It’s that time of year again…time to go back and review how well I did in predicting the rookie seasons for the 2025 draft class for our Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks! There will be links to the original articles along with an excerpt of the actual predictions.
I’ll take on the first five picks this week, with the remainder to come next week.
Grey Zabel
Excerpt from prediction article:
Actual Results via Pro Football Reference:
Verdict?
I was really 10 missed snaps away from completely nailing this one, huh?
So close!
Those missed snaps came in the last loss the Seahawks suffered in the 2025 season at the Los Angeles Rams. Initially, it looked like Zabel would miss significant time, but Seattle dodged a bullet as he was ready to go the following game and didn’t skip a beat. Zabel did have a few struggles, yet was clearly worth the draft pick. He solidified the offensive line and looks like a stalwart for years to come.
He also made good on that prediction of becoming a fan favorite.
Nick Emmanwori
Excerpt from prediction article:
Actual Results via Pro Football Reference:
Verdict?
I was over the moon when the Seahawks drafted Nick Emmanwori, and I should’ve shot for the stars! I got the INT number correct, but only predicted about half of his actual production on the other stats. Emmanwori was a much bigger part of Mike Macdonald’s plan on defense than most anticipated when the versatile defender was drafted. Macdonald put a lot on Emmanwori’s plate, and kept heaping up the portions as Nick proved he could handle it. Even with a fantastic rookie season, Emmanwori is still just scratching the surface of what he can become…one of the best defenders in the entire league.
Elijah Arroyo
Excerpt from prediction article:
Actual Results via Pro Football Reference:
Verdict?
Ok, so I was overly optimistic about Arroyo. Maybe if he didn’t miss those four games, he would’ve come closer to my predictions? I’ll still take credit for the Fant prediction even though the writing was on the wall for that. AJ Barner took a step forward in 2025, and looks like the real deal. There’s still space for Arroyo to be that pass catching threat for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who just so happened to coach tight ends for the San Francisco 49ers. I still have high hopes for this young man to give us more plays like this in 2026 and beyond.
Jalen Milroe
Excerpt from prediction article:
Actual Results via Pro Football Reference:
Verdict?
Nope.
This will likely be my biggest miss. If I was over-the-moon about the Nick Emmanwori pick, Jalen Milroe was not far behind. Sam Darnold was not guaranteed to continue his newfound success in Seattle, and I was all about the Seahawks taking a swing with a highly-athletic prospect like Milroe.
I’m also not off the Milroe bandwagon. Yes, his usage in the regular season was disastrous, relegating him to the bench after the first couple miscues. That doesn’t mean that he won’t develop. I thought I remember hearing after the draft that Milroe was a Macdonald pick, but I wasn’t able to find it. However, the way that he talked about Milroe’s skillset – and the fact that Macdonald saw first-hand the pressure that Lamar Jackson placed on defenses in his time with the Baltimore Ravens – leads me to believe this was true.
The Seahawks can feel confident in what they have in both Sam Darnold and backup Drew Lock. I’m very eager to see what Jalen Milroe does in the 2026 preseason.
Riley Mills
Excerpt from prediction article:
Actual Results via Pro Football Reference:
Verdict?
Crap. I was so close to nailing the games played…I should’ve said four or less!
It was certainly a redshirt year for Rylie Mills. He was able to make it onto the field for the last handful of games and the playoffs, but even then he received few snaps. What do you expect with the defensive line rotation the Seahawks were trotting out? In his limited opportunities, Mills showed his relentless motor. He also ran himself out of a few plays. Yet, there’s a lot to like, and I think the future is bright.
Oh yeah, maybe I should link his playoff stats.
A first career sack in the Super Bowl where he completely manhandled the offensive lineman and essentially tackled two players? Yeah, give me some Riley Mills stock!
I’d say I did pretty well with this first group of picks. Zabel and Mills were right on. I underestimated Emmanwori and overestimated Arroyo. Milroe was the only one where I was totally wrong, and that could’ve been different had his first regular season opportunities not been a complete disaster.
I’ll be back next time with the rest of the 2025 draft class!
