Seahawks Rookie Forecast 2025
Solid Starter
Gray Zabel, OT/G/C, North Dakota State – Round 1 
The offensive line was the biggest problem part of the roster for the Seahawks in 2023, and many expected Seattle to take a lineman to address the unit in the first round. Surprisingly, Seattle went back to the defensive tackle position on the opening night of the draft in 2024 with Byron Murphy from Texas. In 2025, the interior of the offensive line continued to be an issue, but this time, they added a versatile blocker to fix the blocking woes with Zabel in the second round.
For the NFL, the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Zabel is a versatile blocker who could help his team at a variety of spots. He would be best playing at guard or center, given his short arms. In the ground game, Zabel has good size and strength to tie up defenders. He has the size and power to drive block and will push defenders out of their gap. In the NFL, he won’t be as overpowering or physically dominant as he was against weaker competition in the FCS, but he still projects to have power run-blocking potential. Zabel is also an agile, athletic blocker who is very good at pulling or moving in space on zone stretch runs. Zabel hits blocks downfield, and he sustains his blocks well to keep defenders from getting at his ball carrier. As an interior run blocker, Zabel can fit as a zone or power man scheme.
In pass protection, Zabel shows his agility and athleticism to slide with speed rushers. Zabel shows light feet to play the typewriter and slide with rushers moving upfield. He also has the size and strength to anchor against bull rushes. Zabel has some technique to improve for taking on professional defensive linemen. He has an inclination to bend at the waist sometimes, and pro defenders could exploit that. He also needs to improve his hand placement. Playing on the inside will help Zabel as a pro, and his short arms would be a problem blocking on the edge.
Right away, Zabel should compete to start at center or left guard. He could also be an emergency tackle if Charles Cross or Abraham Lucas get hurt. In the long run, Zabel could be best as a center and may have dominant ability manning the middle of the line. Quickly in his pro career, I think Zabel will be a quality starter for Seattle.
2023: Christian Haynes, G
2023: Devon Witherspoon, CB
2022: Kenneth Walker, RB
2021: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR
2020: Darrell Taylor, DE
2019: L.J. Collier, DE
2018: Rashaad Penny, RB
2017: Ethan Pocic, C
2016: Germain Ifedi, OT
2015: Mark Glowinski, G
2014: Cassius Marsh, DE
2013: Chris Harper, WR
Most Likely To Bust
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama – Round 3 
I hope I am wrong about this projection as Milroe is a good kid and I am cheering for him to turn into a good NFL quarterback. However, Milroe’s lack of natural accuracy really frightens me. I think improving his footwork will definitely help him with his precision, but I feel the natural trait may not be there, and Milroe will be more of a backup quarterback. Of the Seahawks’ early-round selections, Milroe looks like the biggest risk and most likely one not to turn into a starter.
2024: A.J. Barner, TE
2023: Derick Hall, DE
2022: Boye Mafe, DE
2021: None
2020: Damien Lewis, G
2019: Marquise Blair, S
2018: Will Dissly, TE
2017: Shaquill Griffin, CB
2016: Jarran Reed, DT
2015: Frank Clark, DE
2014: Justin Britt, OT
2013: Jesse Williams, DT
Potential Boom Pick
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina – Round 2 
The Seahawks always consider adding talent to their secondary for draft picks, and Emmanwori was too good for Seattle to pass up in the second round. Emmanwori could easily have gone in the first round and was a massive steal for Seattle on the second night of the draft.
Over the past three seasons, Emmanwori has been one of the best safeties in college football. He had an excellent debut with 85 tackles as a freshman. As a junior, Emmanwori had 83 tackles, two passes broken up, and four interceptions, with two returned for a touchdown. He had an interception returned for a touchdown against Kentucky, another returned for a score against Oklahoma, and had a 102-yard touchdown pick-six that had the return whipped out on a suspect penalty versus LSU. Emmanwori then showed off amazing speed at the NFL Scouting Combine.
In coverage, Emmanwori has great speed, quick feet, and is extremely athletic with a rare ability to cover receivers for a big safety. He is a real asset to defend the deep part of the field, and Emmanwori covers receivers like a smaller free safety. Emmanwori is very fast and shows it routinely. In an instant, he will race over from the middle of the field to the sideline to break up passes or pick them off. He can serve as the single high safety to protect his defense vertically. Those kinds of safeties with Emmanuel’s size, interception skills, length, and instincts are extremely hard to find.
Another thing that sets Emmanwori apart is great instincts. He is a natural football player that has a lot of experience against top competition. Emmanwori doesn’t get caught out of position, and is smart to read quarterback’s eyes. His great instincts led him to jump routes and get deep to defend the back end of the field. After getting interceptions, Emmanwori is dangerous on returns.
In the ground game, Emmanwori (6-3, 227) is a willing tackler who will come downhill to attack ball carriers. Sources say Emmanwori is not overly physical, but his physicality is adequate and is not a weakness. Emmanwori definitely has the size and strength to be the eighth man in the box.
The talent is there for Emmanwori to be one of the top strong safeties in the NFL, and he is a great fit for Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. After some development, I think he could be a boom pick and a Pro Bowl player for Seattle.
2024: Byron Murphy, DT
2023: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR
2022: Charles Cross
2021: None
2020: Jordyn Brooks, LB
2019: D.K. Metcalf, WR
2018: Rasheem Green, DE
2017: Malik McDowell, DT
2016: C.J. Prosise, RB
2015: Tyler Lockett, WR
2014: Paul Richardson, WR
2013: Christine Michael, RB
Future Depth Player
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami – Round 2 
The Seahawks did not have a big need at tight end with veteran Noah Fant in the starting spot, and they used a 2024 fourth-round pick on A.J. Barner to give them more depth. However, Seattle got one of the steals of the second night of the draft when Elijah Arroyo fell into their lap in the second round.
There are usually less than a handful of tight ends that can be split out wide from the line and generate separation with their sudden quickness and route running from NFL safeties and cornerbacks. Travis Kelce and Darren Waller were in their prime, Kyle Pitts has that ability if he were used that way, Brock Bowers showed that ability in his record-setting rookie season, and Arroyo has that special kind of ability for the next level. He is a real problem in coverage as he is too big and quick for safeties while being too fast for linebackers.
For the NFL, the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Arroyo looks like a future three-down starter. He has the skill set to be a dangerous receiver down the seam and in the red zone, like he was in college. Arroyo has the quickness to get downfield, and he has a surprising burst for a tight end. He has excellent hands and is very skilled at going up high to make receptions over defensive backs. Even though he isn’t the biggest of tight ends, he has good body control and uses his size well to shield the ball from defenders to make receptions.
Arroyo is a twitchy athlete with a burst out of his breaks and sudden movement skills. That translates to him being an excellent route runner who can consistently generate separation from linebackers or safeties. Arroyo has good feel as a receiver and can find soft spots in the zone. After the catch, Arroyo is a tough runner who has a burst, will weave through the secondary, and shows the ability to pick up yards downfield. As a pro, Arroyo should be a mismatch problem and a dangerous weapon in the passing game.
As a blocker, Arroyo has a lot of room for improvement. He is average at best. He must get better at blocking the C-gap and pass protecting to be an elite three-down starter. He has the size, strength, and skill set to do it, but he needs to get better to help protect his quarterback and contribute to the rushing offense.
Arroyo has to stay healthy, as his injury history and durability sent him to the second round. If Arroyo is able to avoid injured reserve, I think he will be the Seahawks’ starter to replace Fant come 2026. Arroyo has true boom pick potential for Seattle if he can stay healthy, but his durability issues could limit whether he can become a true three-down starter.
2024: Nehemiah Pritchett, CB
2023: Cameron Young, DT
2022: Coby Bryant, OT
2021: Stone Forsythe, OT
2020: Colby Parkinson, TE
2019: Gary Jennings, WR
2018: Shaquem Griffin, LB
2017: Nazair Jones, DT
2016: Nick Vannett, TE
2015: Tye Smith, CB
2014: Kevin Pierre-Louis, LB
2013: Tharold Simon, CB
