The Seattle Seahawks’ 2025 rookie class combined for 133 total snaps in the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams. That number was significantly reduced by Robbie Ouzts’ injury, the decision to keep
Elijah Arroyo inactive , and the fact that Rylie Mills was virtually a non-factor, playing just a single snap. Once again, the burden fell almost entirely on Grey Zabel and Nick Emmanwori, who were responsible for nearly all of the rookie impact on opposite sides of the ball.
With that context in mind, let’s go to the All-22 and break down how Seattle’s rookies performed snap by snap.
Grey Zabel (OG) — 67 snaps
After two excellent performances, Zabel turned in a game that was below his recent standard, though still far from poor. The run game lacked consistency, and after a strong early start, the Rams’ in-game adjustments allowed their interior defensive linemen to win more one-on-one matchups as the night went on.
In pass protection, Zabel was largely solid. He allowed three total pressures (1 hit, 2 hurries), all of which came on stunts—noteworthy because handling stunts has not been a problem throughout the season. In true 1v1 situations, Zabel consistently won his reps. He finished with a 74.9 pass-blocking grade and a 63.8 run-blocking grade, both ranking fifth on the team.
One area where Zabel had shown clear improvement recently was hand placement, but on this snap, poor positioning nearly results in a clean path to the quarterback. He flirts with a holding call and still fails to fully shut down the rush.
It appears Zabel experimented with a lower hand carriage than usual, which allowed Kobie Turner to gain leverage and attack inside. Zabel quickly recognizes the presence of inside help from Jalen Sundell, stays patient, and maintains a favorable angle for the eventual double team.
On another rep, it’s unclear whether communication or timing was the issue, but while Zabel wins initial contact, it’s not enough. His base isn’t strong enough to protect the inside gap, allowing pressure through. This difficulty with stunts showed up multiple times in this game, which is unusual for him.
Zabel’s ability to adjust on the fly still stands out. On one snap, his hands land wider than ideal, allowing the defensive tackle (#91) to attack the A-gap. The DT trips over Sundell’s foot, and Zabel instantly capitalizes—resetting his leverage and finishing the play with physicality.
One of his best reps comes via elite inside-hand usage. His placement and punch are so precise that he’s effectively blocking with just his inside hand while waiting for the defender’s outside move. Late in the snap, Charles Cross recognizes the EDGE dropping into coverage and loops back to help Zabel, driving the defensive tackle into the turf. Zabel’s aggressive jump set is again worth noting.
That jump set shows up elsewhere as well, disrupting the defensive tackle’s timing entirely. By attacking early and getting his hand under the defender’s pads, Zabel lifts and neutralizes the rush, producing one of his most dominant pass-protection snaps of the game.
Zabel didn’t have many standout moments in the run game, but on this rep he flashes his lateral mobility, staying attached to the defender across the line. Still, it’s difficult to focus on anything other than AJ Barner completely obliterating the EDGE on the same play.
Nick Emmanwori (DB) — 58 snaps
Emmanwori’s performance was a complete reversal from the previous week. Against the 49ers, he turned in what was arguably one of his weakest games of the season. Against the Rams, he was unquestionably the best player on Seattle’s defense. In a game where the defense was inconsistent, the pass rush disappeared, and individual mistakes piled up, Emmanwori was the lone constant at a high level.
His deployment was expansive:
- 11 snaps on the defensive line
- 17 snaps in the box
- 25 snaps in the slot
- 5 snaps at corner
- 0 snaps as a true free safety
When the “Nick on Nickel” experiment began, there were legitimate concerns about his ability to hold up against slot wide receivers, with the expectation that he’d be more effective against tight ends. The tape tells a different story. Emmanwori has actually been better against WRs than TEs.
On this snap, he aligns in the slot against Davante Adams, uses his inside hand to “feel” the route, stays patient through the stem, and delivers a textbook pass breakup.
Another slot rep, this time against Puka Nacua, highlights clear growth. Watch the quick hip transition when Nacua snaps off his route—Emmanwori flips cleanly and gets his hand in to disrupt the throw once again.
His discipline was also noticeably improved from the 49ers game. Here, he threatens the blitz before dropping into his zone. Once he diagnoses the running back leaking out, he closes quickly and deflects the pass.
While Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon both committed costly errors, and the defense as a whole missed nine tackles, Emmanwori remained reliable. In space, he consistently finished plays without allowing additional yardage.
On this run snap, Seattle aligns in a 6–1 front to gain a numerical advantage against double teams of the Rams run game. DeMarcus Lawrence attacks the interior gap using a spill technique, requiring a defender to replace him on the edge. Emmanwori fills that role perfectly—physical, patient, and disciplined—maintaining edge integrity, preventing the run from bouncing outside, and finishing with a tackle for loss.
Elijah Arroyo (TE) — 0 snaps
Inactive.
Jalen Milroe (QB) — 0 snaps
Inactive.
Rylie Mills (DL) — 1 snap
Only one snap and no meaningful impact on a night where the defensive line struggled to generate pressure.
Tory Horton (WR) — 0 snaps
Injured Reserve.
Robbie Ouzts (FB) — 0 snaps
His absence was felt, particularly in the run game, where Seattle lacked variety and physicality.
Bryce Cabeldue (OL) — 0 snaps
Injured Reserve.
Mason Richman (OL) — 0 snaps
Effectively inactive, but notable long-term. With experience at tackle and cross-training at center and guard, Richman dressed ahead of Christian Haynes. He didn’t play, but his versatility gives him a real chance to stick in 2026. Meanwhile, Haynes—perhaps my worst prospect evaluation—has now been inactive behind Sataoa Laumea (6th round) and Richman (7th round).
Nick Kallerup (TE) — 7 snaps
Used primarily as a blocker but made little impact. He finished with the second-worst run-blocking grade on the team, trailing only Anthony Bradford.
Final thoughts
Nick Emmanwori delivered a statement performance and was the best defender on the field for Seattle. Grey Zabel once again led the team in snaps and, despite uncharacteristic issues handling stunts, remained a stabilizing presence on the offensive line. Beyond those two, the rest of the rookie class struggled to influence the game.
Elijah Arroyo could have provided value in the passing game, but his long-term outlook remains promising. Rylie Mills was unable to help a defensive line that failed to pressure the quarterback, and Robbie Ouzts’ absence removed an important layer from the run game.
This was a night defined by a few rookies carrying a heavy load—and offering a clear reminder of why Seattle still has reason for optimism going forward.
