The Seattle Seahawks’ offseason was marked by two major changes on offense that are set to directly impact the development of their system in 2025. Geno Smith is out, with Sam Darnold taking over, and Cooper Kupp was brought in to replace DK Metcalf. However, what really stands out is the work being done on the team’s defense.
Since head coach Mike Macdonald’s arrival, the defensive unit has undergone a systemic overhaul, which led to a noticeable improvement in performance last season. In the 2025 NFL Draft, the franchise traded up early in the second round to secure a player who now stands out as the top rookie to watch during minicamp.
Nick Emmanwori Shines As the Top Player To Watch in the Seahawks’ Minicamp
In recent seasons, the Seahawks’ performance has mirrored the phenomenon seen with the Pittsburgh Steelers — a team good enough to stay competitive and finish with a winning record, but not strong enough to contend for a title or even make it past the Wild Card round when reaching the playoffs.
This dilemma led the franchise to move on from longtime head coach Pete Carroll in 2024 and bring in Macdonald, who had gained recognition as the Baltimore Ravens’ defensive coordinator for his creative, modern play-calling and the leadership expected of a head coach.
To run his system effectively, Macdonald needed a linebacker with traits similar to Roquan Smith’s. That’s why the team traded for Ernest Jones midway through the season, a move that paid off immediately, as the defense improved. However, it still lacked a player like Kyle Hamilton, a safety who could play downhill in intermediate zones while also covering deep.
To solve that issue, the Seahawks traded up in the second round to select South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, a player who brings all the traits Macdonald needs to fully unleash his system.
He stood out in college for his physical, instinctive, and fast style of play, exactly what teams look for in a modern NFL safety. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was a perfect 10 out of 10, making him one of the most athletic prospects in the system’s history — a trait that immediately caught the attention of Macdonald and his coaching staff.
Nick Emmanwori is a SS prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 10.00 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1 out of 1079 SS from 1987 to 2025.
Splits projected, times unofficial. Pending agis and bench, could be a new top guy!https://t.co/WDmbwaGk56 pic.twitter.com/53Vx9vR7dx
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) February 28, 2025
Brandon Austin, writing for PFSN, highlighted one rookie from each franchise to watch during minicamps, and for Emmanwori, he focused on the unique attributes the safety brings to the table — and why this might be the perfect fit for both player and team.
“He’s one of the most talented pure athletes in this year’s class, and it’s difficult to imagine many better situations to learn in than under Macdonald. Emmanwori is a natural in coverage, flashing elite closing speed and physicality coming downhill. While he didn’t fill an immediate need, he could push the starting safeties for snaps.”
During Carroll’s final season, Seattle’s defense ranked just 29th in the PFSN Defense+ metric. But in his first year at the helm, Macdonald elevated the unit to sixth-best in the NFL. Now entering his second season, with handpicked pieces brought in to fully execute his system, expectations are high for 2025, not just to maintain that level, but to raise it even further.
Emmanwori is expected to see significant action in his rookie year, in a role similar to how Hamilton was deployed in Baltimore. He represents the head coach’s biggest bet to recreate the formula that brought massive success to his previous team in 2023. Amidst all the changes in Seattle, a new elite defense might just be emerging before our eyes.