Author: Rob Staton (Page 1 of 417)

This will be the open thread for day three so discuss everything in the comments section and remember, no tipping picks.

Seahawks picks

R4 — #137 — traded to New England for #144 (R5) and #238 (R7)
R5 — #142 — Rylie Mills (DT, Notre Dame)
R5 — #144 — traded to Cleveland for #166 (R5) and #192 (R6)
R5 — #166 — Tory Horton (WR, Colorado State)
R5 — #172 — traded with Sam Howell to Minnesota for #142
R5 — #175 — Robbie Ouzts (TE, Alabama)
R6 — #192 — Bryce Cabeldue (G, Kansas)
R7 — #223
R7 — #234
R7 — #238

Horizontal board for players available at the start of round four

Thoughts on each day two pick

#35 (Trade via Tennessee) — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
The Seahawks gave the Titans #52 and #82 for the 35th pick. I’m surprised, given all of the character reports, that Emmanwori was selected and it perhaps speaks to a slight departure in their approach. However, Albert Breer mentioned they liked him prior to the draft and he fits into the defense. His combination of speed and size is rare and Mike Macdonald will have a lot of fun with him. Strangely he’s better in space than up at the line with his size but there’s room for development. I had a fringe first round grade on him so the value matches the deal. He was the 32nd best player in the draft on my board. Without the reported character concerns he would’ve been top-25 for sure. I think Macdonald has earned the trust of people that when he sees a player he likes enough to agree with the GM that they should trade, that it could be an exciting move. Compare this trade, costing a third rounder, to Atlanta’s baffling deal with the Rams to go and get James Pearce Jr which cost them their 2026 first round pick. I’m looking forward to seeing how Macdonald will utilise Emmanwori’s incredible physical talent.

#50 — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
Regulars will know I’m a huge Arroyo fan. He’s such a mismatch weapon and will give the Seahawks a legit opportunity to have a dynamic pass-catching tight end who puts up big numbers. He can be used in lieu of a top receiver pick. There’s untapped potential as a blocker and there’s still evidence on tape of him giving more effort there than the other tight ends drafted early in this class. Arroyo is so fluid running the seam or into second level pockets. His body control and ability to box-out in the red zone is tremendous. He has soft hands and he dominated at the Senior Bowl. I had a fringe first round grade on him and thought he was the 17th best player in the draft. We felt for a long time they would want one of these top-four tight ends and they’ve delivered. It’s a fantastic pick and while the medical history can’t be ignored, Arroyo can be a X-factor weapon for the offense.

#50 — Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
There’s no doubt Milroe needs major technical work as a passer. His short and intermediate accuracy is all over the place at times and based on his Alabama tape, you’ll not trust him to throw for a key third down conversion based on his current playing level. However, his upside is tantalising and if you can improve these aspects of his game you could end up with a genuine diamond. His running ability is akin to watching a Formula 1 racing car snaking around a circuit. His ability to turn corners and accelerate is rare. He will constantly give opponents headaches with his running ability. Aside from that, he does have a genuine cannon for an arm. He made some excellent deep throws and he’ll keep opponents honest downfield, which also brings his legs more into play. They can use him as a weapon immediately as he learns how to be a better signal caller. For the sake of a late third round pick, this was well worth a roll of the dice.

If you want an idea of the value the Seahawks got in the first two days of the draft, they picked at #18, #35, #50 and #92. The players they selected were taken at #19, #22, #34 and #42 in Mel Kiper’s final mock draft.

Updated horizontal board after day two (click to enlarge) showing the remaining players available:

Seahawks picks

#35 (Trade via Tennessee) — Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina)
The Seahawks gave the Titans #52 and #82 for the 35th pick. I’m surprised, given all of the character reports, that Emmanwori was selected and it perhaps speaks to a slight departure in their approach. However, Albert Breer mentioned they liked him prior to the draft and he fits into the defense. His combination of speed and size is rare and Mike Macdonald will have a lot of fun with him. I have a fringe first round grade on him so have no problem with them taking him here. The deal was not overly expensive.

#50 — Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami)
Regulars to the blog will know I’m a huge Arroyo fan. He’s such a mismatch weapon and will give the Seahawks a legit opportunity to have a dynamic pass-catching tight end who puts up big numbers. He can be used in lieu of a top receiver pick. There’s untapped potential as a blocker here. Arroyo is so fluid running the seam or into second level pockets. His body control and ability to box-out in the red zone is tremendous. He has soft hands. He dominated at the Senior Bowl. I had a fringe first round grade on him and thought he was the 17th best player in the draft. We felt for a long time they would want one of these top-four tight ends and they’ve delivered. Fantastic pick.

#50 — Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)

This is a big day for the Seahawks. They start with four picks and there are a number of areas still to address. This will be the open thread for day two so discuss everything in the comments section and remember, no tipping picks.

We’ll be doing a live stream as soon as the Seahawks have used all of their picks today so be sure to join us for that.

I’ve updated the horizontal board below, removing the players who have already been drafted (click to enlarge):

Here are some key talking points:

— Will the Seahawks be aggressive? In the past they’ve traded up on day two for Jarran Reed, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Darrell Taylor. Is there a player they have to have today, rather than simply waiting this out? It would probably have to be someone they would’ve been prepared to take in round one.

— Is there anything in the hints Adam Schefter has been delivering about the quarterback position? Will the Seahawks draft one today? They had official visits with Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough, while there’s been this long-lasting thought that John Schneider might have interest in Quinn Ewers. Don’t sleep on Will Howard either.

— These are still plenty of ‘prototype’ Seahawks in terms of toughness, character and reliability. The names that stand out in that regard for me are Elijah Arroyo, Mason Taylor, Tate Ratledge, Jared Wilson, Jack Bech, Tory Horton, JT Tuimoloau, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Bradyn Swinson, Darius Alexander, Ty Robinson, Josaiah Stewart, Carson Schwesinger, Shavon Revel, Billy Bowman Jr, Demetrius Knight and Danny Stutsman. There are others but these are the main ones.

— I’d be surprised if the Seahawks showed any interest in Nick Emmanwori or Mike Green. Character issues kept them on the board going into day two. I’d also be extremely surprised if Shedeur Sanders was in any way, shape or form a fit for this Head Coach and GM.

— It’s possible the Seahawks rest on the O-line after taking Grey Zabel, addressing other areas. However, adding Tate Ratledge would give you a big, physical, highly athletic pairing at guard reminiscent of teams like the Eagles. That’s a great thought. Jared Wilson is also an ideal physical fit for the zone blocking scheme at center.

— I think they have to add a cornerback today. Shavon Revel Jr is such a Mike Macdonald player for me. If he passed his medical check, he could be a serious target. What is the feeling on Will Johnson? Both players took an official visit to Seattle. Benjamin Morrison, Azareye’h Thomas and Trey Amos are all well liked while Jordan Hancock is flying under the radar.

— I’m a big fan of Bradyn Swinson and believe he could be a player who comes in and elevates your pass-rush to the next level. We’ll see how long he lasts.

— When I did the mock draft earlier I was surprised how challenging it became to find a receiver if you waited until round three. They might have to address that position at #50 or #52.

— If they target a safety, it’ll be interesting to note what medical info they have on Kevin Winston Jr. He has first round talent but missed most of last season. Billy Bowman Jr reminds me of a poor-man’s Earl Thomas but there are mixed opinions in the league on his size while Jonas Sanker and Andrew Mukuba both pack a punch.

The Seahawks got it right.

Having been so patient during free agency, now was the time to strike. They had to reinforce their offensive line after so much good work on the defensive side of the ball over the last couple of years.

Grey Zabel is the kind of player fans have complained about in the past when they haven’t been drafted by the Seahawks. This isn’t another Cam Jurgens, Creed Humphrey, Landon Dickerson, Joel Bitonio, Quinn Meinerz, Erik McCoy moment.

Zabel has everything you look for. He’s an elite athlete. Jumping a 36.5 inch vertical at 315lbs isn’t normal. His explosive testing mark was a 3.25 — the exact same as Kansas City’s Humphrey. Nearly all of the best offensive linemen in the league are explosive testers and Zabel ticks that box.

This shows he has the upside to be great. I’d also say he has a base level of performance expectation that means he’s unlikely to bust. He just does everything well for the zone-blocking scheme. He combo blocks superbly, he can pull with ease, he reaches up to the second level and finds targets. He’s a legit finisher who plays with violence.

This is the kind of player who excels in the NFL.

The selection of Zabel now opens everything else up in the draft. They can attack the next six rounds and target the best players on their board without any O-line sized doubts lingering in the background.

They could still add another offensive lineman. I said after the combine that the best way to create an Eagles-style interior would be to pair Zabel with Tate Ratledge. Jared Wilson also makes sense at center. Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor are still available. Pass rushers like Donovan Ezeiruaku, Bradyn Swinson and JT Tuimoloau stand out, while there’s talent at cornerback in Will Johnson, Shavon Revel Jr, Benjamin Morrison and Azareye’h Thomas. At receiver, Luther Burden, Jack Bech and Jayden Higgins remain available and there are good options stretching into day three.

I’m not sure Mike Green or Nick Emmanwori will be on their radar due to reported character concerns but I suppose there may come a time on day two where the value is worth rolling the dice.

There’s also the question of a quarterback. Was Adam Schefter steering us in the right direction by hinting a round two selection was possible?

This couldn’t have gone any better for Seattle. When I did this video in February discussing Zabel as the best option in round one for the Seahawks, it was with this day in mind. As you can see here in this tweet, he’s a player who’s been on our radar for a long time.

I’m also happy to report I finished joint 24th in Huddle Report scoring for my mock draft. Given how unpredictable the first round was, I’m delighted with that. To finish 24th in the world justifies a lot of the work we’ve done since the summer trying to find the right evaluation for these players.

Join us tomorrow for more coverage — we’ll have so much content both on the blog and on the YouTube channel.

Discuss the first round in the comments section with the community but please NO TIPPING PICKS.

I will post a video on my YouTube channel with instant reaction to Seattle’s round one pick as soon as it’s made.

I’m also sharing my thoughts on every pick on the BBC Sport website. You can check it out here.

As soon as the first round is complete, Robbie and I will be doing an instant reaction live stream.

#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
#2 Jacksonville (v/CLE) — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
#3 NY Giants — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
#4 New England — Will Campbell (T, LSU)
#5 Cleveland — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
#6 Las Vegas — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
#7 NY Jets — Armand Membou (T, Missouri)
#8 Carolina — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
#9 New Orleans — Kelvin Banks Jr (T, Texas)
#10 Chicago — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
#11 San Francisco — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
#12 Dallas — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
#13 Miami — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
#14 Indianapolis — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
#15 Atlanta — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
#16 Arizona — Walter Nolen (DT, Arizona)
#17 Cincinnati — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
#18 Seattle — Grey Zabel (G, North Dakota State)
#19 Tampa Bay — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
#20 Denver — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
#21 Pittsburgh — Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
#22 LA Chargers — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
#24 Minnesota — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
#25 NY Giants (v/HOU) — Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss)
#26 Atlanta (v/LAR) — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
#27 Baltimore — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
#28 Detroit — Tyleik Williams (DT, Ohio State)
#29 Washington — Josh Conerly Jr (T, Oregon)
#30 Buffalo — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
#31 Philadelphia (v/KC) — Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
#32 Kansas City — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)

If you missed my pre-draft live stream earlier, check it out here:

— The growing buzz that Grey Zabel might not last to Seattle’s pick feels legit. So what if he doesn’t make it to #18? Perhaps they pivot to Donovan Jackson or Tyler Booker to fill the gaping void at left guard? They are plug-in-and-play types. Would they consider Josh Conerly Jr for that role? He fits the bill athletically with a strong vertical jump and a good 10-yard split. However, it’d feel a bit like they’d drafted Charles Cross again. I graded both players in round two. They both had smaller builds, they were athletic but lacked strength and power. I’m not sure I want two versions of Cross on the left side for 3rd and 1 or the red zone. Conerly for me is best served sticking at left tackle.

— At other positions, they could look at Emeka Egbuka, Matthew Golden, Donovan Ezeiruaku or Malaki Starks — three players who fit everything they look for in a player and person. There’s also Kenneth Grant, who seems to be admired by all of the ex-Michigan coaches. I’m just not sure about using the #16 and #18 picks on defensive tackles in back-to-back years, to have them rotate with Leonard Williams (who also cost a second rounder) and Jarran Reed. That’s a bit much for me, especially in a deep defensive tackle draft.

— A note on Malaki Starks, who is beloved at Georgia. When I spoke to my best source in the league and asked him to give me the names of some players he liked, the first answer was Starks. Here’s what Bob McGinn’s scouting sources said about him:

“Everybody loves him (at Georgia). They think he’s a slam dunk. Can play nickel, safety and, corner, in a pinch. Leader, instinctive, athletic. Everybody stands on the table when they talk about him. Top 20.”

“Kirby Smart loves, loves Malaki Starks. Real great reputation.”

“I still think he’s one of the most valuable defensive players in this draft because he can play safety and/or down as a sub defender. He’s still the best safety. Hell of an athlete, great kid. He’ll know everything there is to know about your defense.”

“It’s hard to find these guys. I don’t really have any negatives. He could be a little more consistent with his tackling technique from a breakdown standpoint but he didn’t miss many. It’s splitting hairs on him. Outstanding young man. Starter since Day 1. Went to (SEC) Media Day for them. A+ across the board. And someone may get crazy and decide they want to try him at corner for a little bit. He’s got the corner movement. I’d rather keep him where he is.”

— Who are some wildcard options? If they stay at #18 or move down, keep an eye on Shavon Revel Jr. He would’ve been a first round pick if it wasn’t for his knee injury. He has a terrific understanding of defensive concepts. He’s a swearer during interviews and there’s a clear fire in his belly. On tape he looks the part — physical, fast and talented. He looks like a Mike Macdonald defender. JT Tuimoloau could be a target after running a 4.37 shuttle and don’t count out the two excellent tight ends — Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor.

— Could they take a quarterback at #18? Adam Schefter has really messed with my mind this week with his big old hint about the Seahawks drafting a quarterback, potentially in the first two rounds. What if John Schneider has fallen for Jaxson Dart and plans to take him at #18? Remember how good the data was for Dart in this article? He’s athletic, aggressive and he has an arm. These are things Schneider tends to like. It’s worth not ruling out.

— One of the reasons I projected Mason Graham to the Jets at #7 is because of a CBS podcast appearance by Rick Spielman last year. He frequently talked about Graham potentially being the best player in the 2025 draft. Spielman now works for the Jets. He doesn’t have final say or anything but I’m guessing that opinion has been voiced and heard.

— Why might the Seahawks be a good trade target for teams like the Giants if they want to move back into round one? Teams are putting a lot of value on day two picks this year. The Falcons (five total picks) and Vikings (four total picks) might want to add to their stash. However, if teams don’t want to give away second, third and fourth round selections — there’s not much they can do. With the Seahawks already having 10 picks this year, including five in the top-100, they can afford to do a deal for 2026 stock. If their grading chart has similar players available at #18 and #40 — and they can get a 2026 second rounder in a trade — that is appealing. Sure, they might lose out on certain players by doing it. You’d still have 10 picks to address your issues. If the Giants don’t want to give up #65 this year to trade up, the Seahawks might be the ideal trade partner.

— Based on Jeremiah’s mock where the Seahawks do trade down, who would I consider taking at #34? Elijah Arroyo, Mason Taylor, Luther Burden, Tate Ratledge, Jared Wilson, Shavon Revel, Benjamin Morrison, Bradyn Swinson and if Schneider is eyeing a quarterback, that’d be an option too. I’m not a big fan of his but I know people who like Jonah Savaiinaea in the late first or early second round range. Depending on the medicals, Will Johnson is an option too.

— Character really matters to the Seahawks. Here are some players I think are unlikely to be drafted by Seattle as a consequence, based on reported concerns: James Pearce Jr, Mike Green, Walter Nolen, Nick Emmanwori, Josh Simmons, Maxwell Hairston and Shemar Stewart. Fit also matters and I don’t think Shedeur Sanders is a fit for Schneider and Macdonald.

— The following players reportedly have injury flags: Jihaad Campbell, Will Johnson and Derrick Harmon. These players are also still recovering from pre-existing injuries: Colston Loveland, Josh Simmons, Abdul Carter, Shavon Revel, Benjamin Morrison, Kevin Winston Jr.

The plan for today is an open thread throughout round one. When (if?) the Seahawks make a pick at #18 I will post an instant reaction video to my YouTube channel and post it on here too. As soon as round one finishes, I will be doing a live stream with Robbie Williams. When that concludes, I’ll be writing an article for the blog.

Here’s a reminder of my final mock draft. Shout-out to Sea Mode for the graphics:

Join me at 9am PT to discuss the latest buzz ahead of the start of the NFL Draft and what it all might mean for the Seahawks…

#1 Tennessee — Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
The consensus top pick for some time but I know one talent evaluator in the league who only gave him a third round grade.

#2 Cleveland — Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado)
All the talk in the last 24 hours has been about a team (maybe Dallas?) trying to trade up for a shot at Hunter. I doubt anything happens.

#3 NY Giants — Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
The Giants don’t take a quarterback here and will need a plan for their second pick to address the need.

#4 New England — Will Campbell (T, LSU)
I don’t like this pick. Campbell’s tape wasn’t very good in 2024 and he will struggle at tackle in the NFL. But this is where the buzz is.

#5 Jacksonville — Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
In my stream on Sunday I put Jeanty with the Jaguars and it has now become the betting favourite pairing. It makes sense, he’s the pound-for-pound best player in the draft.

#6 Las Vegas — Jalon Walker (LB, Georgia)
The Raiders need a culture-setter. That’s Jalon Walker. He’ll come in, contribute to the pass-rush, play linebacker and set the tone for Pete Carroll.

#7 NY Jets — Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
There’s plenty of chatter that the Jets plan to give their defensive-minded Head Coach the opportunity to add a top defender here. Graham had dinner with the Jets, an official visit and they’ve shown a lot of interest.

#8 Carolina — Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia)
With Walker unavailable, the Panthers pivot to his Georgia team-mate to fill a need.

#9 New Orleans — Armand Membou (T, Missouri)
Ryan Ramczyk is retiring and they’re not taking up the fifth-year option on Trevor Penning.

#10 Chicago — Tyler Warren (TE, Penn State)
Warren or Colston Loveland will be tremendous in Ben Johnson’s offense.

#11 San Francisco — Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss)
I know a talent evaluator who loves Nolen. Without the character concerns he would’ve been a top-10 pick.

#12 Dallas — Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
I’m not a McMillan fan but I was told by a good source he’ll be the first receiver taken and I’m sticking with it.

#13 Miami — Kelvin Banks Jr (T/G, Texas)
Jahdae Barron makes a lot of sense but there’s a lot of smoke around the Dolphins wanting Banks Jr.

#14 Indianapolis — Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
One of the legit top-10 players in the draft, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Loveland goes higher than this — leaving the Colts to go O-line instead.

#15 Atlanta — Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
They need sacks and Green had 17 last season.

#16 Arizona — Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas)
It feels like O-line and cornerback are the likely options here.

#17 Cincinnati — James Pearce Jr (EDGE, Tennessee)
The Bengals rarely worry about character concerns. If they make this pick, could they trade Trey Hendrickson shortly after?

#18 Seattle — Grey Zabel (G, North Dakota State)
The Seahawks have a gaping void at left guard and need to fill it. Zabel’s testing profile being comparable to Creed Humphrey, Frank Ragnow and Zach Tom makes him a justifiable top-20 pick. The key question is — will someone else take him before #18?

#19 Tampa Bay — Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Boston College)
They like to add pass rushers and Ezeiruaku can provide real burst and agility off the edge.

#20 Denver — TreVeyon Henderson (RB, Ohio State)
Sean Payton apparently wants a ‘joker’ weapon on offense and he showed last year he’ll take the guys he wants and isn’t bothered what anyone thinks.

#21 Pittsburgh — Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado)
It’s difficult to work out whether Pittsburgh’s interest is legit but at the moment they only have Mason Rudolph on the roster and Aaron Rodgers seems to be waiting for the Vikings.

#22 LA Chargers — Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan)
The Michigan coaches and staff seem to have a real belief in Grant, so expect him to land in Seattle, LA or Baltimore.

#23 Green Bay — Matthew Golden (WR, Texas)
The Packers finally draft a receiver in the first round.

#24 Minnesota — Donovan Jackson (G, Ohio State)
He has explosive traits, strong character and he feels like a needed plug-in starter at left guard.

#25 Houston — Emeka Egbuka (WR, Ohio State)
‘The guy’ at Ohio State will go earlier than people realise. Character, production, athleticism, reliability and talent. He has it all. He’d reunite with CJ Stroud here.

#26 LA Rams — Omarion Hampton (RB, North Carolina)
The talk is they’ll go O-line (most of the options are gone) or an offensive skill player (the receivers are gone). Hampton could be a demon in this offense.

#27 Baltimore — Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
I’m a huge fan of Starks and this could be an ideal home.

#28 Detroit — Tyler Booker (G, Alabama)
They replace Kevin Zeitler with a player who fits the Lions like a glove.

#29 Washington — Shemar Stewart (DE, Texas A&M)
Aside from the lack of production, there’s talk he could fall due to poor representation and the way he’s handled the draft process — including a shoddy and quite unprofessional exit from the Senior Bowl, which included telling Field Yates (so he can tweet it out) and not Jim Nagy, who reportedly had no idea until he saw it on social media.

#30 Buffalo — Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
The injury flags are supposedly legit so we’ll see if this sinks Johnson down the board. His testing results won’t help.

#31 Kansas City — Josh Simmons (T, Ohio State)
He’s incredibly talented but lasts this far due to the patellar tendon injury and some maturity concerns. The Chiefs can take their time with him.

#32 Philadelphia — Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky)
Hairston’s tape shows a fluid, exciting talent. He might go earlier than this.

Players not included

Nick Emmanwori (S, South Carolina
Todd McShay reported yesterday: “Reports about his football character and locker room personality are concerning, as are his inconsistent focus on the field and aggressiveness versus the run.” This is the second report about character concerns, following Bob McGinn’s scouting sources who among other things called him “Naturally contrarian to most everything” adding “Just be sure you know, he can probably fray some things. You’ve got to have somebody to deal with the personality. They say this guy is so strong-willed, if you get him onto your side he’ll save the world. If he is opposed to your views he’ll burn the world down.”

Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
I think Campbell is one of the best players in the class. However, labrum surgery meaning he starts the year on the PUP list is a concern. His team pushing a video of him running on a treadmill to the media this week hinted at some concern about what they’re hearing. For a potential non-contributor in year one, I think that impacts his stock.

Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
There have been some late reports about medical issues with Harmon that could mean he lasts into day two.

What happens if Grey Zabel isn’t available?

This is the scenario to consider. If Kelvin Banks Jr comes off the board before Miami picks at #13 — it’ll be interesting to see whether they pivot to Zabel or go with a different position. The Colts at #14 and Cardinals at #16 could also take him.

Yesterday Adam Schefter said the Dolphins had to improve their O-line with their top pick. He might be assuming in that scenario that Banks Jr is available. A few people have touted Zabel to Miami, including Mike Mayock. Albert Breer and Todd McShay have talked about #18 being Zabel’s floor. It’s a reality that he might not last to Seattle.

If this happens — I can see why they might be keen to trade down. The 18th pick would be a tricky place to sit. They’d probably rather get more stock and put themselves in a range where they can let the board come to them, given the players at #18 might have the same grade as the players at #32.

A deal might be incredibly difficult to execute. If so — I think they’d pivot to the next best available O-liner (that could be Donovan Jackson, Tyler Booker or Josh Conerly Jr) or go with another position — bringing Emeka Egbuka, Kenneth Grant, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Malaki Starks, Matthew Golden and some others into play.

If either of the top-two tight ends come into range, they also need to be monitored. I still think Warren, Loveland, Arroyo and Taylor could all be on their radar.

Seahawks thoughts for day two

Given Adam Schefter’s significant hints recently, I’m going to assume there’s a decent chance the Seahawks will select a quarterback in round two. There’s no smoke without fire and all that. A few people have suggested this is merely one big ruse to try and convince teams to trade into Seattle’s #18 spot. I’m not buying that. For starters, a rumour about the Seahawks eyeing quarterbacks would probably just make it easier for Atlanta (#15) and Arizona (#16) to trade down. You don’t wait until Seattle’s on the clock and deal directly with them if you really want a player at the most important position in the sport, knowing the Seahawks would have all of the leverage if you fear they’ll take your guy.

It’s much more likely Schefter knows something, just as Chris Mortensen did when he famously told Russell Wilson before the 2012 draft that he was going to be a Seahawk. It’s also possible the player Seattle is eyeing goes off the board before they get into range and this ends up leading to nothing. That might be why Schefter is being cagey with any further details. He is, however, dropping seriously big hints that the Seahawks are eyeing an early-round signal caller and my guess is he knows which one.

As we talked about yesterday, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they copied the Baltimore Ravens and traded up for Jalen Milroe — or took him in the late second. There are mixed views on his range. Some think he’s a fringe first rounder having been invited to the draft. Others think rounds 2/3. With so much ammunition, the Seahawks can make sure they get Milroe (or anyone else) if they really want him.

It’s also worth noting that Mike Mayock also tentatively brought up the idea that the Seahawks might move up in round two recently. It’s something to prepare yourself for.

Here’s another thing to keep in mind. The Seahawks aren’t going to copy the Ravens just because Mike Macdonald happens to be the Head Coach. However, this is what Baltimore did in the 2018 draft:

— Traded down from #22 to #25, gaining a fourth rounder for a sixth

— Took a tight end — Hayden Hurst — at #25

— Traded up from #52 to #32 to draft Lamar Jackson

Is it preposterous to think the Seahawks might trade down from #18, then move up to draft Jalen Milroe — effectively copying the Ravens’ strategy from seven years ago?

Of course they might not be eyeing Milroe. It could be another quarterback. We’ve been saying for a long time that Schneider could have interest in Quinn Ewers. We’ll see if there was ever anything in that.

If they go O-line at #18, aside from quarterback their second rounders could be reserved for a weapon (receiver/tight end) or it could be the best defender available. Or even another O-liner.

So there we go. Another mock sent off to the Huddle Report for scoring. Thank you to everyone who has followed along with our coverage of the 2025 draft, which began last summer. This is a long process and has become a second full-time job, rather than a hobby. I wouldn’t change anything about it though.

The blog started in 2008 and I appreciate the community we’ve built, particularly everyone who helps with the running costs through Patreon and YouTube.

Tomorrow I might do a pre-draft live stream with some final thoughts. We will have an open thread to discuss the first round and I’ll do an instant reaction video on Seattle’s first pick. At the end of round one Robbie and I will do an immediate live stream and then I’ll have a full article on the blog.

Stick with us over the next few days — we’ll have loads of content. Here’s to a great draft for the Seahawks. ✌️