Last season, Nehemiah Pritchett won over coaches and teammates with his play on special teams—not to mention one of the most spectacular defensive highlights of the Seahawks' championship-winning season—using his second year in the league to establish himself as a valuable contributor to the team, if not a household name.
Heading into his third season, however, Pritchett has an opportunity to take on a much bigger role as part of the league's top defense, and two weeks into the camp, the third-year cornerback is doing his best to take advantage of that opportunity.
While the Seahawks' top two cornerback spots are pretty much set with three-time Pro-Bowler Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe leading the way, the No. 3 cornerback spot, a significant role in this or any NFL defense, is up for grabs following the departure of Riq Woolen in free agency. And while nothing is settled just yet, Pritchett is the current leader in that competition, seeing significant playing time with the starting defense in nickel and dime packages.
"He's really competing and really excited for the opportunity he has," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "He's making the most of it. He's making a heck of a case for carving himself a role."
What exactly the role for Pritchett, or whoever emerges as the third quarter, will look like remains to be seen. For most of last season, the Seahawks frequently played in a "big nickel" look with Nick Emmanwori serving as the fifth defensive back rather than a cornerback, but Woolen and Jobe both saw plenty of playing time, both because they sometimes alternated playing time, and also because the Seahawks played a lot of dime (six defensive backs), meaning three cornerbacks and three safeties were on the field at the same time.
With multiple defensive backs who can play a variety of roles, including Witherspoon, Emmanwori, Julian Love and rookie safety Bud Clark, Macdonald and the rest of the coaching staff have a lot of options of how they want to configure their secondary in sub packages.
"There's great competition right now," Macdonald said when asked about the No. 3 cornerback spot. "It's how we want to allocate all of our people. Whoever wins the job, it's not like they're the ones getting all those snaps. It's about how we want to deploy and how many DBs do we give time? Do we want to be able to play more three linebacker sets? Do we want to play more five down sets? It's everybody right now. The front guys are battling to say, 'Hey, look, we need to be on the field more.' That trickles into the linebacker room, which affects the DB room and vice versa. That's where we're at right now. Both those two guys you mentioned (Pritchett and Noah Igbinoghene) are having really good camps, and they're definitely putting their best foot forward."
But even if it still remains to be seen how the Seahawks will deploy their defensive backs throughout the season, there is no doubting that the No. 3 cornerback will have a big role, and Pritchett know he has a great opportunity in front of him.
"I definitely want the bigger role, I'm embracing the competition," he said. "I'm just trying to take it day by day and take the steps I need to take to keep getting better each and every day, so if I'm put into that role, it'll be smooth."
Pritchett started one game as a rookie, a Seahawks win in Atlanta, when Seattle was dealing with multiple injuries in the secondary, but otherwise saw limited playing time. While he still had a hard time breaking into the rotation on defense last year, Pritchett did emerge as a key special teams contributor, a role that earned him praise from coaches and teammates, and he had some good moments in his limited time at cornerback, including a spectacular fourth-down pass breakup in a win over Arizona in which he swiped the ball out of the hands of receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. as both players went to the ground.
"The body control, awareness, I've never really seen a play like that before," Mike Macdonald said after that game. "… That was a big-time play."
Asked this week about that play, Pritchett smiled at the memory, saying, "I really didn't know until I saw the replay on the jumbotron. Falling to the ground, I had my arm on him a little bit, and I knew I had a shot at the ball, so I was just trying to get the ball out. We always teach to finish play, and poking through the ball, we work that all the time."
This year's camp hasn't necessarily featured plays quite that spectacular for Pritchett, but more importantly, he has consistently showed that he belongs with the starting defense, and that he continues to progress as a cornerback heading into his third year in Macdonald's defense.
"He makes plays," Witherspoon said. "He's recognizing the game now, I think the game's slowing down for him a little bit. He's starting to understand sets and what's going on out there on the field. He's just making plays. He's out here balling right now. We give him all the praise because we know what he can do, so we hold him to our highest standard. He's balling right now."
Pritchett can acknowledge now that he, like plenty of young players coming into the NFL, struggled a bit to get up to speed in what is a very complicated defense. As a child, Pritchett got the nickname "Mighty" from cousins who were looking for something shorter to call him rather than Nehemiah, but that first year in the league, he wasn't feeling so mighty with his new team. But now, two years later, things are slowing down for Pritchett, and the growth in his play is evident.
"I've grown a lot," he said. "As a rookie, you're coming in, you really don't have a routine, you're trying to see what vets you can get close to to just get an idea of what you need to do as far as taking care of your body. As far as the playbook, Mike is a defensive minded coach, so you know his playbook is going to be super complex, so you're trying to learn all this new terminology, so I've grown a lot being more comfortable in the defense. Everything has slowed down a lot."
Said veteran safety Julian Love, "He has grown in all phases of ball. On the field, he's a much more confident player. He's very intuitive, if you ask him any question in the meeting room, he's very dialed in. His understanding of being a professional has skyrocketed. It's been really cool, it's not common to see that happen to see that with a young guy to go from, 'all right, he's kind of figuring it out,' to like, 'Man, he's really figuring it out.' The one doing that in the DB room is Mighty."
The Seahawks opened the week with a practice on Monday, August 10 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14), quarterback Drew Lock (2) and quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14), quarterback Drew Lock (2) and quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Grey Zabel (76) and tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald with Seahawks Legend Richard Sherman at practice on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Maxen Hook (43) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (49) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Justin Jones (25) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Brady Russell (38) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) and wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) and wide receiver Rashad Rochelle (35) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (84) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back TJ Harden (30) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Velus Jones Jr. (33) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (17) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (22) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (27) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back TJ Harden (30) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety AJ Finley (30) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Amari Kight (79) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Bud Clark (9) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) and safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (17) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95), defensive tackle Rylie Mills (98) and linebacker Jared Ivey (51) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) and wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Patrick O'Connell (52) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Emanuel Wilson (27) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Nick Vannett (83) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Dansby (37) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Ricky White III (86) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Jalen Milroe (6) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV (13) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) practiced on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald at practice on Monday, August 10, 2026 at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
