5 unexpected Seahawks who shocked everyone at training camp

Every team needs to have a few players become unexpected stars. The Seattle Seahawks seemingly had a player develop like that every year in the early 2010s. Where would the offense have been without undrafted free agents Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse, for instance?

Not all shock stars have to be UDFAs, of course. Head coach Mike Macdonald might be able to mold a defensive player who has somewhat underperformed in his career into a very productive player. Macdonald did that several times with the Baltimore Ravens.

But not all of the surprisingly good players for the Seahawks in training camp have been from the defensive side of the ball. A couple of offensive players have had an impact. Once the real games begin, they could have an impact then, too.

These Seattle Seahawks have surprised everyone with their play during training camp

Wide receiver Tory Horton

Horton was a fifth-round pick, but only because he was injured in his last year in college. Prior to that, he was extremely productive and flashed the kind of speed that can make NFL defenses fearful. But there was no guarantee that Horton would be full-go in training camp after hurting his knee.

The wide receiver, though, not only was fully healthy by camp, he was ready to produce. Seemingly every day in practice, he made a splash play. Rookies need to do this normally anyway, but a fifth-round choice doing so is a bit unexpected.

Now, the rookie seems to have moved up to WR3 on the depth chart, bypassing veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Tory Horton could cement his status with a fantastic performance versus the Kansas City Chiefs.

Defensive lineman Mike Morris

Morris seemed like a lost cause in his first couple of seasons. An injury set him back as a rookie, and former head coach Pete Carroll didn't seem overly impressed with what Morris brought in camp. In his second season, Morris didn't get too many reps under new head coach Mike Macdonald.

Macdonald might know how to get the best out of the defensive lineman, though. Morris played for the University of Michigan, and Macdonald spent one season there as the defensive coordinator. Perhaps that previous experience is translating to 2025 success.

Morris has had by far his best training camp. He has gotten some interior pressure and been strong against the run. He was once seemingly on the roster bubble, but if he does well against Kansas City, his roster spot might seem assured.

Running back George Holani

Holani was good in training camp in 2024, too, but he got banged up. This was an extension of hos his college career had gone too. He always had potential, but it was somewhat limited by constantly nagging injuries.

If given a chance, the running back might not only be a solid backup, but could probably get some real reps. Against the Las Vegas Raiders in preseason Week 1, Holani was a star with 61 yards rushing on just seven carries.

The Chiefs have a better defensive front than the Raiders, but KC might not play its starters. There is no reason to think that George Holani won't be a standout yet again in preseason Week 2.

Cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett

As a rookie, Pritchett was terrible. He was one of two cornerbacks out of Auburn that the Seattle Seahawks chose in the 2024 NFL draft, and one, DJ James, didn't even make the team before the start of the season. Prtichett was also buried on the depth chart.

Maybe he just needed a season to be terrible. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, the cornerback allowed three of his five targets to be completed for 31 yards, but he also had an interception and a pass broken up. Maybe as importantly, he had three tackles and didn't whiff on any attempts. He struggled in that aspect last year.

The Auburn product is still not going to be a starter, most likely. Seattle has Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon, of course. Free agent signee Shaill Griffin or sometime 2024 starter Josh Jobe probably have the edge on Prtichett. But the second-year player has shocked many with his play in training camp, and maybe he isn't done with his surprises.

Edge rusher Connor O'Toole

O'Toole was excellent against the Raiders. In 24 pass-rush snaps, he was credited with six pressures, including a sack and two quarterback hits. The edge rusher is one of two undrafted free agents forcing Seattle to make tough roster decisions, with Jared Ivey being the other.

The Utah product has excellent athleticism. He ran a 4.66 40 at his pro day, but his problem in college was that he got hurt too much. Availability is a skill, and O'Toole hasn't shown he has that yet.

Maybe he will be one of those rare players who stay healthier in the NFL than they did in college. So far in training camp, he has played every day and made an impact. If he has another great day against the Kansas City Chiefs, O'Toole might find his way to a surprising roster spot.

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