The Seattle Seahawks had a relatively drama free first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The team stood pat at No. 18 and selected talented offensive lineman Grey Zabel out of North Dakota State. Many mocks made this connection, and it makes sense that the team would want to improve one of the league's worst offensive lines.
The team was slated to have the No. 52 pick in the second round, but decided to trade up with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans had the No. 35 pick and the Seahawks clearly saw a player that piqued their interest.
The Seahawks sent the No. 52 and No. 82 pick to the Titans for No. 35. Then, the team chose South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori.
Emmanwori was a tackling machine in college and was always around the ball in 2024, ending with 88 tackles and four interceptions. The defender has the versatility to play a Jamal Adams-like role as a linebacker-safety hybrid.
In Seattle, Emmanwori will likely compete for the starting safety spot with Julian Love. The rookie can take away opposing tight ends in pass coverage and be an elite run-stopper immediately.
Now, let's see what grades some analysts gave this pick.
Nick Emmanwori NFL draft grades
Chris Trapasso, CBS Sports: A
"What a tremendous selection here for Seattle. Big, uber-explosive safety and deceptive deep-coverage skills. Not just a box safety. Instincts and ball skills are awesome. Can take some bad angles to the roof. But crazy range. And on the draft pick trade chart, this was actually an underpayment. Fun for Mike Macdonald."
Vinnie Iyer, The Sporting News: A
"The Seahawks get their latest clean up man at the position, making a worthy trade up for a first-round talent in Emmanwori, an excellent all-around presence to give Mike Macdonald his new Kyle Hamilton."
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA Today: B+
"If the Seahawks had taken Emmanwori at 18, it likely wouldn't have created a stir. Instead, Seattle trades up to secure the singularly athletic playmaker near the top of Round 2. Emmanwori needs to be a more controlled and reliable presence against the run, but he can unlock all sorts of coverage looks for Mike Macdonald and his mad scientist approach to defense."