The Seahawks came into Day 3 of the draft with only a pair of sixth-round picks, but with Iowa guard Beau Stephens still on the board early in the fifth round, they made a move up to get him at pick No. 148.
To acquire the pick they used on Stephens, the Seahawks sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns, a decision that likely was easier to make given that Seattle is expected to have multiple compensatory picks next year.
"It's going to be nice to stay a Hawk," Stephens said. "I've got my boy, Mason Richman, up there, and my visit up there was awesome. I loved (offensive line coach John) Benton. It was just a cool place. I knew it was going to be a right fit for me."
In Stephens, the Seahawks are adding a standout from one of the best college programs in the country for producing offensive linemen.
Iowa's starting left guard the last two years, Stephens was a first-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2025, and was part of a line that won the Joe Moore Award as the nation's top offensive line.
Stephens, who was also Iowa's starting left guard in 2024, started at right guard in 2022, and said he is equally comfortable at either spot.
"I think it's just preference in blocks, honestly," Stephens said. "Like, if I'm on the left side, I have a preference for backside blocks, and if I'm on the right side, I have a preference for frontside blocks. But overall, it's not too much of a difference, because I've been able to play both and rep at both. Wherever they put me, it'll just take a little bit of time to be set, then it'll be full speed ahead after that."
Wherever the Seahawks ask him to play, Stephens plans to bring physicality to Seattle's line.
"You're going to get a mauler in the run game, technical in the pass game," he said. "I love going to hit, I'm not one to shy away from contact, for sure. Overall, just a professional person, a person that takes things seriously. A guy that's from Iowa who's always considered an underdog, who always has that chip on the 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 asked what being a mauler means to him, and responded, "Breaking an opponent's will to play, he doesn't want to stay in his gap. Make the linebackers have to make a play. It's making it so the guy wants to put his eyes down and not really care about where the ball is at, just, 'I don't want to get killed by this person across from me.'"
Stephens, unaware of the trade until after getting the call from the Seahawks, was surprised to see a call coming from a Washington area code in the fifth-round.
"I was unaware of that until they told me on the call," he said. "I was like, 'Are you serious right now? I didn't know you guys are going to trade up for me right now.' They were like, 'Yeah, you were staring at us on the board, so we had to do something.'"
And when the Seahawks have traded up to acquire players under general manager and president of football operations John Schneider, they've had a lot of success. Schneider, of course, is better known for trading back to add more draft picks, something he did Friday to add a sixth-rounder after moving back three spots in the third round, but he has hit some home runs when trading up, a list that includes 2010 fifth-rounder Kam Chancellor, 2015 third-round pick Tyler Lockett, 2016 second-round pick Jarran Reed, 2018 fifth-round pick Michael Dickson, 2019 second-round pick DK Metcalf and last year's second-round pick, Nick Emmanwori.
"That must mean they believe in me, and that's all I can really ask for, just believe in me and give me an opportunity to show what I can do and show what kind of person I can be," Stephens said. "I'm going to be forever grateful for that.
Overview
Stephens plays with a strong grasp for angles, tempo and timing for his block fits. He's able to sustain and finish at a good rate despite having average play strength. However, his comfort level and consistency drop somewhat when working beyond inside/outside zone. He's well-postured and plays with balance in pass pro. His lack of length will become more noticeable once he hits the pros, though. Short arms, average athleticism and scheme-friendly surroundings could temper his draft slotting, but Stephens has a chance to eventually become a starter if he finds the right team fit.
The Seahawks selected Iowa guard Beau Stephens with the 148th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Check out the best photos of Stephens throughout the years.
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the team photo shoot Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) and offensive lineman Jack Dotzler (71) block against the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, September 13, 2025. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Friday, September 19, 2025 at SHI Stadium. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Indiana Hoosiers Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes running back Kamari Moulton (28) runs behind offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Camp Randal Stadium in Madison, Wisc. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday, October 18, 2025 during the Black and Gold Spirit Game. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday, October 18, 2025 during the Black and Gold Spirit Game. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday, October 18, 2025 during the Black and Gold Spirit Game. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65), offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70), and offensive Trevor Lauck (59) against the Penn State Nittany Lions Saturday, October 18, 2025 during the Black and Gold Spirit Game. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the first quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, October 25, 2025. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) and offensive Trevor Lauck (59) against the Minnesota Golden Gophers Saturday, October 25, 2025 at Kinnick Stadium. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) and offensive lineman Trevor Lauck (59) during the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, November 22, 2025. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65), offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70), and offensive lineman Trevor Lauck (59) during the second quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, November 22, 2025. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during their game against Michigan State at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, November 22, 2025. (Owen Aanestad/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, November 22, 2025. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the fourth quarter of their game at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday, November 22, 2025. (Stephen Mally/hawkeyesports.com)
Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Iowa Hawkeyes at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln NE, November 28, 2025
(© Brandon Anderson www.ba-photos.com)
Iowa Hawkeye offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the Iowa vs. Nebraska game on Friday, November 28, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Justin Elsner/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeye offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) during the Iowa vs. Nebraska game on Friday, November 28, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Justin Elsner/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Logan Jones (65) and offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers Friday, November 28, 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) against the Vanderbilt Commodores In the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl Wednesday,December 31, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
Iowa Hawkeyes offensive lineman Beau Stephens (70) and quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) against the Vanderbilt Commodores In the 2025 ReliaQuest Bowl Wednesday,December 31, 2025 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)
