Rookies Report to Seahawks Training Camp
Three key questions about rookies as the Hawks kick off the 2025 season
It seems weird that we would be talking football on July 18, but here we are. I don’t hate it.
Rookies across the league reported to training camp this week and most of the Seahawks’ newcomers are no different. With Pro Football Focus and Mel Kiper, Jr. giving the Hawks an “A” on their draft grade, Hawk fans should be excited to see the rooks in action this year. However, there was a concern that two of the more thrilling rookies wouldn’t be at the facility just yet. In fact, this concern was shared across the league as 30 of the 32 second round picks were not signed at the start of this week. With the top two picks of the second round getting fully guaranteed contracts, agents were holding out other second rounders to see what they could get for their clients. (Traditionally, only first round picks get fully guaranteed deals). Amazingly, the Hawks followed the 2025 trend and fully guaranteed Nick Emmanwori’s contract, leaving only Elijah Arroyo unsigned for Seattle.
With Arroyo expected to sign as soon as today, the whole rookie class should be in Renton for practice shortly. With a highly touted rookie class like this one, let’s explore the three most pressing questions for Seattle Seahawks rookies in 2025. Even if it is still July 18.
Will Grey Zabel be above average on the offensive line?
Some of you might be thinking: “really, above average? This guy is a first rounder!”. First, let’s temper expectations for the first year in the NFL. Second, the Hawks would improve as on offensive line unit simply by having average guard play. In 2024, Anthony Bradford was the 72nd best guard in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. Sadly, he was also Seattle’s top rated guard in 2024. Can you imagine if the Hawks had a top 30 guard? With Zabel playing for a FCS program, many experts don’t think he will be able to have that kind of impact in his first year. The Seahawks disagree and are counting on Zabel to solidify the left guard position. If Zabel gets to that top 30 range (with healthy offensive tackles), the Seahawks offensive line changes drastically.
Where will Nick Emmanwori play?
The hope is…everywhere. On draft night and the days after, comparisons to Kyle Hamilton started flooding in. And Seahawk bloggers either doubled down on the comparison or strongly urged fans to ignore the comparison. There was no inbetween. But head coach Mike Macdonald isn’t shying away from the comp. Here is what he told NBC sports about the two players:
“I think what we found with Kyle is that the system allows for us to get multiple safeties on the field and also be in the slot, kind of like with enhanced coverage responsibilities,” Macdonald said. “[Hamilton] can affect the game that way kind of at the second level while training at the third level. Gives us some depth at the safety room, guys that we currently love that are on the roster. To be able to affect the game early on in his career, too, as he starts to develop. Same story with Nick.”
Macdonald employed Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore as a box safety, as a coverage safety, as a slot corner and as a pass rusher. The hope is Emmanwori does the same thing for the Hawks. The best version of Seattle’s defense just might be two linebackers (Ernest Jones and Tyrice Knight) with three safeties in Emmanwori, Julian Love, and Coby Bryant.
Which rookie emerges in camp as the fan favorite?
With veterans playing less and less in preseason, there is always a rookie that fans grab onto as a new favorite heading into the regular season. Inevitably, that rookie usually gets very little playing time once real games start. However, the Hawks have a few first year players that could open some eyes this summer.
The likely candidates for this are WR Tony Horton, RB Damien Martinez, TE Elijah Arroyo, DE/LB Jared Ivey and QB Jalen Milroe. Ivey is maybe the most intriguing because he was an undrafted free agent, but has already opened some eyes from rookie camps in May. However, most fans grab onto an offensive player in August who makes a few plays in games. It has to come down to Milroe or Martinez. While Milroe won’t actually run the packages that he may be involved in come September (as the Hawks won’t want to show those), he will make a run or pass that will have fans buzzing. At the same time, Martinez is a good running back who Husky fans will remember well. In the spirit of Christine Michel, Martinez will get Hawk fans more excited than they should be based on how much he will actually play in 2025.