3 Premature Targets for the Seahawks in the 2025 NFL Draft

The The Seattle Seahawks had a successful season in the first year of Mike Macdonald era, which finished 10-7 and showed vast improvements over the previous season on the defensive side of the ball. Going into next season, Seahawks fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the young members of this team and the direction of the franchise under McDonald.

Unfortunately, those 10 wins weren’t enough to get the Seahawks into the playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams ended up winning the division in a tiebreaker, and the Seahawks will look back on a series of missed opportunities throughout the season to pick up an extra win or two that would have made the difference.

Now the focus turns to the off-season. While the Seahawks could find themselves in the postseason with a different rebound here or there, they still have plenty of holes to fill on the roster. Seattle could use improvements throughout the offensive line, especially on the interior, as well as some improvements at linebacker and some more depth at rush. Another defensive back would also be good for the Seahawks next season.

Some of those needs can be addressed through free agency, but the easiest way to acquire young, cheap talent is NFL draft. Here are three specific ones targets the Seahawks should be looking for when they become the 18th pick in the first round.

Georgia EDGE/LB Jalon Walker

Jalon Walker is exactly the type of versatile defensive figure which is why it’s so easy to imagine him playing in Mike McDonald’s defense. Walker is a twitchy athlete who will excite teams in the draft, and that could see him rise above where the Seahawks are picking in this draft. Regardless, he would be a perfect fit for the Seahawks.

Seattle has gotten good production from some of its rushers this season, such as Boie Maffe, but they still need a difference maker at that spot, and Walker has the explosiveness to provide that. He has become a regular contributor to Kirby Smart and the Georgia defense this season after being used primarily as a situational rusher in the offense during his first two seasons. Even with different roles on defense, Walker finished his career at Georgia with 73 pressures and 13 sacks.

Smart and the Georgia coaching staff have done all kinds of cool things with Walker this season. He played on the edge, played in the box as an off-ball linebacker, and even lined up inside as a pass rusher on some passes. That versatility is exactly what McDonald likes to have in his defense.

Walker still struggles with some elements of being an off-ball linebacker, such as being responsible in coverage and staying in the right gap on the run. A lot of that comes down to inexperience, though, so it’s fair to assume he can be coached by the coach who turned Patrick Quinn into an above-average player in one season in Baltimore. Walker’s elite athleticism suggests he can find himself in those areas, making him a great fit in Seattle.

Alabama AND Tyler Booker

The Seahawks biggest weakness this season has been at guard. Both running backs have been glaring holes for Seattle this season, making it difficult for the Seahawks to run the ball and protect Geno Smith in the pocket. This team has missed a lot of picks on the interior of the offensive line in recent years, but they have to keep throwing darts at the board until one lands.

Tyler Booker is one of the guards in this class that can help reshape the identity of this Seahawks team. He’s a monster — listed at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds — who can absolutely pound people in the run game. Booker excels at getting downhill and forcing defenders out of their gap, while also possessing the mobility to get to the second level or get into the running game. He is an outstanding pass protector against bigger defensive tackles with his strong base and could be an immediate starter in Seattle.

Booker struggles a bit against some of the athletic dogs he encounters, which is to be expected for someone of his size and build. Because of this, he sometimes struggles to pick up stunts and turnovers where edge rushers roll inside.

Because of Booker’s position, he could fall in the draft, making him an attractive target for Seattle to bring back if they decide to go that route. Regardless, he can be an immediate addition to bolster this offensive line immediately.

South Carolina S Nick Emanvori

Macdonald likes a versatile secondary playmaker in his defense, and that’s what the Seahawks could get in South Carolina tight end Nick Emanwori. Emanwori was one of the best playmakers in the SEC last season and would fit perfectly in McDonald’s scheme.

The Seahawks are already doing a many different things with Devon Witherspoonand Emanwori could fill a similar role as a safety. He’s a monster of a defensive back at 6-foot-3, 227 pounds and would complement Julian Love perfectly as a safety who can play down in the box and match up against the run. Emanwori is a downhill batsman who is very good at running; he is not afraid to take his back in the hole to stop himself with a key.

For such a big guy, Emanwori is still a very good athlete and a great mover in space who can play zone coverage and be very disruptive, especially underneath. He can’t be a free safety, but that’s pretty much Lion’s role in this defense right now. He will likely struggle to cover true receivers in the NFL, but he has the combination of size and speed to cover tight ends and running backs out of the backfield.

Emanwori is likely another player the Seahawks can bring back in the draft and still end up with a late first-round or early second-round pick, making him an even more attractive option for McDonald and company.