Pro Football Rumors
The Seahawks are returning most of their starters from last season’s Super Bowl-winning roster, but safety is one of the few exceptions. After Coby Bryant left in free agency for the Bears’ three-year, $40MM offer, Ty Okada and second-round rookie Bud Clark are vying to take over for him, according to Brady Henderson of ESPN.
Unlike Clark, the Seahawks did not spend significant draft capital on Okada. In fact, they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State in 2023. Okada combined for just nine games and 33 defensive snaps over his first two seasons, but his role dramatically increased last year. Bryant missed two games and fellow starter Julian Love sat out nine, leaving 11 starts for Okada during his first 17-game campaign.
While primarily lining up at free safety (Bryant’s position), Okada totaled 65 tackles, six passes defensed, 1.5 sacks and an interception over 742 snaps. Okada’s performance impressed Pro Football Focus, which ranked him 17th among 91 safeties.
Although Okada held his own during the regular season, he did not factor in much during the Seahawks’ championship run in the playoffs. He played just 19 defensive snaps (17 in the divisional round) and made two tackles in three games. The Seahawks used Bryant and Love on all 71 defensive snaps in their Super Bowl LX win over the Patriots. Okada only saw special teams action that evening, but with Bryant gone, he is the favorite to start alongside Love this year, John Boyle of the team’s website relays.
Versatile ball hawks in the secondary have been a staple over the years in Seattle. The team may have found yet another when it selected Clark 64th overall in the draft. Clark intercepted 15 passes over his final four years at TCU, where he garnered significant experience at multiple spots. During a second-team All-Big 12 season in 2025, the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder played 309 snaps in the slot, 214 in the box and 139 at free safety. Given Clark’s ability to move around, Boyle notes that head coach Mike Macdonald could find a role for him even if Okada wins the starting job.
The Seahawks made the easy decision to retain Okada as an exclusive rights free agent in the offseason. He is due to become a restricted free agent next year. In the meantime, Okada will work to hold off Clark and establish himself as a full-time starter.
