Huard: ‘Keep an eye on’ Seahawks undrafted rookie Connor O’Toole

Every year, there tend to be undrafted rookies who make a splash in the preseason and contend for a 53-man roster spot.

This year, one potential candidate to emerge is edge rusher Connor O’Toole.

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O’Toole, who went undrafted out of Utah, signed a contract with Seattle this spring that included $264,000 in guaranteed money, according to Spotrac. That was the highest value among this year’s Seahawks undrafted rookies and tied for the 15th-highest among all NFL undrafted rookies, according to Spotrac.

O’Toole shined in last week’s preseason opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, filling the stat sheet with a sack, a tackle for loss and three QB hits. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded a team-high six pressures in 24 pass-rushing snaps, which were the fourth-most pressures of any player in the opening week of the preseason.

Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard, saw O’Toole play at Utah during his time as a FOX college football analyst, highlighted the 6-foot-3, 248-pound edge rusher during Wednesday’s Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk.

“He got the biggest bonus of any of the Seahawks rookies, which is a tell that this guy’s gonna get every opportunity to make this team at the bottom of the roster or to make the practice squad,” Huard said. “He had a good first game (and reportedly) had a really good day (at Tuesday’s practice). … Keep an eye on Connor O’Toole.”

Connor O’Toole comes in for the sack 😤

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O’Toole has an interesting background.

He spent his freshman year at Utah at wide receiver before switching to edge rusher for his final three college seasons. He dealt with multiple injuries, but still managed to record a combined 7.0 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and two blocked field goals over 16 games in 2023 and 2024.

He has impressive athleticism for his size, having reportedly run a 4.66-second 40-yard dash at the Big 12 Pro Day. He also was a track star in high school, winning a New Mexico state title in the 300-meter hurdles.

Huard remembers O’Toole’s athleticism catching his eye in college.

“He was like a gazelle at defensive end,” Huard said. “He was as raw as can be, but he can run. And then he played behind some pretty good D-ends there at Utah, and iron sharpened iron an awful lot. And he got better and better.

“You can find edge (rushers) in the fourth, the fifth, the sixth round – even undrafted at times,” he added. “You can find unique guys with unique traits, and his speed is unique. Keep an eye on Connor O’Toole.”

Listen to the full Blue 88 segment at this link or in the audio player at the bottom of this story. Tune into Brock and Salk weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

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