Josh Kendall’s 2026 NFL rankings just hit The Athletic, and guess what? Our Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champs, are sitting at number five. That’s right, the team that just brought the Lombardi back to the Emerald City is ranked behind some serious contenders, with Kendall himself saying a repeat “is not going to be easy.”
NFC West: Who’s Up, Who’s Down (and Who’s a “Well Duh”)
The Los Angeles Rams snatched the top spot at number one, and honestly, that’s a bit of a “well duh” observation, right? They were already a killer team, just one game away from another Super Bowl run. But then they went and traded for EDGE rusher Myles Garrett, sealing their standing at the top. Plus, there’s all this summer chatter about Aaron Donald possibly un-retiring, which would be massive. Kendall even pointed out they added two “pricey” cornerbacks, so yeah, they’re loaded. Down south, the San Francisco 49ers came in at number seven, exactly where you’d expect them to be, always “in the mix.” As for the Cardinals, well, they’re full-bore into training camp, and their new offense is getting all the press, with hopes for an improved offensive line.
The Hawks Have Some Explaining to Do (Sort Of)
So, what gives with our Hawks at number five? Kendall admits we have a “great defense” and “one of the league’s best receivers,” which, no kidding! But he also highlighted the “mic drop” moment of our ownership group selling the team. That’s big news, with a group led by Vinod Khosla’s family taking the reins of our champions. Kendall also noted the offseason losses, which he says makes a repeat “not going to be easy.” Remember that heartbreaker against the Cardinals last year? We were up by two touchdowns late in the fourth, they tied it up, and then Seattle just walked down the field in 28 seconds to win. That’s the kind of grit we expect, but it also shows how tight things can get. With Sam Darnold at QB and weapons like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, we know this team can fly.
Training camps are open across the NFL, and the Hall of Fame Game kicks off next week, so it’s officially go time. Kendall’s rankings are just a snapshot of “how they stack up heading into the 2026 season.” The question isn’t whether our Hawks are good, it’s whether they’re good enough to prove Kendall wrong and silence the doubters, starting with that number five spot. We’re looking forward to seeing our boys get to work.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Revenge of the Birds.
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