Official 2025 Draft Talk Thread

[JMR]

Caught most of the draft while on vacay, a few thoughts:

• Zabel was a sigh of relief pick for me. We didn't over-think it or try to outsmart everyone else, didn't trade down but just went with a top talent that addresses the weakest area of the team. He might be a bit "old" for a rookie, but to me that just means he's better suited to come in and make an immediate impact as a starter on the OL. If I have any concern about this prospect it's the smaller program issue, but he seemed to hold up against the big school guys at the sr bowl so that puts it at bay for the time being. Gonna get tested for sure though.
• Loved the trade up for Emmanwori. I don't know too much about the player other than him being pegged quite often as our pick at 1.18 in the mocks, so the value was good at where they got him. Should be able to have an immediate impact even if he isn't the starter from day 1. These first 2 picks really made the draft for me because it just seemed value and need lined up perfectly in both cases, and both picks seem to line up awfully well with Macdonald's stated vision of the type of team he wants to build.
• Biggest head-scratcher pick for me was using a 2nd on Arroyo. I don't have a problem with the position itself, but it's the fit of the player's skillset that I don't quite get. He's more of a Jimmy Graham than a Zach Miller, and I don't want to repeat that mistake if we are trying to play physical ball. This must be a move for the post-Fant era, but 2nd round is early.
• Taking Milroe in the 3rd is probably the most surprising & interesting pick. The athletic ability is certainly there, but he's a very unpolished passer. I suspect he can help immediately as a short yardage QB, but then that means we'll not only have 3 QBs on the 53 man roster but also 3 active on gamedays.... unless you don't plan to have Drew Lock active. I just can't think they'll take the risk of having Milroe as the primary backup. Either way, I don't mind the shot at a guy with tremendous upside. A 3rd rounder is a pretty valuable pick for something like that, but I guess we'll see what they can do with him. He certainly has a better shot at being the starter in 2 or 3 years than anyone else we have if Darnold isn't here.
• Didn't think we would come out of the 7 rounds with only 2 defensive players selected. I am not sure what my takeaway should be there -- more that they're really happy with what they already have (plus now Emmanwori & Mills) or more that it's just the way the board fell and they didn't reach for need or preferred positions but instead just took the best value on the board.

On the whole, it was an encouraging 3 days. I don't know much about most of the players selected, but the early moves made tons of sense and rest is sort of icing on the cake and now we wait and see how they turn out.

 

[flyerhawk]

Caught most of the draft while on vacay, a few thoughts:

• Zabel was a sigh of relief pick for me. We didn't over-think it or try to outsmart everyone else, didn't trade down but just went with a top talent that addresses the weakest area of the team. He might be a bit "old" for a rookie, but to me that just means he's better suited to come in and make an immediate impact as a starter on the OL. If I have any concern about this prospect it's the smaller program issue, but he seemed to hold up against the big school guys at the sr bowl so that puts it at bay for the time being. Gonna get tested for sure though.
• Loved the trade up for Emmanwori. I don't know too much about the player other than him being pegged quite often as our pick at 1.18 in the mocks, so the value was good at where they got him. Should be able to have an immediate impact even if he isn't the starter from day 1. These first 2 picks really made the draft for me because it just seemed value and need lined up perfectly in both cases, and both picks seem to line up awfully well with Macdonald's stated vision of the type of team he wants to build.
• Biggest head-scratcher pick for me was using a 2nd on Arroyo. I don't have a problem with the position itself, but it's the fit of the player's skillset that I don't quite get. He's more of a Jimmy Graham than a Zach Miller, and I don't want to repeat that mistake if we are trying to play physical ball. This must be a move for the post-Fant era, but 2nd round is early.
• Taking Milroe in the 3rd is probably the most surprising & interesting pick. The athletic ability is certainly there, but he's a very unpolished passer. I suspect he can help immediately as a short yardage QB, but then that means we'll not only have 3 QBs on the 53 man roster but also 3 active on gamedays.... unless you don't plan to have Drew Lock active. I just can't think they'll take the risk of having Milroe as the primary backup. Either way, I don't mind the shot at a guy with tremendous upside. A 3rd rounder is a pretty valuable pick for something like that, but I guess we'll see what they can do with him. He certainly has a better shot at being the starter in 2 or 3 years than anyone else we have if Darnold isn't here.
• Didn't think we would come out of the 7 rounds with only 2 defensive players selected. I am not sure what my takeaway should be there -- more that they're really happy with what they already have (plus now Emmanwori & Mills) or more that it's just the way the board fell and they didn't reach for need or preferred positions but instead just took the best value on the board.

On the whole, it was an encouraging 3 days. I don't know much about most of the players selected, but the early moves made tons of sense and rest is sort of icing on the cake and now we wait and see how they turn out.

Good write up, J.

I think Arroyo was picked to be a Metcalf replacement, rather than a in line traditional TE. They will rely on Barner to be the workhorse TE. I don't think they will cut Fant unless they need his money for a new signing.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Arroyo pick is interesting. Been a trend to use TE's in the league for mis matches. Bowers, McBride are examples of TE's being major targets for their QB. I'm not sure if that's the best way for a offense to operate but guess we'll see how it works out. He's different then other TE's as he can stretch the field. He's had a major injury issue in college and only has a single season of production because of it, so some risk involved with that pick. Does have the potential to boost the offense production in a major way if it works out so I'm hoping for it to work out.

 

[JMR]

Good write up, J.

I think Arroyo was picked to be a Metcalf replacement, rather than a in line traditional TE. They will rely on Barner to be the workhorse TE. I don't think they will cut Fant unless they need his money for a new signing.

I also don't think they'll cut Fant, but this is the final year of his contract. When he isn't resigned a year from now, you already have his replacement on hand.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Emmanwori was a first round talent that dropped to the 2nd because of some character concerns. But he has the best RAS of any safety in NFL history (basically an athletic freak). Difference is compared to Milroe, is the guy can play safety (and did so in College) well. As for the character concerns, well sometimes ya just have to take that person when the upside is so high. Carter went to the Eagles and that worked out big time but their locker room was different when they drafted him. I don't know Carter would've worked the same on our team.

Now you look at Emmanwori, well now our locker room is a bit different. You've got D Law, Kupp... Murphy and Witherspoon were higher picks. Mac is a different kind of coach. I don't think it'll be as big of a concern because the locker room is more stable than it was when we took Spoon.


As for Arroyo, where he went was about right. He could've honestly been a 1st rounder if there wasn't some concern with his knee and he really only played 1 season. Arroyo is more athletic than Warren or Loveland... I think the thought process is hopefully they are getting a) Fant's replacement, and b) getting what Fant was supposed to be to begin with, a nightmare matchup. Arroyo's knock is he's not a blocker... but we may not be using him like that or hoping to develop in later.

I mean Seattle certainly had a theme this draft. Pure athleticism. They just took incredibly high testers. Even Horton and Cabeldue were high testers. Horton should've gone much earlier than the 5th. I know he had injury concerns last year, but the guy ran a 4.4 at the combine and was Colorado States entire offense for 22/23.

 

[JMR]

I mean Seattle certainly had a theme this draft. Pure athleticism. They just took incredibly high testers. Even Horton and Cabeldue were high testers. Horton should've gone much earlier than the 5th. I know he had injury concerns last year, but the guy ran a 4.4 at the combine and was Colorado States entire offense for 22/23.

Horton is a fairly interesting prospect. Super productive the 2 seasons before injury in 2024. I think his best time at the combine was 4.42, but I really don't see that on his highlight reel. I wouldn't call him slow, but he didn't blow past guys or outrun defenses from what I saw. He does seem to have good body control and dependable hands. Could end up being a solid possession guy.

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

Horton is a fairly interesting prospect. Super productive the 2 seasons before injury in 2024. I think his best time at the combine was 4.42, but I really don't see that on his highlight reel. I wouldn't call him slow, but he didn't blow past guys or outrun defenses from what I saw. He does seem to have good body control and dependable hands. Could end up being a solid possession guy.

Yah I don't think he's a speed demon, probably kind of a WR3/slot type of guy from what I read. He did score decently with athletic attributes though. I think Seattle also likes him because he was a 2 time team Captain. Seems like a good character guy.

 

[flyerhawk]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Seahawks/s/gIB0NG2zII

 

[Sharkonabicycle]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Seahawks/s/gIB0NG2zII

View attachment 396186

Yah, I mean he's a high character guy from everything I've read/listened to. I know that's Reddit, but it's believable.

It was also very interesting that Mike MacDonald said, "He's here to play QB." Now whether that materializes or not is one thing.. and I'm sure we'll get him on the field in some ways this season, but it doesn't sound like he was drafted to primarily be a Taysom Hill 2.0 player.

 

[flyerhawk]

Yah, I mean he's a high character guy from everything I've read/listened to. I know that's Reddit, but it's believable.

It was also very interesting that Mike MacDonald said, "He's here to play QB." Now whether that materializes or not is one thing.. and I'm sure we'll get him on the field in some ways this season, but it doesn't sound like he was drafted to primarily be a Taysom Hill 2.0 player.

You can never really know how a kid will act as a pro but it does seem like he's focused on being an actual NFL QB. He doesn't seem to have huge accuracy issues so if he is able to really dedicate himself he could become a legit NFL QB.