After the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft on Friday, Seahawks general manager and president of football operations John Schneider could barely contain his excitement about the team’s picks.
“This is a special day in Seahawks history,” he said. “It really is.”
By Saturday, with all seven rounds wrapped up, Schneider reflected on his previous comments, acknowledging with a grin that he might’ve gotten a bit carried away, especially considering some of the impactful drafts the franchise has had under his leadership.
“Saying it was ‘historic’ might’ve been a bit much,” he admitted with a laugh. “I was like, ‘calm down, sheriff.’”
Still, he couldn’t hide how pleased he was.
“I don’t know,” he said. “These guys… it’s just really exciting.”
In total, Seattle selected 11 players — tying the largest draft class of Schneider’s 16-year tenure and marking the most picks since 2019.
Here’s a paraphrased version of the article:
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**Seahawks GM John Schneider Calls 2025 Draft Class ‘Pretty Cool’**
Following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL Draft, Seahawks general manager John Schneider shared his excitement about the team’s selections, calling the weekend a “cool day in Seahawks history.” Speaking at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in Renton, Schneider reflected on the draft and, with a smile, admitted that calling it “historic” the night before may have been a bit much.
Nonetheless, Schneider was clearly pleased with the team’s haul, saying, “It’s just really cool, these guys.”
Seattle ended up drafting 11 players, tying the biggest draft class of Schneider’s 16-year tenure and marking the largest since 2019. The draft leaned heavily toward offense, with nine of the picks coming on that side of the ball. Schneider noted that this wasn’t intentional—it just unfolded that way as the draft progressed and some defensive targets were taken earlier than expected.
Among the offensive additions on Saturday (Rounds 4–7) were two offensive linemen (Bryce Cabeldue from Kansas and Mason Richman from Iowa), two wide receivers (Tory Horton of Colorado State and Ricky White III of UNLV), a fullback (Robbie Ouzts from Alabama—the first drafted by Seattle since 2014), and a running back (Damien Martinez, who starred at Oregon State before transferring to Miami).
The only defensive player added on Saturday was Notre Dame defensive end Rylie Mills, picked 142nd overall after the Seahawks traded up—sending backup QB Sam Howell to Minnesota to move up 30 spots. Mills, recovering from a torn ACL in December, recently passed a team physical, and Schneider hopes he’ll contribute by mid-to-late season.
Earlier in the draft, Seattle selected guard Grey Zabel (18th), safety Nick Emmanwori (35th), tight end Elijah Arroyo (50th), and quarterback Jalen Milroe (92nd). Schneider believes this draft group can help shape the future of the team under head coach Mike Macdonald, now entering his second year.
In another trade, the Seahawks sent pick 144 to Cleveland for two later selections. The Browns used the pick to take quarterback Shedeur Sanders, ending his unexpected fall in the draft—a moment that could become a defining story of this year’s class.
With three more offensive linemen added in this draft, Seattle has selected six OLs in the past two years—more than any other team in the league.