didn’t allow a sack over the past three seasons and helped the Hawkeyes earn the 2025 Joe Moore Award as the nation’s top offensive line. 

Stephens embraces the physicality of the position and delivers pop at contact in all phases. In the run game, he can generate movement blocking down and has a feel for how lanes develop. His stubborn hands help him sustain, but his edges leak and marginal body control makes it tough for him to get out of compromised positions. Overall, Stephens might struggle compensating for his lack of ideal length and athleticism, but blocking awareness and the power in his hands give him a fighting chance. Given his coachability and mental maturation, he can earn a backup role as a rookie and eventually push for on-field reps.

Stephens said that he doesn't have a preference as to which guard position he plays, but he does have plays he prefers between the two different spots.

"I think it’s just preference in blocks," Stephens said. "If I’m on the left side, I have a preference for backside blocks. If I’m on the right side, I have a preference for frontside blocks. Overall, it’s not too much of a difference, because I’ve been able to play both, and repped at both. Wherever they put me, it’s just going to take a little bit of time just to be set, and then it’s going to be full speed ahead after that."

With Grey Zabel firmly entrenched at left guard, it would seem like Stephens will join the competition on the right side. Anthony Bradford remains as the incumbent starter for Seattle, with Christian Haynes and Bryce Cabeldue among the other options at the position.

Seattle had eight draft picks for 2027 in their collection, and are projected to receive 3-4 more compensatory selections due to free agents leaving this offseason. That excess in draft capital allowed the Seahawks to move one of their picks next year for an extra one this year.

The Seahawks made another trade when they were on the clock at No. 188 overall, dealing that selection to the New York Jets and adding a seventh-round pick in the process. Seattle moved down 11 spots to No. 199 overall in the sixth round, and added No. 242 overall in the seventh round.

Seahawks take Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr.

With the first of their two sixth-round selections on Saturday, the Seahawks took Kansas wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. with the 199th overall pick.

Henderson was a one-year starter at Kansas after transferring from Alabama. He had 45 catches for 766 yards and five touchdowns last season, along with a 94-yard kick return touchdown.

Additionally, Henderson has experience on kickoff coverage as a gunner, recording 14 career special teams tackles. That in particular feels like an area he could contribute with the Seahawks as recevier Dareke Young – a special teams stalwart for Seattle the last couple seasons – signed with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.

"Special teams is a big part of my game [along] with my wide receiver ability. It’s a great combo for them to have," Henderson said in a conference call with reporters.

With Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Rashid Shaheed, Tory Horton (if healthy) and Jake Bobo all returning, there isn't much need for pass-catching help currently on the roster. Henderson's special teams prowess will be important for his game.

Dane Brugler of TheAthletic.com provided the following scouting report on Henderson from his annual draft guide.

A one-year starter at Kansas, Henderson lined up mostly outside (67.2 percent of snaps) in offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski’s scheme. Once a highly recruited running back, he moved to wide receiver but struggled to see offensive reps over three seasons at Alabama. He transferred to the Jayhawks in 2025 and ranked No. 5 in the Big 12 with 1,237 all-purpose yards, earning All-Big 12 honors as both a receiver and return man. 

Henderson has the type of downfield speed that threatens defenses before the game even starts. He tracks the deep ball well — he ran go routes at a higher clip (36.8 percent) than anyone else in college football last season. As his meager production would indicate, he lacks route-running refinement, and physicality mid-route can disrupt his cadence. His smaller hands and penchant for body catches lead to drops, but he has impressive body control to adjust and secure errant throws. Overall, Henderson falls into a very specific bucket as a receiver, but his speed can be weaponized in the right role, and his special teams impact will be an important aspect of his NFL projection.

The Seahawks made another trade when they went on the clock with the No. 216 overall pick.

Seattle now has three seventh-round selections still to use after acquiring picks No. 236 and No. 255 from the Green Bay Packers. They also have pick No. 242 as well.

With the Seahawks having a very deep roster, the trio of seventh-round picks feels like the team is getting a jump start on undrafted free agency by making draft picks instead. Instead of competing with teams after the draft is complete to sign players when they can choose which team they want to sign with, Seattle can grab some key players to fill out their depth before the draft ends.

Seahawks add three picks in seventh round

After trading back to add a trio of draft picks in the final round of the draft, the Seahawks added Toledo cornerback Andre Fuller, Minnesota defensive tackle Deven Eastern, and Arizona cornerback Michael Dansby to round out their draft class.

Fuller spent six years in college – two at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and four at Toledo. He appeared in 58 career games with 28 starts, 11 of which came last year for the Rockets. Fuller took a redshirt season in 2024 due to a hernia surgery.

Fuller played both safety and corner during his collegiate career and was named a first-team All-MAC selection last season. Fuller had 49 tackles with an interception and 12 passes defended.

When I first got to Toledo, I played nickel, then I moved to corner and then I moved to safety, and then back to corner. So, I played every position in our secondary," Fuller said.

Eastern started 39 games over the last three seasons at Minnesota, racking up 93 tackles with 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four passes defended.

Eastern is an interior defensive line player, having lined up in multiple spots across the defensive front.

I see myself as a versatile defensive tackle," Eastern said. "I can play shade, I can play 2I, I can play 3, I can play big [end]. Any of those spots, I feel comfortable with playing and I’m willing to play.

"I’d say the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a defensive tackle is violent, and that’s what I am. I like to bring the energy, I like to be violent. I like to be in the backfield and just ultimately be a disruptive player."

Dane Brugler of TheAthletic.com provided the following scouting reports on Fuller and Eastern in his annual draft guide. He did not have an entry for Dansby.

Fuller:

Just a one-year starter in the FBS, Fuller put himself in draftable territory with his 2025 performance (42.3 percent completion rate when targeted). He has a natural feel as a man-cover defender to get physical at the line, quickly find his balance (regardless of his footwork) and stay with route runners through the stem. His recovery speed is lacking, but when in phase, he can find the ball downfield and turn potential deep catches into incompletions. His eye level from off coverage and open-field tackling are solid but need additional work. Overall, Fuller has only adequate speed and plays with grabby tendencies, but he is a good-sized athlete who has smooth transitions and confidence in coverage to make plays on the football.

Eastern:

A three-year starter at Minnesota, Eastern played primarily as a 2i-technique in defensive coordinator Danny Collins’ scheme. A Minnesota native that head coach P.J. Fleck was able to keep in state, he became a starter as a sophomore, and his snap count — and impact — gradually increased each season. 

With his size and sturdy lower half, Eastern sports an NFL-ready body and uses his extension to lock out and hold his ground in the run game. However, his taller stature can work against him when defending both the run and the pass. He tends to rely too heavily on his body and raw strength to maneuver his way to the football and needs to continue developing his instincts. Overall, Eastern lacks efficiency and balance in his block reactions, but his frame and presence will be good starting points for a patient coaching staff. He can provide depth as the shade in even fronts or head-up in odd schemes.

Dansby didn't have any testing numbers from the NFL Combine or Pro Day workouts at Arizona, but he said he's had 40-yard dash times in the 4.2s during workouts with a trainer. While those numbers should be considered extremely unofficial, if he's anywhere close to that he has plenty of speed.

"They were interested in me, but I didn’t know if it was draftable interest," Dansby said.

"Honestly, I was expecting to go undrafted, but the Seahawks obviously came and got me late round, which was a blessing. But the whole day, I was just sitting on the couch with my fam, just praying and hoping that somebody would take a shot on me. The Seahawks took the shot, which was a great shot."

Dansby gave the Seahawks four defensive backs in total in their draft class.

"You can never have too many corners," head coach Mike Macdonald said. "I don't think I've been a part of a team that has this many drafted corners on their team going into camp, which is really exciting. It's going to be a fun competition, man. It's going to be really cool to get these guys in here, get moving, see where it goes. I know Jay (Harbaugh) is really excited, too."

2026 Seahawks Draft Class:

Rd. 1 – Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
Rd. 2 – Bud Clark, S, TCU
Rd. 3 – Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
Rd. 5 – Beau Stephens, G, Iowa
Rd. 6 – Emmanuel Henderson, WR, Kansas
Rd. 7 – Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo
Rd. 7 – Deven Eastern, DT, Minnesota
Rd. 7 – Michael Dansby, CB, Arizona

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