CB Julian Neal confident, Devon Witherspoon-style, as Seahawks’ 3rd-round pick
The backfills of Seahawks departures on their top-ranked, Super Bowl-champion secondary continues.
Seattle used its third-round selection in the 2026 NFL draft on Julian Neal, a tall, strong cornerback from Arkansas at 99th-overall pick, the next-to-last one of the third round.
Neal is tall for a cornerback, 6 feet 1 5/8 inches tall and 203 pounds. He played four seasons at Fresno State, first as a safety, then briefly enrolled at Stanford before going to the Southeastern Conference for the 2025 season. He’s known for his physical, press coverage at the line of scrimmage — a prerequisite in Macdonald’s Seahawks defense.
He also has bravado.
Neal began his talk Friday night with Seattle beat reporters over the phone from his family home in his native San Francisco by saying the Seahawks are now going to win consecutive Super Bowl championships.
“We’re going back-to-back this year,” Neal said.
Then Neal said: “I’m the most physical corner in this draft class. I use my arms to my advantage. I use my length. I use my durability -- never gotten hurt. I never missed a game in college from being hurt.
“I hit guys at the line. It’s box time!”
Oh, yes, the newest Seahawks cornerback will have a friend in Pro Bowl veteran Devon Witherspoon. Neal does not lack in confidence.
“I’m going to go punch on somebody,” he said of his style of playing cornerback. “I’m going to go punch somebody at the line. I’m in press. I’m going to get all up in your face.”
Seahawks general manager John Schneider smiled when told Neal said he was the most physical cornerback in this draft.
“That’s cool that he said that,” Schneider said late Friday. “That’s the number-one thing that stood out to me...if you are into 6-2 corners. That have length. That want to tackle.”
He grinned.
He and Macdonald are very into that.
“There’s clearly a competitor and a confidence in there,” Macdonald said. “He takes a lot of pride in how physical he is at the corner position.”
The native of San Francisco was recruited by Eastern Washington University. He played corner initially at Fresno State, then moved to safety. He’s also played nickel, slot coverage inside.
Macdonald said Friday night Neal will be a cornerback to begin his NFL career with the Seahawks.
Seattle lost cornerback Riq Woolen in free agency to Philadelphia last month. Woolen, a former Pro Bowl Seahawks, signed a $12 million, one-year deal with the Eagles.
The selection came after the Seahawks traded back three spots from 96 with Pittsburgh, and gained from the Steelers the final pick of the sixth round Saturday. Seattle now has five total choices in this draft, tied for fewest in the league this weekend.
The trade down then pick came a couple hours after Seattle selected ball-hawking TCU safety Bud Clark to end the second round. That choice came a month after starting safety Coby Bryant left the Super Bowl champions and signed a rich, free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears.
All three of the Seahawks’ picks in this draft so far are filling for notable departures off the team that won Super Bowl 60 in February.
Thursday, the Seahawks ended the first round by choosing Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price as the heir to departed Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker.
This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 8:31 PM with the headline "CB Julian Neal confident, Devon Witherspoon-style, as Seahawks’ 3rd-round pick."
