This past April, the Seattle Seahawks compiled one of their most intriguing draft classes in recent memory.
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And so far, the group has certainly delivered. With fullback Robbie Ouzts set to return from injured reserve, five of Seattle’s rookie draft picks will be either starters or regular contributors. That’s an impressive number, especially for a 5-2 team that’s looking like a legitimate NFC contender.
Here’s a closer look at how the Seahawks’ 11-player draft class has fared through seven games.
LG Grey Zabel (1st round, No. 18 overall)
Zabel has lived up to the billing as a first-round pick, serving as a steady force up front while playing all 428 of Seattle’s offensive snaps at left guard.
The 6-foot-6, 316-pound North Dakota State product ranks No. 1 among interior offensive linemen in ESPN’s run block win rate. He’s not as highly regarded by Pro Football Focus, ranking 56th out of 82 guards in PFF grading – including 51st in pass block grading and 64th in run block grading. But as a rookie who’s just seven games into his NFL career, that’s still a pretty decent spot to be.
Also, Zabel is tied for 25th among guards in PFF’s pass blocking efficiency metric. According to PFF, he hasn’t allowed a sack in 225 pass block snaps.
S Nick Emmanwori (2nd round, No. 35)
Emmanwori’s career got off to an unfortunate start when he suffered an ankle injury just four plays into the season opener, which sidelined him through Week 4. But since returning in Week 5, the ultra-athletic 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety has showcased the tantalizing skill set and versatility that made him such a unique prospect.
Emmanwori, who has played nearly 70% of his snaps at slot corner, ranks third out of 113 cornerbacks in PFF grading. He has filled up the stat sheet with two pass breakups, three tackles for loss and 17 combined tackles. And according to PFF, he has allowed 14 catches on 19 targets for just 84 yards – an average of just 4.4 yards per target.
Emmanwori’s most spectacular play came in Seattle’s Week 7 win over the Houston Texans. Emmanwori lined up in the box, but then retreated into coverage and used his blazing speed and length to make a diving pass breakup on a throw over the middle to Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins, who had beaten cornerback Josh Jobe.
It’ll be interesting to see how Emmanwori will be used going forward, with two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Devon Witherspoon seemingly on track to return from injury on Sunday night. With Emmanwori and Witherspoon both in the fold, the Seahawks would have two highly versatile defensive backs who are capable of moving around and excelling from different spots.
TE Elijah Arroyo (2nd round, No. 50)
Arroyo has hauled in 11 catches for 140 yards as Seattle’s No. 2 tight end behind AJ Barner. Along the way, the 6-foot-5, 254-pound Miami product has shown flashes of the impressive speed-size combo that made him an intriguing second-round pick.
Arroyo has twice topped the 40-yard mark, recording two catches for 44 yards in a Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals and four catches for 42 yards in Seattle’s Week 7 win over the Texans. His longest reception was a 32-yarder against Arizona where he made a leaping catch against linebacker Josh Sweat to kickstart a 90-yard touchdown drive.
Darnold to Arroyo for 32 yards!
SEAvsAZ on Prime Video
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— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2025
QB Jalen Milroe (3rd round, No. 92)
Prior to the season, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team planned to sprinkle in the speedy Milroe as a change-of-pace weapon in specialty packages. Milroe indeed has been active for four of Seattle’s seven games, but he’s played just three snaps. He has three carries for 4 yards, including a lost fumble on an errant option pitch to Kenneth Walker III in a Week 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Since that costly fumble, Milroe has been inactive for each of the past two games. He remains third on the depth chart behind Sam Darnold and backup Drew Lock.
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 has shown quite a knack for finding the end zone. The Colorado State product has nine catches for 113 yards and three touchdowns, along with a franchise-record 95-yard punt return TD.
Horton’s three touchdown catches are the second-most of any rookie wide receiver this season, trailing only Tampa Bay first-round pick Emeka Egbuka. Horton also ranks third in the league with a 14.9-yard average on his 16 punt returns.
TORY HORTON GOES 95 YARDS TO THE CRIB!
NOvsSEA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/nwjvDYnnD2
— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025
Horton’s first career catch came on a 21-yard TD reception in a Week 2 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. One week later, he delivered the longest punt return TD in franchise history and added a 14-yard TD catch in a rout of the New Orleans Saints. And in a Week 5 loss to Tampa Bay, he had a go-ahead 21-yard TD reception in the fourth quarter.
However, Horton has been held without a catch over the past two games.
FB Robbie Ouzts (5th round, No. 175)
The 6-foot-3, 274-pound Ouzts suffered an ankle injury that landed him on injured reserve and sidelined him for the past four games, but he returned to practice earlier this week and could play on Sunday night. Prior to getting hurt, Ouzts played 60 snaps over the first three games and was a tone-setting force in the run game. He ranks second out of eight fullbacks in PFF run block grading.
OG Bryce Cabeldue (6th round, No. 192)
Cabeldue has been active as a backup offensive lineman for all seven games. He has played four offensive snaps, all of which came in a Week 3 rout of the Saints. He also played a special teams snap in Week 2 against the Steelers.
RB Damien Martinez (7th round, No. 223)
Martinez began the season on Seattle’s practice squad, but was released on Sept. 19 and hasn’t signed with another team.
OG Mason Richman (7th round, No. 234)
Richman has been active for two games and appeared in both, logging 11 special teams snap and one offensive snap. His lone snap on offense came in Week 5 against Tampa Bay, when he entered the game as a sixth offensive lineman for a goal-line package
WR Ricky White III (7th round, No. 238)
White has spent the season on Seattle’s practice squad.
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