What does a Seattle Seahawk look like?
General manager John Schneider has an answer.
2025 Seattle Seahawks Draft Breakdown: A look at all 11 picks
Those off-the-charts athleticism scores were perhaps the most obvious common thread throughout Seattle’s selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, but it’s not the only takeaway from what was the Seahawks’ most exciting draft in years.
The common theme: Sky-high athleticism
Seattle’s first-round pick didn’t just walk the walk for a stated goal of improving the run game. It also kicked off a trend for the rest of the Seahawks’ draft picks.
North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey Zabel was tough, versatile, and one of the best athletes from the Senior Bowl (named overall practice player of the week). His 36 1/2-inch vertical ranked first among all offensive linemen at the combine.
Second-round pick Nick Emmanwori was one of the combine’s single best performers, with the top 10-yard split, vertical jump, broad jump, bench press and the second-fastest 40-yard dash time – an eye-popping 4.38 seconds at 6-3 and 220 pounds, so we’ll forgive him for being one-hundredth of a second slower than the group’s leader.
New tight end Elijah Arroyo adds a dynamic receiving threat and probably wouldn’t have been available so late were it not for his injury history.
The @Seahawks targeted elite athletes throughout the draft, selecting a league-high four players with an NGS athleticism score of 85 or higher.
Seattle’s first four picks had an average athleticism score of 91, the highest by any team in the draft since 2003. pic.twitter.com/WV5ANXEbDw
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 26, 2025
These are gifted athletes in a class of gifted athletes.
Schneider knows that. It’s what he’d say an ideal Seahawk looks like.
“Smart, tough, reliable, swaggy… athletic, speed,” Schneider said when asked to describe this class. “I mean, we added a 275-pound fullback (Robbie Ouzts) who runs 19 miles per hour.”
Offense-heavy class wasn’t the plan … so what’s next on defense?
Seattle needed offensive line help, no doubt. But you’d think they would’ve added a bit more to a team headed up by a defensive minded head coach.
Didn’t happen. Of the 11 players selected, nine play on offense.
“It was just the way it happened,” Schneider said when asked whether a class packed with offensive contributors was part of Seattle’s approach.
Schneider hinted that they were targeting a few more defensive players, but they came off the board. “We had some defensive guys that — we talk about like the upsets and things started happening — so it’s like, OK, we’re going here, we’re going here. The offensive guys ended up standing out on our board.”
What that means: eyeing late free agent signings if there are some potential depth concerns (is Uchenna Nwosu fully healthy? What about inside linebacker depth?). I expected Seattle to add a corner in the draft, so it wouldn’t hurt to add UDFAs in the defensive backfield to compete (particularly with a decision looming on a Riq Woolen extension).
The most exciting pick probably won’t be starting
Most Seahawks fans seemed pretty excited about the selection of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. He’s got plenty of questions about being a productive and efficient passer at the pro level, but — like other drafted Hawks this year — he possesses off-the-charts athleticism that made him one of the more intriguing quarterback prospects.
I know Seattle could’ve added another offensive lineman, or a wide receiver, or a cornerback who could compete and add depth more immediately. But there’s no more valuable lottery ticket than a quarterback … if he works out, of course. And a third-round lotto ticket being worthless doesn’t sting nearly as much as a first-round pick.
Related: Why Seattle Seahawks QB Milroe could see the field right away
It doesn’t make the signing of Drew Lock worthless. At the time, Seattle’s front office had a great relationship with Lock, needed insurance behind Sam Darnold (with seemingly little faith in Sam Howell), and Milroe wasn’t yet on the roster. Seattle doesn’t typically carry three quarterbacks on the roster, but that could change this season.
Seattle Seahawks NFL Draft coverage
• Seattle Seahawks 2025 UDFA Tracker: Keep up with every reported signing
• What experts are saying about Seattle Seahawks’ 2025 draft class
• Seattle Seahawks Draft Reaction: Brock and Bump on Grey Zabel
• Seahawks Draft Reaction: Nick Emmanwori is ‘Swiss Army knife’ safety
• Seattle Seahawks draft Miami TE Elijah Arroyo at No. 50
