2025 Seattle Seahawks Draft Breakdown: A look at all 11 picks

There is a distinct possibility that Seattle Seahawks fans will look back at the 2025 NFL Draft fondly.

Seahawks 2025 UDFA Tracker: Keep up with every reported signing

In the first round, they addressed their biggest need: the interior offensive line.

In the second round, they traded up to take a defensive back who very well could have gone on Day 1.

And in the third round, they turned the clock back to 2012 by taking a quarterback with running ability in the third round – a month after signing a new starting QB.

Reminiscent of 2012?@TheMikeSalk and @StacyRost discuss the #Seahawks QB situation following the 3rd round pick of Jalen Milroe.

FULL VIDEO 📺: https://t.co/UmoOoWQZb1 pic.twitter.com/ESeXWkuy7d

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) April 26, 2025

The general consensus? People like what general manager John Schneider cooked up for second-year head coach Mike Macdonald with this draft class.

And we’re not just talking about the first two days.

What experts are saying about the Seahawks’ 2025 draft class

The Seahawks really got down to business on Saturday with three trades before they even made a pick, adding a pair of selections in the process to make it eight for the final day and 11 total on the weekend.

So with the 2025 Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft class set, let’s break it down. Below, you’ll find details on all 11 picks made by the Hawks, as well as video highlights and links to even more articles from our draft coverage here at SeattleSports.com. And be sure to watch the video at the top of this post, which includes quick reaction from the voices of Seattle Sports to each of the Seahawks’ picks from the first six rounds.

The 2025 Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft picks

FIRST ROUND

• Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State (No. 18 overall)

6-6, 312 pounds, senior, 23 years old

Story | Reaction | 5 things to know | NFL Draft profile

The Seahawks say they go for the best player available over need. Well, in the case of their top pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, those two things must have overlapped because there’s no denying that interior offensive line was their biggest need of the offseason.

Grey Zabel, perhaps the player most commonly tied to Seattle in first-round mock drafts, indeed ended up in the Emerald City. And head coach Mike Macdonald is happy about it – especially if Zabel, who started at every position on the line except center in his 41-game, five-year college career, can stick at guard like the Hawks think.

“Hopefully we find a home for him at one position and he lives there for a really long time for us,” Macdonald said when speaking to reporters Thursday night. “But I think it just speaks to his savvy. It’s not easy to find those guys that can play interior and at tackle. So he’s one of them, and he’s ours now.”

There’s hope that Zabel, who was an FCS All-American as a left tackle, will be the right fit for new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s wide-zone scheme, which prioritizes athleticism on the line.

“The type of style that I play is quick,” Zabel said. “Trying to use my athletic ability and my benefits and basically, at the end of the day, it’s all mentality playing offensive line.”

Grey all day. pic.twitter.com/k7bEtBy1iq

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 25, 2025

SECOND ROUND

• Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (No. 35 overall)

6-3, 220 pounds, junior, 21 years old

Story | Reaction | NFL Draft profile

It’s never a bad thing when you can draft two players who were commonly mocked to be your top pick, which is precisely what the Seahawks were able to pull off when they made a deal with Tennessee to trade up in the second round Friday and grab Nick Emmanwori.

A couple of big names were mentioned as comps upon the standout safety’s selection by Seattle. There’s Seahawks legend Kam Chancellor, the hardest-hitting member of the Legion of Boom who Emmanwori said himself is one of his favorite safeties. And then there’s Ravens All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, who Macdonald used to great effect during his highly successful tenure as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator before becoming Seattle’s head coach.

Emmanwori turned heads with his NFL combine performance, which is saying something considering it wasn’t like he didn’t have the numbers at South Carolina to garner attention. He had four interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns) in 2024, which came after he made two picks in 2023.

Got another playmaker in the secondary. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/vnJUcTqJ5H

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025

• Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami  (No. 50 overall)

6-5, 250 pounds, junior, 22 years old

Story | NFL Draft profile

Seattle Sports host, longtime college football analyst and former NFL quarterback Brock Huard took to social media to make a declaration after the Seahawks’ third pick of the draft.

Elijah Arroyo

Stud

These first three picks from @Seahawks tells me:

1-No nonsense
2-Physically dominant structure
3-Unique traits
4-Feeling Macdonald’s Ravens DNA

“Not fun to play against” kinda dudes

— Brock Huard (@BrockHuard) April 26, 2025

Elijah Arroyo fits into that theme of “not fun to play against kinda dudes” with his big frame, but also with his ability to make a big play.

In 2024, he caught 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns, and his 16.9 yards per reception was the best of all FBS tight ends with at least 20 catches.

Arroyo comes with a big question mark, though, which are injury concerns. He missed time in both 2022 and 2023 with a torn ACL, and he only participated in the bench press at the NFL combine due to a bone bruise on his knee suffered at the Senior Bowl.

The flip side to that, however, is that Arroyo may have gone in the first round if not for those injuries. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on social media that Arroyo was a “top 20-25 overall talent save for durability concerns.”

Got ourselves a competitor.@CanesFootball | @arroyo_elijah36 pic.twitter.com/YvBB96Vmh5

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025

THIRD ROUND

• Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (No. 92 overall)

6-2, 217 pounds, junior, 22 years old

Story | Reaction | NFL Draft profile

The Seahawks are hoarding quarterbacks. What a time to be alive.

Seattle drafted a QB for just the third time since John Schneider became general manager in 2010, and it gave them a whopping five on their roster after signing both Sam Darnold and Drew Lock so far this offseason (though the number would go back to four the next morning).

As for Jalen Milroe specifically, he is a dynamic player who can run with the best of them, but he doesn’t throw with great accuracy even though his arm is plenty strong.

Seattle now has a potential multi-year developmental QB in their system, leaving their options open while they move forward with Darnold – who Seattle signed to a three-year contract but could easily move on from after any season along the way if it chooses.

Milroe was sixth in Heisman Trophy voting in 2023 after throwing for 2,834 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions on a 65.8% completion rate, plus running for 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. He rushed even better in 2024 with 726 yards and 20 TDs on the ground, but his passing went backwards (2,844 yards, 16 TDs, 11 interceptions, 64.3% completion rate).

With his ability to run with the ball, however, Milroe could see playing time for the Seahawks right away even if he isn’t likely to start at QB.

The Milroe show. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/nSLkyBl8Mo

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025

FOURTH ROUND

The Seahawks traded out of the fourth round in a deal with the New England Patriots, part of a three-trade flurry they made Saturday before even making a pick on Day 3.

FIFTH ROUND

• Rylie Mills, DL, Notre Dame (No. 142 overall)

6-5, 291 pounds, senior, 23 years old

Story | Trade details | NFL Draft profile

There was a whole lot going on before the Seahawks made their first pick of Day 3, as they wheeled and dealed, making three trades in the span of about 20 minutes. That included sending reserve quarterback Sam Howell to the Minnesota Vikings as part of pick swap, moving Seattle up 30 spots to add Rylie Mills to their defensive line.

Mills was a big part of Notre Dame’s strong defense, making 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 13 games to help the Fighting Irish gain a berth in the College Football Playoff. But in the first round of the CFP, Mills tore his ACL.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein identified Mills as having the right “size, strength and demeanor of a 3-4 defensive end,” adding that he could be a “three-down rotational piece” as long as he doesn’t deal with lingering problems from his knee injury.

Let's eat, @ryliemills99. 🍀 pic.twitter.com/oCZSQXe3Hv

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025

• Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State (No. 166 overall)

6-2 1/2, 196 pounds, senior, 22 years old

Story | Trade details | NFL Draft profile

The Seahawks are usually careful when it comes to drafting players with injury history. But that wasn’t the case this year.

Horton was the third player taken by Seattle who dealt with a knee issue in his college career, which was a likely factor in him not being drafted a day sooner. That could mean the Seahawks feel they have a steal in terms of talent, as they no doubt felt with second-round tight end Elijah Arroyo and fifth-round D-lineman Rylie Mills, who are similar cases to Horton.

Horton has interesting intangibles and statistics. He ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in 4.41 seconds, was a dynamic punt returner at Colorado State, and caught 71 passes for a Mountain West-leading 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.

First look at our 166th pick, Tory Horton. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/9YzEJAv0gb

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2025

• Robbie Ouzts, FB, Alabama (No. 175 overall)

6-3, 274 pounds, senior, 22 years old

Story | NFL Draft profile

A lot has been made of the need in new Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme for a fullback. So not only has Seattle started to convert tight end/special teamer Brady Russell to the position, but they looked to an Alabama tight end in the draft to do the same.

Robbie Ouzts (last name pronounced oots) has a lot of size, and with his experience in the passing game he should also have the athleticism that Kubiak likes for his wide-zone system. Added bonus: he’s the second offensive player making the trip from ‘Bama to Seattle along with quarterback Jalen Milroe.

There’s no question that blocking is the name of the game with Ouzts, who had just 192 yards and three touchdowns on 16 receptions in four seasons with the Crimson Tide.

He’s also got a pretty interesting vibe, which is why Rich Eisen had him on his show for a 10-minute conversation after seeing him at the NFL combine.

SIXTH ROUND

• Bryce Cabeldue, G, Kansas

6-4, 306 pounds, senior, 23 years old

Story | NFL Draft profile

Five rounds after adding one guard to address their big need on the interior of the offensive line, the Seahawks finally picked up another in Kansas’ Bryce Cabeldue.

An All-Big 12 honorable mention in 2024, Cabeldue started at left tackle as a senior after previously playing right tackle. Over his five-year career in Lawrence, he started a total of 45 games on the O-line. But he projects as a guard as a pro, and that’s where the Seahawks plan to play him.

Cabeldue’s NFL.com draft profile notes that he has “good quickness off the ball with agile feet in small spaces,” which lines up with what the Seahawks have said they’re looking for on the O-line under new OC Klint Kubiak.

Worked for this. @bcabeldue01 pic.twitter.com/gF2Qn0fk1a

— Kansas Football (@KU_Football) April 26, 2025

SEVENTH ROUND

• Damien Martinez, RB, Miami

6-0, 217 pounds, junior, 21 years old

Story | NFL Draft profile

While Damien Martinez is coming out of Miami, local college football fans will remember him from his time as the lead back at Oregon State in 2022 and 2023. He rushed for a career-high 1,185 yards as a sophomore with the Beavers for nine touchdowns and 6.1 yards per carry, but he was just as good in 2024 with the Hurricanes on less attempts, with 1,002 yards and 10 TDs on 6.3 yards per carry.

The Seahawks have former second-round picks Kenneth Walker III (2022) and Zach Charbonnet (2023) at running back, along with 2023 seventh-rounder Kenny McIntosh and George Holani, who went undrafted last year.

Martinez joins second-round tight end Elijah Arroyo as offensive Miami players in the Seahawks’ draft class.

• Mason Richman, G, Iowa

6-6, 260 pounds, senior, 22 years old

Story

The Seahawks went back to the O-line late, again picking a college tackle who they’re calling a guard.

Mason Richman was an All-Big Ten honorable mention for the second straight season after starting at left tackle in all 13 games for the Hawkeyes as a senior. He started 52 career games, the most by an Iowa offensive lineman since Kirk Ferentz became head coach in 1999, including 43 straight. And considering the reputation Iowa has for offensive linemen, that’s a pretty notable accolade. There’s little doubt Richman will arrive in Seattle coached up for the road ahead.

Stayin’ a Hawk@MasonRichman ➡️ @Seahawks #NFLHawks x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/bsDd3PhxTY

— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) April 26, 2025

• Ricky White III, WR, UNLV

6-1, 184 pounds, senior, 23 years old

Story | NFL Draft profile

The Seahawks capped a giant 11-player haul with a receiver and returner with big play ability.

Ricky White III was the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024 and a first team All-Mountain West selection at wide receiver after making 79 catches for 1,041 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 13.2 yards per catch. But his 2023 season was even bigger as he was third in FBS with 1,483 receiving yards, which came on 88 receptions with eight touchdowns and 16.9 yards per catch.

OH MY RICKY WHITE!!! 😤 @unlvfootball pic.twitter.com/X5YRKZp5GW

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 5, 2024

More 2025 NFL Draft coverage from Seattle Sports

• 2025 NFL Draft: Every UW, WSU and local player picked
• Stacy Rost: What does top pick Grey Zabel bring to Seahawks?
• NFL Draft: A WSU WR and an Eastside Catholic alum taken on Day 2
• NFL Draft: Josh Conerly Jr. of Rainier Beach picked in first round
• Steilacoom’s Emeka Egbuka taken in first round of NFL Draft
• Raiders’ first NFL Draft pick under coach Pete Carroll: a running back
• NFL Draft: Former WSU QB Cam Ward is the No. 1 overall pick