The Seattle Seahawks will hold their second OTA practice on Thursday. Organized team activities are completely voluntary, but they represent an excellent opportunity for the rookies to begin bonding with the veterans in a team-like setting. This is especially true on the defensive side, where several first-year players are attempting to make an instant impression.
Purposely omitting Nick Emmanwori, we’ve identified three of the more underrated defensive rookies worth monitoring.
Rylie Mills, DL
Rylie Mills took a sizable step forward at Notre Dame in 2024. The Fighting Irish standout recorded a career-best 7.5 sacks en route to the Seahawks selecting him in the fifth round. The Seahawks are deep on the defensive line, but Mills should compete for a rotational role with the likes of veteran Mike Morris. He could also be an eventual replacement for aging reserve players like Jarran Reed and/or Johnathan Hankins.
Zy Alexander, CB
Former LSU cornerback Zy Alexander was seen as a draftable prospect throughout the pre-draft process, but poor athletic testing pushed him to undrafted status. Alexander ran a middling 4.56-second 40-yard dash, and his jumps (31.5 inch vertical) were even worse. The Seahawks are searching for cornerback depth, so he’ll receive an opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
Jared Ivey, DL
Jared Ivey has regularly been earmarked as the Seahawks’ UDFA best-suited to make the roster. The ex Ole Miss product has to prove he’s worth the hype at OTAs. Like Alexander, Ivey tested poorly, running a 5.15 and leaping a 30.5 inch vertical and 9-foot-5 broad jump.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks OTAs: 3 under-the-radar rookie defenders to monitor