Get to know Seahawks' sixth-round pick, Kansas WR Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
Even with the Rashid Shaheed on the roster, the Seahawks have picked up a second player in the draft that could potentially help in the return game.
The Seahawks took Kansas wide receiver Emmanuel Henderson Jr. in the sixth round of the NFL draft Saturday.
Running back Jadarian Price, selected with the final pick of the first round, also has a background as a returner and Henderson has been brought in the fold as another option.
Henderson is clearly a depth pick with the potential to make his mark on special teams. The Seahawks seem mostly set at wide receiver between Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, Shaheed, Jake Bobo and the expected return of Tory Horton. But Dareke Young had been a significant contributor on special teams while getting occasional snaps at wide receiver before signing with the Raiders, and Henderson could end up in that kind of role.
Here's more about Henderson:
Drafted: Sixth round, 199th pick
Height: 6-1
Weight: 185 pounds
Birth date: March 21, 2003
Hometown: Hartford, Ala.
Three Things to Know
* Henderson came from a small town in Alabama and attended Geneva County High School, which had around 230 students in the entire school. Henderson was a star on the football field as a running back and scored 32 touchdowns as a sophomore. He finished his high-school career with 77 rushing touchdowns. While he ended up following a football path, Henderson had an offer from Alabama State to play basketball in college.
* Henderson's college career started at Alabama, but in three seasons he had all of five receptions in 34 games. He transferred to Kansas for his final season and had a breakout campaign with 45 catches for 766 yards and five touchdowns. Henderson was a first-team all-Big 12 selection as a kick returner and a third-team selection at wide receiver.
* Henderson is a burner with the chance to stretch the defense downfield. He ran 4.44 in the 40-yard dash at the combine and is considered to have exceptional athleticism. But Henderson struggled with drops at times and has smaller hands. He's in need of refinement as a pass catcher after starting his career as a running back, but the elite speed makes him an intriguing option.
What the scouts say:
"Henderson is a slender inside/outside receiver. He has good speed and disguises route intentions but will need work getting his feet/tempo right as a route-runner. He's a former running back with below-average hands but real potential after the catch. You won't see many who return kicks and cover punts in the same game, but Henderson can handle both duties. His special-teams versatility and athletic upside give him a chance to make a roster as a WR5/6 and full-time gunner." - NFL.com
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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 5:01 PM.