The 2025 Draft has concluded, and I think the Seahawks had a very solid draft. They addressed positions of need, and I think this team will be very competitive this season. I'm going to go over each draft pick, my brief thoughts, and give a letter grade, and finish with some final thoughts. I am going to be a bit on the harsher side with my grading, so be forewarned.
Afterwards, I'll predict a rough idea of the 54-man roster. Likely going to be very wrong in some spots, but I'll do my best.
Round 1 Pick 18: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Very solid pick. It's not particularly exciting nor flashy, but it's what we needed. We can only hope he adjuts to the NFL and doesn't rack up a ton of penalties. We need to run the ball more, and Grey will help with that. I think Grey was projected more as a late first-rounder, so we could've maybe traded down and gotten something from it.
Grade: B-
Round 2 Pick 35: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
My favorite pick of the draft. He was often mocked as a late first-rounder, so this was a steal. Smart of John to trade up to snag him here while he was still available. I can't wait to see the backside defense of Love and Emmanwori.
Grade: A
Round 2 Pick 50: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
The first real headscratcher for me. We already have two very solid tight ends in Fant and Barner. Perhaps Fant will be a cap casualty in training camp since he is paid over $10 million a season. I didn't think we particularly needed tight end help, but we'll see. I've heard decent things, but we already have an emerging stud in Barner. Perhaps we can have what the Patriots had in the early 2010s with Gronk and Hernandez.
Grade: C
Round 3 Pick 92: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
It will remain to be seen how good this pick is. I think it would be foolish of us to think Jalen will match what Russ did in his career, our last QB drafted this high. Let's hope he can grow and learn from the sidelines and not get pressed into action too early. I think that's why we got Lock as well. I'm ok with this pick, but I think the odds are more likely that Jalen doesn't have success with the Hawks than he does.
Grade: C-
Round 5 Pick 142: Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame
Don't know too much about him, but I know we always need nose tackle depth. We'll be hoping Byron Murphy takes a big step in his second year, but Mills is good insurance.
Grade: C+
Round 5 Pick 166: Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
One of the two WRs of this draft is going to be a hit and shine in training camp, and I bet it'll be Horton. WR was definitely a position of need, at least where we needed depth.
Grade: B
Round 5 Pick 175: Robbie Ouzts, FB/TE, Alabama
Are we going back to old school I formation football? Perhaps for some plays. If so, I'm down. He could also play special teams, so this is a very solid pick. But the thing is, we already had Brady Russell, who is switching to FB as well. I think only one can make the roster.
Grade: B-
Round 6 Pick 192: Bryce Cabeldue, G, Kansas
Yes! More midwestern O-Linemen! Hey, he might be a steal. Likely won't outplay Grey, but imagine if they both end up starting. I will never hate an O-Line pick unless we have too many of them, which will never happen.
Grade: B+
Round 7 Pick 223: Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
This reminds me of another late-round running back, ALSO out of the University of Miami. That being Travis Homer. He was a very good special-teams player for a while. But I think Martinez will be more of a third-string/third-down back. We'll see. Can't hate a late running back selection.
Grade: B
Round 7 Pick 234: Mason Richman, OL, Iowa
Our THIRD midwestern offensive lineman! Love it. Odds are only one of Cabledue or Richman make the team, unless they maybe push Bradford out (honestly, kinda hope they do).
Grade: B
Round 7 Pick 238: Ricky White III, WR, UNLV
Like I mentioned with Horton, one of these guys is going to make a splash in training camp, I bet. It might not be Ricky White, but you never know.
Grade: B+
Overall Grade/GPA: 2.81 (B- average)
Overall, very solid draft for John Schneider and company. I didn't hate a single pick. In all likelihood, maybe 7 or so (out of 11) of them make the team this season, with perhaps 3 or 4 playing multiple significant seasons with the team. But it's how significant those seasons end up being that will determine how successful this draft truly is.
Just for funsies, I'll also predict the 54-man roster and possible practice squad:
QB (3): Darnold, Lock, Milroe
RB/FB (6): Walker, Charbonnet, Martinez, McIntosh, Holani, Ouzts
TE (3): Barner, Arroyo, Saubert
WR (5): Kupp, Smith-Njigba, Valdez-Scantling, Horton, Bobo
OL (10): Oluwatimi, Sundell, Cabledue, Richman, Haynes, Laumea, Zabel, Cross, Lucas, Jerrell
26
DL (7): Lawrence, Mills, Williams, Murphy, Reed, Morris, Pili
LB/Edge (7): Hall, Jones, Knight, Mafe, Nwosu, Smith, Sheriff
CB (5): Witherspoon, Woolen, Pritchett, Jobe, Jean-Charles
S (5): Bryant, Love, Emmanwori, Reed, Finley/Bell
24
ST (3): Myers, Dickson, Stoll
Notable cuts: Noah Fant, Dareke Young, Anthony Bradford
Practice Squad candidates:
Ricky White, WR
Cody White, WR
Hall, CB
Bohanna, DT
Aumavae-Laulu, G
O'Connell, LB
Thomas, LB
I'm probably way off with the numbers regarding positions, but it should be fun for me to see how close I get! Training camp is still three months away... sigh. But it should be hear before we know it! :D
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