Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider has made a number of trades this season - and just before the season began - so the number of picks the team has in the 2025 NFL draft seems to be ever-changing. Currently, Seattle has only five, and not any in rounds four or five. This means Seattle needs to hit big in the first three rounds.
Seattle will probably get comp picks somewhere in the middle rounds after losing Jordyn Brooks and Damien Lewis in free agency, but that has yet to be confirmed. In other words, the number of picks Seattle will have will probably be more than five even if the Seahawks do not make trades to add more. Still, five is what we know right now so that is what we will go with for the mock draft below.
While Seattle certainly needs interior offensive line help, expecting Schneider to take a guard or center early in the draft seems foolish. Instead, the guess is that Seattle gets players to help head coach Mike Macdonald's defense get better. The first two choices should certainly do that.
Seattle Seahawks go defense early in 2025 NFL mock draft
First round - Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker
Seattle's inside linebackers looked a lot better in Week 11 after the team outright released Tyrel Dodson during the Week 10 bye week. Rookie Tyrice Knight improved the run defense, and veteran Ernest Jones IV was solid for the third straight game. Jones is only signed through this season, however, and hasn't been able to find a home yet during his career. He is on his third team which means he might be a decent player, but teams appear to think they can do better.
Walker is the kind of player that Mike Macdonald would love. He would give the coach positional flexibility as Walker has played a number of different positions at Georgia. He has great size and speed for an inside linebacker in the NFL, but he could line up as an edge rusher at times, too. Knight and Walker could be the Seahawks' new Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright eventually.
Second round - Ohio State edge rusher JT Tuimoloau
There is a decent chance that Seattle will release Dre'Mont Jones next offseason as Jones has not been a consistently high performer and moving on from him would save the team $11.5 million. That is too much to pass up for a team with salary cap issues heading into 2025.
Tuimoloau could be more of a defensive end in the league instead of an outside linebacker. He isn't a great athlete, but he is a smart one and he is technically excellent, especially in terms of setting an edge against the run. He has good size at 6'5" and 270 pounds, but he could likely add 10 more pounds and not lose any of his quickness.
Third round - Alabama guard Tyler Booker
The Seahawks might have to replace both guards next offseason. Anthony Bradford needs to not play at right guard as he has led all guards in penalties and sacks allowed for most of the year. Still, rookie Christian Haynes might be his successor. Left guard Laken Tomlinson is in his 30s and on a one-year deal. Booker would be an immediate replacement.
The Alabama product has excellent size at 6'5" and 350 pounds, but he isn't just big; he is strong too. What he lacks in foot quickness he makes up for with the ability to move the man in front of him wherever he wants. He would excel at run blocking and pairing him with Charles Cross on the left side of the offensive line would give Seattle its strongest tackle-guard in two decades.
Sixth round - Florida center Jake Slaughter
Seattle hoped that veteran Connor Williams would be a huge boost to its offensive line this season, but things did not work out well at all. In fact, after underperforming through nine games, Williams decided to retire. Olu Oluwatimi took over in Week 11 and was pretty good. There is no guarantee that Oluwatimi will continue to play well, though. 12s have seen several offensive linemen play well for one week and then fail miserably.
Still, Oluwatimi should be the presumed starter at center in 2025. Slaughter will also need some time to season once in the league. He is 6'5" and 310 pounds, and he could be a great pass protector, but he lacks overall good technique and will need to sit and learn for a bit. He also needs to get stronger in terms of run-blocking.
Seventh round - Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel
Gabriel might not last until the seventh round because he plays the most important position in football, but Pro Football Focus had him available, so why not choose him? He certainly has a ton of college experience and that should help him transition to the NFL, but he has drawbacks as well. He is only 6' and 200 pounds and he doesn't have an overly strong arm.
The Seahawks are probably set at quarterback in 2025. Geno Smith and Sam Howell are both signed through next season. Seattle could use Gabriel as QB3 by likely keeping him on the practice squad. He might not ever develop into a full-time starter, but he could be a backup in the league for 10 years.