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Re-Grading the Seattle Seahawks 2025 Draft

Originally posted on Football Analysis | By Aaron Sauter | Last updated Mar 29, 2026 9:08 PM ET

For a team to win a Super Bowl in any NFL season, many factors must align. The 2025 Seattle Seahawks were no exception; they made several important decisions, including signing quarterback Sam Darnold and trading wide receiver D.K. Metcalf. Seahawks GM John Schneider has spent the last several seasons building a reputation as an outstanding team builder. While Schneider took some chances heading into the 2025 season, those decisions ultimately paid off with a Super Bowl victory.

Looking back at the Seattle Seahawks’ 2025 draft class, it is clear that Schneider delivered a master class in roster building. From this draft, the Seahawks added immediate high-level starters and key rotational depth players. The Seahawks came into this draft with a wealth of draft capital, which increases the odds of landing solid players, but that also usually comes with a heightened risk of selecting players who end up being classified as busts.

Seattle Seahawks 2025 Draft Class

Round	Pick	Player	Pos
1	18	Grey Zabel	OL
2	35	Nick Emmanwori	S
2	50	Elijah Arroyo	TE
3	92	Jalen Milroe	QB
5	142	Rylie Mills	DT
5	166	Tory Horton	WR
5	175	Robbie Ouzts	FB
6	192	Bryce Cabeldue	OL
7	223	Damien Martinez	RB
7	234	Mason Richman	OL
7	238	Ricky White III	WR

While many NFL teams look to make a splash with their first-round draft picks, the ultimate goal is to make sure that a team selects a player who will become a Day 1 starter. Seattle quietly accomplished that goal by selecting offensive lineman Grey Zabel, who stepped into a starting right guard position on the Seahawks’ offensive line. Consequently, the Seahawks’ offensive line became an elite unit, leading the way as Seattle ranked among the NFL’s Top-5 rushing teams during the 2025 season.

In contrast with Zabel, the Seahawks’ second-round draft pick, safety Nick Emmanwori became a home run player for a Seattle defense that became one of the top units in the NFL. Emmanwori’s success led to comparisons to safety Kam Chancellor of the Seahawks’ historic “Legion of Boom” defense in 2012. The key to Emmanwori’s success was his ability to blitz effectively and play as a “big nickel” player in the Seahawks defensive backfield.

Seattle Seahawks 2025 Draft Re-Grade = A+

It is rare for any NFL draft class to produce both a Pro Bowl starter like Zabel on the Seattle offensive line and a generational talent like Emmanwori in the defensive secondary for the Seahawks. However, the Seahawks also picked up a handful of outstanding role players from this draft class, including tight end Elijah Arroyo, wide receiver Tory Horton, and starting fullback Robbie Ouzts. While the Seahawks lost a few playmakers to free agency, like running back Kenneth Walker III, if Seattle can put together another elite draft class in 2026, they could spend the next few seasons at the top of the NFC.

Make sure that you check out, Re-Grading the Green Bay Packers 2025 Draft

This article first appeared on Football Analysis and was syndicated with permission.

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