News, notes and observations from Seahawks rookie minicamp

RENTON – The Seattle Seahawks’ 2025 draft class got its first taste of the NFL during the team’s rookie minicamp Friday and Saturday at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.

How Seahawks rookie QB Jalen Milroe aims to improve as a passer

All 11 of the Seahawks’ draft picks were on hand, along with 17 undrafted free agents and more than 40 additional rookie invites.

It’s difficult to glean too much from rookie minicamp, given the nature of the event. Rookies and NFL hopefuls from all over the country are brought together for the quick two-day camp, with most of the players meeting each other and playing together for the first time.

But with that in mind, here are a few bits of news, notes and observations from the Seahawks’ 2025 rookie minicamp.

Milroe watch

All eyes were on dual-threat quarterback Jalen Milroe, the ultra-athletic third-round pick from Alabama.

Milroe is a rarity in recent Seahawks history, being just the third QB in 16 years to be drafted under general manager John Schneider. Even rarer is Milroe’s skill set as a runner, with his big-time speed and explosive athleticism packed into a linebacker-like 6-foot-2, 216-pound body.

But ultimately, Milroe’s NFL trajectory hinges on how he develops as a passer. He still looked somewhat raw as a thrower at times over the two-day camp, with the occasional off-target pass that was a half-step behind the receiver. He also made a bad mistake in a 7-on-7 drill, when he tried to force a throw over the middle that was intercepted by Central Washington safety Tanner Volk, who was in attendance as a rookie invite.

Yet overall, Milroe seemed to throw the ball relatively well – with a major caveat being that there wasn’t an NFL pass rush closing in on him.

When asked after Saturday’s practice about Milroe, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald praised the rookie’s play-to-play competitiveness and overall command of the huddle.

“One thing that you don’t (get to see) for Jalen watching on tape is just the spirit he has from play to play,” Macdonald said. “He’s got great energy, great competitive energy. He’s trying to get it right. Great command of the huddle. Really takes pride in the operation.

“All the fundamental things we’re going to be building on from the ground up, he’s just got a great attitude about it. … If you have that attitude, especially at the quarterback position, everybody else tends to fall in line. In that regard, it was really fun to be around.”

When asked about Jalen Milroe after Day 2 of rookie minicamp, Mike Macdonald praised the QB’s competitive spirit and command of the huddle. pic.twitter.com/7WmhTtGE4f

— Cameron Van Til (@CameronVanTil) May 3, 2025

Emmanwori and Arroyo stand out

Seattle’s two second-round picks – South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori and Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo – both have a unique combination of size and athleticism. And that certainly was evident on the practice field.

The 6-foot-5, 254-pound Arroyo seemingly glides across the field, moving with impressive fluidity for his size. He also showed off his massive catch radius, hauling in a seam pass from Milroe with a leaping grab that capped Friday’s practice in style.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Emmanwori was easy to spot on defense, with his long frame towering over most of his fellow defenders. And like Arroyo, he also moved with a level of smoothness and effortlessness that’s rare for a player his size.

The big question with Emmanwori is how exactly he’ll be used. He played all over the field at South Carolina, where he showcased a unique level of positional versatility that could make him an ideal fit for Macdonald’s cutting-edge defensive scheme. He also appeared to line up at a variety of spots over the two days of rookie minicamp, including at nickelback.

“You see the movement skills,” Macdonald said. “You see all the things you saw on tape. … He’s got great intent. I think he wants to be great, which is a fun characteristic to work with. Great start. Great start.

“Now we got to detail it up. We got to get our angles right. There are a lot of fundamentals that we’ll be working on when he comes back. It’s going to be fun to work with him.”

Zabel and the O-line

It’s especially difficult to take much from watching the offensive line in these types of limited-contact settings. But for what it’s worth, North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel certainly looked the part of a first-round pick with his size, power and explosiveness during position drills.

Zabel appeared to exclusively line up at left guard. Sixth-round pick Bryce Cabeldue out of Kansas lined up at right guard, while seventh-round pick Mason Richman out of Iowa lined up at right tackle.

It also was notable watching new offensive line coach John Benton in action. Benton, entering his 20th season as an NFL O-line coach, was hammering various fundamentals and techniques during position drills.

The fullback makes its return

For the first time in years, Seattle’s offense will feature a fullback. The change comes under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, whose Shanahan-style offense also featured a fullback during his previous two OC stints with the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.

The Seahawks now have two converted fullbacks on their roster: third-year pro Brady Russell and rookie fifth-round pick Robbie Ouzts, who both are transitioning to the position from tight end. Ouzts, who was a blocking tight end at Alabama, began that process at rookie minicamp.

At 6-foot-3 and 274 pounds, Ouzts’ size certainly stood out in the backfield. But as is the case with any position change, it’ll take some time to learn the finer details and nuances.

“Coming from the tight end position, it’s a lot of different leverage,” Ouzts said. “So really changing my footwork up, kind of changing my attack angle on defenders and learning to make decisions on the go instead of letting the defender come to me.”

Seahawks rookie fullback Robbie Ouzts, a fifth-round pick who played tight end at Alabama, discusses making the transition to his new position. pic.twitter.com/u0SQgm16CS

— Cameron Van Til (@CameronVanTil) May 3, 2025

Injury updates

Fifth-round picks Rylie Mills and Tory Horton were both in attendance, but sat out as they continue to recover from knee injuries.

Mills, a defensive lineman from Notre Dame, is rehabbing from a torn ACL that he suffered in a first-round College Football Playoff game against Indiana on Dec. 20. General manager John Schneider said last week the Seahawks are hopeful Mills can return to the field “later” this season.

Horton, a speedy wide receiver from Colorado State, dealt with a knee injury that wiped away half his 2024 campaign. He ran at the NFL combine in March and held a pro day in early April, but Macdonald said the team was playing it safe this weekend.

“I wouldn’t say it’s anything major,” Macdonald said. “When he comes back, he should be close to full go. We’ll see how that kind of comes about. But I think we’re just be precautious right now.”

A position change for Sheriff?

Macdonald said the team is in the process of experimenting with moving second-year pro Jamie Sheriff from outside linebacker to inside linebacker. The latter is a spot on Seattle’s roster where the depth is razor-thin behind starters Ernest Jones IV and Tyrice Knight.

Sheriff, an undrafted free agent out of South Alabama, was a preseason star for the Seahawks last year. He totaled three sacks in three preseason games and ultimately earned a spot on Seattle’s practice squad.

Despite being a second-year pro, Sheriff was eligible to take part in rookie minicamp.

“We’re looking at moving his position to off-ball linebacker for some more position flexibility,” Macdonald said. “That’s something he hasn’t really had a lot of reps doing, (so we) felt like it was a great opportunity for him to see those more live and in color before we got to OTAs.”

Additional highlights

A pair of former UNLV standouts delivered highlight-reel plays.

Wide receiver Ricky White III, a seventh-round pick, had a nice leaping catch over LSU undrafted free agent cornerback Zy Alexander in 7-on-7 drills.

Jackson Woodard, an undrafted free agent linebacker, intercepted a pass that tipped off the hands of seventh-round running back Damien Martinez.

Seattle Seahawks news and analysis

• Rost: Wait – why are Seattle Seahawks longshots to win NFC West?
• How Brock envisions Seahawks using the ultra-versatile Emmanwori
• Bump: A position the Seattle Seahawks still need to address
• Daniel Jeremiah: Why the Seattle Seahawks got two late-round steals
• Two analysts detail what they liked about Seattle Seahawks’ draft

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