Seahawks Rookie Class Earns National Midseason Honors
In The Ringer’s annual Midseason All-Rookie Team, analyst Diante Lee spotlighted the league’s most impactful first-year players through eight weeks of the season. Two Seahawks made the list: guard Grey Zabel and safety Nick Emmanwori.
It’s a testament to how well Seattle’s 2025 draft class has adjusted to the NFL — and how quickly they’ve contributed to a team currently battling for position atop the NFC West.
Grey Zabel: A Foundation Piece Up Front
Zabel, the No. 18 overall pick out of North Dakota State, continues to validate Seattle’s decision to invest in its offensive line early in the draft. Lee described him as “maybe the only dependable blocker Seattle’s had in the run game this season,” praising his consistency and football IQ.
The rookie has played every offensive snap for the Seahawks through seven games, allowing zero sacks on more than 225 pass-blocking reps. That performance has been central to Seattle’s improved pass protection and balanced offense under head coach Mike Macdonald.
Zabel’s emergence gives the Seahawks something they’ve lacked in recent years — interior stability. His technique and awareness have drawn praise from former linemen and analysts alike, and his early success places him in the company of Dallas’ Tyler Booker, the other guard named to The Ringer’s midseason list.
Nick Emmanwori: A New Defensive Anchor
While Zabel has solidified the trenches, Nick Emmanwori has become one of Seattle’s most dynamic young defenders. Selected in the second round, the rookie safety has drawn lofty comparisons to Baltimore’s Kyle Hamilton for his ability to line up everywhere — from slot coverage to the box.
“The Seahawks hybrid defender Emmanwori was supposed to be a much better blitzer and tackler than coverage player early on,” Lee wrote. “But he’s been a key piece in Seattle’s excellent pass defense this season.”
That pass defense currently ranks among the top 10 in the NFL in yards allowed per game, according to league statistics, and Emmanwori’s versatility has been a major factor. He’s logged multiple pass breakups, tackles for loss, and pressures off the edge — numbers that only hint at his full impact.
A Draft Class Paying Immediate Dividends
Zabel and Emmanwori’s inclusion reinforces what has quietly been one of the most productive rookie classes in the league. Both have stepped into starting roles and thrived in complex schemes — a rare feat for first-year players, particularly on a team with playoff aspirations.
As Lee summarized, this rookie group represents “the beginning of a trend” of smarter, more adaptable linemen and defenders entering the NFL. For the Seahawks, that trend has already arrived.
With Zabel fortifying the offensive front and Emmanwori emerging as a defensive cornerstone, Seattle’s 2025 draft class looks like a foundational piece for the franchise’s next chapter — one built on toughness, versatility, and football intelligence.
What’s Next For The Seahawks
The Seahawks are getting healthier out of bye week and are prepared to take on the Washington Commanders on November 2. Zabel and Emmanwori’s continued excellence will be a big part of Seattle’s challenge to an NFC West title.
Buccaneers’ Todd Bowles evaluates rookies halfway through season
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have always brought in strong talent through the draft with general manager Jason Licht, but halfway through the season, it looks like this rookie class is on pace to be special in 2025.
The Buccaneers drafted a dominating wide receiver, two defenders already getting starting reps and another defender rotating in during the first five rounds of the draft, and their contributions have helped the Bucs to a 6-2 record before the bye week. Head coach Todd Bowles has gotten great usage out of his class, and he gave his thoughts on their performance so far on Monday.
Todd Bowles praises Buccaneers rookies
Todd Bowles began by saying that it's a little too early to say anything definitive about the team's rookies, but that so far, they've been playing great football.
"[We are] still evaluating them. They [have] to go through a full season. It is a long season for those guys coming out of college when you throw in the three preseason games and the 17 regular-season games – that is almost two college seasons," Bowles said. "Those guys are very mature from a mental standpoint. They are executing very well [and] they are playing like they have been in the league for a while. It is halfway through the season, so they should be a little bit more seasoned right now, and the production has been great for us."
They are most certainly executing very well. First-round pick Emeka Egbuka has already caught five touchdowns this year and remains an Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, and he'll look to be a bigger part of the team's receiving corps going forward. Rookie third-round pick Jacob Parrish is the team's starting nickel and has been a versatile weapon, and even fifth-round pick Elijah Roberts has entered the starting lineup at defensive tackle.
With all of those names immediately contributing — and second-round pick Benjamin Morrison rotating in at cornerback with Jamel Dean and seventh-round pick Tez Johnson catching two touchdowns of his own this year — Tampa Bay's rookie class looks like a home run. As Bowles said, though, there's still a long way to go, and the Bucs have a brutal three-game stretch on the horizon.
The Bucs will begin that stretch when they face off against the New England Patriots at home in Week 10.
