By this time subsequent Friday, the Seattle Seahawks will nearly personal the rostrum for Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft in Inexperienced Bay. They’ve a pair of second-rounders and a pair of third-rounders on account of the DK Metcalf and Geno Smith trades, so there may be a lot intrigue seeing what Seattle may pull off within the meat of the draft.
Longtime NFL Community draft analyst and former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah held a media convention name on Friday. Area Gulls was the one Seattle Seahawks illustration out of the roughly 100 reporters and writers in attendance. Within the curiosity of transparency and completeness, right here’s my full query and his response. A few of the transcription is edited for readability. We have been solely permitted one query and my focus was on Seattle’s huge receiver state of affairs.
Area Gulls: “Final time we did this convention name earlier than the NFL Mix and the Seahawks nonetheless had DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett on the roster they usually additionally had Geno Smith, however all of them are gone and the Seahawks have since signed Sam Darnold in free company after which from a large receiver standpoint, they signed Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free company.
So my query to you: Seattle’s solely receivers below contract by means of 2026 are Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Are there any receivers from this class, significantly ones in that Day 1/Day 2 projected vary, who stand out to you as potential matches and draft targets for Seattle’s offense? Or, alternatively, may you see Seattle making a play for a serious receiving TE like Colston Loveland or Elijah Arroyo or Mason Taylor?
Daniel Jeremiah: “With the place they’re choosing [at No. 18], if a type of prime two tight ends [Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland] have been to get there, I feel I might have a tough time passing on them only for the worth that they signify.
“If I used to be constructing out this group, the place would you are feeling that they should go? To me, inside offensive line early could be extra of a spotlight if I’m simply it and I wish to really feel comfy. I have a look at Gray Zabel, if he was there, I feel he could be a fantastic match. Not solely can he are available in and begin immediately, he’s going to permit you to get your greatest 5 guys on the sphere due to his versatility. So that you get accidents all through a season, I feel that may be a useful chess piece for them.
“I might be extra inclined—should you’re gonna have a look at a receiver for them, while you’re 50 and 52, that may in all probability be extra the vary I’d be trying to tackle that room, and I feel there’ll be good worth there with some actually strong choices.
“I like Jack Bech [from TCU], there are individuals who have in contrast him to Cooper Kupp due to simply the toughness and all of that. I feel that’s the aggressive facet of that comparability. I get somebody who may play excessive as nicely and go get the ball. I feel he could be a enjoyable one so as to add to their combine. I’m wanting extra for guys which can be going to play on the skin so Jack Bech could be one.
“Tori Horton from Colorado State could be one other one who can get down the sphere and is a house run hitter who additionally has some large time punt return worth. You’ve simply bought to return to 2023 to look at; he simply wasn’t wholesome in any respect this 12 months.
“And Kyle Williams from Washington State. That will not be a protracted drive and that may be a huge impact—he’s a extremely, actually good participant.
“That is why I like doing this name since you begin fascinated about groups exterior of the primary spherical and who may match their wants. And I feel the Seattle receiver want marries up rather well with the place they’re situated within the second spherical.”
Clearly none of those gamers is a Day 1 goal, which is okay as a result of it’s extra doubtless than not that Seattle would look to handle WR on Day 2. I wish to deal with Tori Horton a bit as a result of we have now not addressed him on this website in any respect. Williams had a pre-draft go to with the Seahawks and Bech has been a slightly in style title to hyperlink to Seattle in mock drafts, significantly after his emotional and superior Senior Bowl.
Horton is listed at 6’ 2 1/2’’ and 196 lbs with a 30 1/8” arms and 9” arms. On the NFL Scouting Mix, Horton put up a 4.41-second 40-yard sprint with a 1.53-second 10-yard cut up, in addition to a vertical bounce of 37.5”. He’s a tall participant with out being a big-bodied goal like DK Metcalf or Tee Higgins, however he’s not meant to be like them. In contrast to Williams and Bech, Horton is extra prone to be at most a third-round choose than second-rounder, though his season-ending knee damage in 2024 doubtless impacted his draft inventory greater than anything. He’s additionally nonetheless 22 years outdated regardless of being in school for 5 seasons between CSU and Nevada, so he’s not an older prospect.
Right here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has to say about Horton:
A two-year starter at Colorado State, Horton was primarily an out of doors receiver (on the suitable facet of the formation) in Jay Norvell’s model of the Air Raid. After rating prime 5 within the FBS in catches (96) and first-down grabs (57) in 2023, he returned for his “tremendous senior” season in 2024 however performed in simply 5 video games due to a proper knee damage — and fell 35 receiving yards shy of the Mountain West profession file. Nonetheless, he’ll proceed Colorado State’s spectacular run of manufacturing pass-catching draft picks (Trey McBride, Olabisi Johnson, Michael Gallup, Rashard Higgins).
Horton is field-fast and flashes an explosive gear on downfield and crossing routes (33 mixed catches of 20 yards or extra over the 2022-23 seasons, seventh most in FBS). His ball abilities and route timing may be disrupted by bodily defensive backs, however his vertical velocity may also open up comebacks, digs and beneath runways. Total, Horton should tighten his route working and get stronger, however his fluidity, velocity and pure monitoring abilities may be weaponized by the suitable teaching employees. He initiatives as a rotational Z receiver/punt returner who can step by step push for beginning flanker reps.
I also needs to be aware that Horton, whom Jeremiah touted for his punt return abilities, returned a punt for a landing in every of his three seasons at CSU. That may be very related to the Seahawks as they search for punt returner choices this season after the catastrophe that was 2024.
Check out his 2023 highlights on this compilation video beneath.
Which of those three receivers pursuits you probably the most as a possible Seahawks match? Tell us within the feedback part! And a particular due to Daniel Jeremiah for as soon as once more answering a Area Gulls query.
