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It’s Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. The Seattle Seahawks are slated to pick at No. 18 overall, and while they’ve opted to stand pat at their original top slot for the past five years, perhaps this is the year that John Schneider returns to his trading down ways. If not, there are tantalizing options on the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
The Field Gulls staff has peered into their respective crystal balls to see what Seattle will do with its first pick. We will likely all be wrong like we were last year. Have a glance!
Mookie Alexander: I’d really like for the Seahawks to invest in offense more than defense in this draft. Yes, they’re closer to having an elite defense with the right draft picks but you don’t win if you can’t score, and this offense still needs a lot of work that I’m not willing to just assume will click with a new coaching staff. If the board falls Seattle’s way I think they will stick and pick. Anything else and they might trade down significantly into the deep 20s.
Personally? I’d stay and pick one of Tetairoa McMillan, Emeka Egbuka, or Colston Loveland. I’d go Loveland over Egbuka over McMillan, in that order. I’d wait until the second round to get a guard and preferably Donovan Jackson from Ohio State (yes, even over Grey Zabel). My concern is that Jackson won’t be there at No. 50 and it’s easier to just trade down and take him late first than move up in the second round. Screw it, you want John to give you a guard? Here’s your guard who can also play tackle. Donovan Jackson, Ohio State at the bottom of Round 1 after a trade down. They get another Day 2 pick as part of that trade down.
Ted Zahn: I can tell you what Seattle WON’T do at No. 18, and that’s draft an interior offensive lineman. They’ll entertain offers to trade down, but nothing will be worth in in Schneider’s eyes as he already has extra ammo. Seattle will pick another “freak” defender to add to Mike Macdonald’s burgeoning defense and nobody fits that bill more than Nick Emmanwori.
Terrance Robinson aka thadisrad: Matthew Golden. Our beloved Seattle Seahawks will be selecting Matthew Golden with the 18th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. An expected, but exaggerated, off-season roster shuffle with changes at major positions on offense have resulted in our squad compiling five picks in the top 100. With that in mind, our ‘Hawks have a unique opportunity to select multiple skill position players at the top of the draft while still being able to focus on specific positions of need further along.
Matthew Golden provides savvy, speed, sure hands, and intelligence at the WR position. Although his frame does not necessarily fall in line with what some would deem ideal for a WR1, his innate abilities highlight a player who very well may become one of the best in the league. Neither Golden nor current WR1 Jaxson Smith-Njigba are fully prototypical for the position. Yet, they both produce at a high level. In the new era our squad is immersed, results seem to matter most. Let’s get our guy and let’s stack some Tuddies.
Alexandre Castro: I believe the Seahawks will remain at 18, or at most, trade up. John Schneider has not shown good trade ability in the first round in recent years. Furthermore, it has been reported that few teams will be interested in trading up due to the weak class. Therefore, there will be fewer options for JS in a trade down.
The team should go with the best player available at 18, even if it is not an OL, which is what the fans want. I believe Jihaad Campbell (LB), Malaki Starks (S) and Mykel Williams (EDGE) will be the possibilities. Tetairoa McMillan aka T-Mac, WR from Arizona, could be an option if the teams choose offense.
Patrick Hood: I also feel that Seattle will stay at No. 18, although a trade is not out of the question. I think that the Seahawks will try to replenish their receiving corps now that DK is out of the picture, so I see them going for either Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) or Matthew Golden (Texas), provided at least one is still available by the time Seattle is on the clock.
John Tapia: This draft appears to have very few “blue chip” impact starters, all of which I assume will be gone at 18. In turn, the prospects available at 18 likely won’t have much variance compared to those who could be available at the top of the second round, or even down at 50, where the Seahawks next draft. Because of this, Seattle will likely want to trade down, but finding a partner to trade up may be difficult, so I will go based on the assumption that no trade back can be made, and Seattle has to stick and pick.
Since Seattle has four day two picks, they are in great position to not need to force a pick at a need position like offensive line. At 18 I predict Seattle will select a player at a position where there is not much depth, wide receiver. More specifically, a big-bodied wide receiver. Tetairoa McMillan could help replace that big sized deep threat that left when DK Metcalf went to Pittsburgh. However, if McMillan is not available, Colston Loveland at tight end could fill a similar role, or even taking Jayden Higgins at 18 could be a sneaky option as well.
Frank T. Raines: I think John will want to trade down but I doubt he will get an offer that he likes more than one of the players on the top of his draft board.
Will he use his first pick on an offensive lineman? That’s a big N-O.
Will he use it on a “skill” position player? Probably not – although I’ll laugh my ass off if the Seahawks select a running back (sneaky need), and I’ll do a happy dance if it’s Omarion Hampton because my daughter is currently a grad student at UNC – Chapel Hill.
Best bet for Seattle’s R1 this year? A chess piece for the defense.
Go Hawks!
Gavin Feek: No, it’s not going to be O-line or WR on offense. But it will be offense. Missouri OT Armand Membou slips to Chicago at #10. SF goes D, and John Schneider calls Jerry Jones. Seattle swaps first-round picks with the Cowboys (and #52 and #92 [keeping #50 and #82]) to move up to #12 and selects Penn State dumptruck tight end, Tyler Warren. John Schneider likes him just that much more than Colston Loveland to make the move. Yes, this is super specific, but what if it happens? I’ll be king for a day. Also, LOVE Tyler Warren. My second favorite player in the draft (second only to Travis Hunter, of course). It’s gonna happen. Well, probably not, but it would be a lot cooler if it did.
John P. Gilbert: Who the Seahawks select at 18 is far less important than how many fans will be disappointed by whoever John Schneider chooses to add at 18.
So many fans want the team to add an impact interior offensive lineman, but the reality is most offensive linemen are bad as rookies, even first round picks. So, if they stick around and actually make a pick at 18, I don’t expect it to be an offensive lineman. Maybe a defensive lineman or an EDGE rusher, but not an offensive lineman. My guess is they’ll get around to that on Day 2, but this isn’t a post about Day 2 predictions it’s a post about Day 1 predictions, which I’ve fairly successfully avoided talking about.
Bryce Coutts: I predict the Seattle Seahawks will select Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State, with their No. 18 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The Seahawks’ offensive line, particularly at guard, has been a weak link, with inconsistent play from Anthony Bradford, Sataoa Laumea, Zabel’s versatility to play guard or tackle, athleticism at 312 pounds, and fit in Klint Kubiak’s run-heavy scheme make him an ideal choice to protect quarterback Sam Darnold and align with coach Mike Macdonald’s physical identity. Mock drafts frequently pair Zabel with Seattle at No. 18, and his polished performance in the draft process positions him as a safe, high-impact starter to address a critical need.
On the HawksZone Rundown, I have stressed the urgency of fixing the offensive line, advocating for versatile linemen who can play multiple positions. While I like Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson for his guard-tackle flexibility and considered Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia, for his defensive fit, the offensive line is the priority, aligning with Zabel’s profile. I have also discussed trading back to gain picks while targeting linemen, but Zabel’s rising stock may keep Seattle at No. 18. With ample top-100 picks, the Seahawks can address defense later, making Zabel the best choice to bolster the offense immediately.
This article may update with more staff picks as they populate throughout the day, so watch this space and make your own predictions in the comments!
