How each Seattle Seahawks rookie draft pick did in pro debut

With one of their most compelling NFL Drafts in recent memory, the Seattle Seahawks gave their roster a major jolt of young, high-upside talent this past spring. And on Thursday night, those rookies got their first taste of in-game NFL action.

Observations from Seahawks’ preseason opener

How did the Seahawks’ 2025 draft class fare in the team’s preseason-opening tie with the Las Vegas Raiders? Here’s a closer look.

LG Grey Zabel (1st round, No. 18 overall)

Zabel, who’s expected to be the Week 1 starting left guard, certainly looked the part of a first-round pick. The 6-foot-6, 316-pound North Dakota State product played the first two series and received a standout 81.2 Pro Football Focus grade, which was the fourth-highest mark on Seattle’s offense.

Zabel held up well in pass protection, including one particular play where he completely walled off Raiders first-string defensive tackle Jonah Laulu on the second-year pro’s unsuccessful swim move attempt. Zabel also was a force in the run game and pancaked rookie fourth-round defensive end Tonka Hemingway into the ground at one point.

Zabel was even featured on one of NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger’s “Baldy’s Breakdowns” on social media Friday morning. For a full story on that, click the link below.

More: Top Seahawks pick Zabel’s pro debut draws national praise

S Nick Emmanwori (2nd round, No. 35)

Emmanwori got his feet wet in playing the team’s first two defensive series, while primarily lining up in the slot as a hybrid defensive back.

Though he didn’t play many snaps, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Emmanwori showcased his elite athleticism and versatility on one particular play. Lining up on the edge, Emmanwori raced into the backfield on a blitz and caught up to rookie No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty on a backside pursuit, brining down the reigning Heisman Trophy runner-up for no gain.

“We wanted him to get his feet wet and go affect the game as best he could,” Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said. “When he was in there, we felt him. We sent him on a couple pressures and he did a good job. It was a couple series and then we felt like that was good.”

TE Elijah Arroyo (2nd round, No. 50)

Arroyo got just two targets, but made the most of them with two catches for 14 yards. In the first quarter, he slipped while coming off the line of scrimmage but recovered to haul in a 10-yard reception on third down that moved the chains. And later in the half, he had a 4-yard catch on a rollout.

QB Jalen Milroe (3rd round, No. 92)

Milroe, the team’s third-string quarterback and one of the more intriguing players in the entire 2025 NFL Draft class, had an up-and-down preseason debut. Playing the entire second half, former dual-threat Alabama QB completed 6 of 10 passes for 61 yards, while showcasing his electrifying speed with three carries for 38 yards.

Seahawks’ Jalen Milroe impresses Bump in preseason opener

The highlight for Milroe came on a zone-read keeper where he raced around the edge for a 27-yard gain. He also zipped a 15-yard play-action pass to undrafted rookie receiver Tyrone Broden and threaded the needle on a 14-yard completion over the middle to rookie wideout Ricky White III.

Quick with it. 💨

📺: @King5Seattle or @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/ZiTgaqfrT2

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 8, 2025

But Milroe also had his share of rookie moments too. On his first series, Milroe was nearly picked off on a late throw toward the sideline. Later on, facing a fourth-and-1 rollout near midfield, he was off-target on a throw to undrafted rookie tight end Marshall Lang. And in the final minute, he overthrew Broden and then took a third-down sack.

“I thought Jalen played well,” Macdonald said. “I thought he made good decisions. Operation-wise, there are some things we want to be a little cleaner on. Throwing the ball accurately, throwing it on time, and then when it wasn’t there, extending plays with his legs I thought was really cool.

“Made some good decisions in the (zone-read) game with how they’re playing their edges. Again, we haven’t game-planned these guys, … so not getting greedy and handing the ball off and having effective runs, I thought that was good stuff for not really having prepped for them.”

DE Rylie Mills (5th round, No. 142)

Mills remains on the non-football injury list as he recovers from a torn ACL that he suffered in a College Football Playoff game with Notre Dame last December.

WR Tory Horton (5th round, No. 166)

Horton, who’s pushing veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling for the No. 3 receiver role, built on his strong training camp with three catches for 31 yards and a touchdown.

On Seattle’s first offensive snap of the game, the speedy Colorado State product found a soft spot in the zone for an 8-yard reception. Later on, Horton fought through a pass interference penalty to make a 13-yard catch that moved the chains on third-and-long. And on a third-down play in the red zone, he hauled in a short pass and spun past a defender for a nifty 10-yard TD.

Brock: Seahawks rookie Horton looked like first-round talent

Horton, who had three punt return touchdowns in college, also handled the first-string punt return duties. On one return, he showed his elusiveness by making several defenders miss.

“You just felt him out there in those situations, which was a continuation of what we’re seeing in practice,” Macdonald said. “Great to see it in a game setting.”

FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN 😮‍💨 @toryhorton11

📺: @King5Seattle or @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/PnURclUrWr

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 8, 2025

FB Robbie Ouzts (5th round, No. 175)

The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Ouzts, who’s expected to be the primary fullback in the Seahawks’ new-look offense, certainly made his presence felt.

On Seattle’s second offensive snap of the game, Ouzts blocked four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby to help running back George Holani spring free on a halfback toss for a 19-yard gain. And on the team’s second series, Ouzts made the key block that enabled Holani to bounce outside and race around the edge for a 24-yard TD.

Ouzts even factored into the passing game, sneaking out of the backfield for a 17-yard catch.

“You definitely felt him,” Macdonald said. “Like, hey, what is that, your second play as an NFL player and you go execute at a high level and (help) pop an explosive run? That was pretty cool.”

Fullback sighting.

📺: @King5Seattle or @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/Kqd1qywblV

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 8, 2025

OG Bryce Cabeldue (6th round, No. 192)

Cabeldue played 20 snaps at left guard while working with the reserves.

RB Damien Martinez (7th round, No. 223)

Martinez, who’s coming off a highly productive three-year college career at Oregon State and Miami, had a bit of an underwhelming showing. The 6-foot, 217-pound back finished with just 10 yards on six carries, along with two catches for 15 yards. He also misplayed a squib kick as a kick returner, which backed up Seattle at its own 6-yard line.

Martinez is competing for the third running back role with second-year pro George Holani, who had a standout performance with 61 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, plus a 20-yard gain on a screen pass.

OG Mason Richman (7th round, No. 234)

Richman logged 20 snaps at right guard and nine at right tackle while working with the reserves.

WR Ricky White III (7th round, No. 238)

White hauled in his lone target for a 14-yard reception with just over a minute left in the game.

How each Seattle Seahawks rookie draft pick did in pro debut

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