Knowing what they know now, there's no way all 32 NFL teams would've let Nick Emmanwori slip to the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft again. Positional value matters, but the rookie out of South Carolina showed how talent, hard work, and being in the right system can make scouts look foolish for turning their backs on guys like him.
Not many rookies are as impactful to a Super Bowl-winning team as Emmanwori was in 2025. His defensive versatility made him the runner-up for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he's already established himself among the league's elite defensive backs.
Emmanwori is just getting started, and he's already talked about how he plans to take his game to another level by working on his pass-rush. That's why ESPN's Bill Barnwell believes that he'll reset the safety market in due time.
The Seattle Seahawks will gladly pay Nick Emmanwori when it's time
"Emmanwori's ability to fit the run and hold up in coverage made him the perfect hybrid defender for coach Mike Macdonald," wrote Barnwell. "He's still two years away from even being eligible for an extension, but don't be surprised if he is the next safety to break the bank as a cornerstone for the Seahawks."
Of course, the Seahawks don't have to worry about paying him for a while. General manager John Schneider usually takes care of his guys, and if he keeps playing the way he did in year one, there's absolutely no doubt that he'll make the numbers work and gladly give him what he's earned. They don't give up extensions early, though, so he'll just have to be patient.
Emmanwori's pick was quintessential to the team's Super Bowl run; they probably wouldn't have won it without him. He's tailor-made for Mike Macdonald's defense, and his ability to disrupt the run with the same ease with which he shuts down the pass allowed defensive coordinator Aden Durde to get creative and scheme countless looks.
No team lived and died by the nickel quite as much as the Seahawks did. Of course, that was about making the most of the personnel, but having Emmanwori out there unlocked so many different possibilities for the Dark Side defense.
Emmanwori held his ground in the box like a SAM linebacker, handling his own against offensive linemen, running backs, and tight ends at the point of attack. Then, on the very next play, he just dropped into coverage to break up a pass like Patrick Surtain II.
The Seahawks moved on from Coby Bryant and Riq Woolen this offseason. Their secondary went through a bit of a shake-up, and it might be a while before their rookies are ready to contribute at a high level.
Then again, they might not even need them to step up right away, knowing that they have a true Swiss Army knife of a player ready to fill in wherever he's needed. Emmanwori is a superstar in the making, and if he keeps trending up, it only makes sense that he gets compensated as such.
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