Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider holds ten picks entering the 2025 NFL Draft. There has been an awful lot of speculation about what he will do with the first one, number 18 overall. That is crucial because hitting or missing on your first-round pick is one of the best indicators of a team's future success.
But good scouting departments spend just as much time on Day Three prospects as they do on the blue chippers. You never know where your next star may come from. Seahawks fans are well aware that even though Earl Thomas was a first-round pick, the rest of the Legion of Boom secondary came in rounds four through six.
In just the last few seasons, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Brock Purdy, and Talanoa Hufanga have all come on Day Three. And that’s just looking at the NFC West. There are plenty of others.
These six prospects would be mid-round steals for the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFL draft
So, who might qualify as a draft-day steal this year? Here are six very intriguing prospects who should be available on Day Three and who could play a major role in the Seahawks' success, both short and long-term.
Jackson Slater, Center/Guard, Sacramento State
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 311 pounds
- Projection: R5
Slater has been a stalwart at left guard for the FCS program that rose to prominence under Troy Taylor. Though the Hornets have fallen off a bit in the past two seasons, Slater has remained a dominant presence. He has exceptional speed and lower-body power for a man of his size. His short frame will require that he play inside, and many scouts see him fitting in best at center in the NFL.
For a team that is in desperate need of interior line help but which doesn’t seem willing to invest high draft picks for that purpose, a player like Slater would be an ideal fit. Despite an injury late last year, he has been a durable, reliable presence who can play all three interior line positions.
Ideally, coming directly from an FCS program, he would not be asked to start immediately. However, Slater could certainly compete for a job with the struggling interior lineman already in the fold.
Jay Toia, Nose Tackle, UCLA
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 342 pounds
- Projection: R4-6
Projections differ widely on Toia because he is a very scheme-specific prospect. He is a true 0-technique nose tackle who can also line up in the gap. But you are not putting Toia out in space and asking him to track down runners.
He is among the biggest players in this year’s draft class, and with his relatively short arms and modest explosiveness, he is not going to wow anyone with plays in the backfield. In other words, Toia is not the next Vita Vea.
But he is a genuine bull in the middle of the line. I don’t know if Mike Macdonald is intent on replicating the type of defense he had in Baltimore. Good coaches tailor their schemes to their talent, and without a Michael Pierce or Travis Jones in the middle, the Ravens' philosophy might have to change. But if he wants to recreate some of that Baltimore attack, Toia can provide a genuine presence over center.
Dillon Gabriel, Quarterback, Oregon
- Height: 5’ 11”
- Weight: 205 pounds
- Projection: R4
Gabriel is short, and his arm is only average. He moves well but is not a dynamic runner. So why is he sneaking up draft boards as we approach the weekend?
In terms of preparation, mental approach, and technique, Dillon Gabriel is everything you’d ever want in a quarterback. He processes extremely well. He makes quick, smart decisions. He releases the ball at the right time and, on short and intermediate passes, is very accurate.
As a runner, Gabriel won’t overpower or run away from NFL defenders, but he shows the vision of a running back, seeing holes and using his quickness to make plays. In short, Dillon Gabriel is a textbook-quality backup who might have another level if he ends up in the right situation.
Maxen Hook, Safety, Toledo
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 202 pounds
- Projection: R5-6
Seattle has two solid safeties in Julian Love and Coby Bryant (both of whom were fourth-round picks, BTW). Hook would add some versatility and depth. He is a powerful tackler who profiles as a hybrid linebacker or big nickel. He is probably best closer to the line but has enough speed and agility to drop into coverage as well.
Hook is a smart and experienced player who will provide immediate special teams help. Over time, he will allow creative defensive coordinators to move him around and match up against various offensive packages.
Jeffrey Bassa, Linebacker, Oregon
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 232
- Projection: R4
Fitting Bassa into a Mike Macdonald defensive scheme makes too much sense not to come true. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Hawks use one of their two late third-round picks on Bassa, even though he is usually being projected a bit later.
Bassa is a converted safety, and it shows up in his coverage skills. Macdonald requires his linebackers to be able to cover. Bassa is not exactly a liability in other areas – he diagnoses plays and is a strong tackler – but it is his coverage skills that will win him playing time in the NFL.
As a bonus, he is a smart, mature presence. Bassa wore the green dot for Oregon – the player who communicates directly with the coaches – and he also took on that role at the Senior Bowl. He is not the dynamic athlete that some higher-ranked linebackers may be, but he is as productive as anyone.
Tai Felton, Wide Receiver, Maryland
- Height: 6’1”
- Weight: 183 pounds
- Projection: R4
I have seen Felton ranked as high as a third-round pick and as low as a sixth-round pick. I think round four makes sense. Early in his final season at Maryland, Felton looked like a breakout star. He was unable to sustain that production, but he showed flashes throughout the season. Felton is a playmaker with blazing speed, excellent technique, and dynamic skills when he has the ball in his hands.
The only genuine concern about Felton is whether he has the body to stand up to NFL cornerbacks. He has a thin frame and can be bullied out of position. However, he also repeatedly demonstrates that he can make defenders pay if they fail to knock him off stride. Felton is not likely to ever be a WR1, but he can be a real difference maker a little further down the food chain.