The older I get the more I try not to get overly hyped about a Seattle Seahawk rookie class, especially considering the there are 31 other fanbases in the NFL who believe their rookies are going to be special. It is the preseason, after all, and with that, hope springs eternal for most NFL fans as they view their teams.

49er fans believe this is the year that Kyle finally gets them a title with Brock Purdy and George Kittle. Cardinal fans are probably pretty optimistic, as well. I am sure Bears fans and Raiders fans have reasons for hope this year. I could go on, but you get my point.

This all said, as I watched last night’s preseason game occur against Pete Carroll’s Raiders (weird to say), I could not help but think how much GM John Schneider kicked the living crap out of the draft last April. I mean, I have really liked the last three drafts of Seattle’s, but I cannot remember watching a preseason game where this many rookies jumped off the screen at me in big ways. Let me go through the list and break each one down a bit.

Left Guard Grey Zabel

Seattle ran at will on the left side, and backup quarterback Drew Lock had a clean pocket to function out of for the entire time Zabel was in there. The best compliment you can give an offensive lineman is when you don’t notice because the ball was moving and the quarterback was kept clean.

Fullback Robbie Outs

I understand it this position is not the sexiest part of an offense for many fans, but I could not help feeling overjoyed seeing the return of the I formation with a bonafide fullback leading the way. I have a feeling that Robbie Ouzts is going to become an instant fan favorite, and there was a noticeable difference at the position when he was playing it over tight end convert Brady Russell. Ouzts is a natural blocker who sprung George Holani for his big touchdown run, and he also showcased his own playmaking abilities by grabbing a Drew Lock pass out of the flat, making a key first down, and absolutely clocking the DB who was trying to tackle him. Fans are going to love this guy.

Safety Nick Emmanwori

As I watch Emmanwori play in Mike Macdonald’s defensive scheme, I am not sure I feel a hundred percent right calling him a safety, but since that is his roster designation, I will roll with it. Geno Smith had one series of play with the Raiders, and made a nice pass play on a scramble out to his right, but the next time he looked to throw, he stayed in the pocket, and the blur on the screen of my television to his left was Emmanwori who shot right past his left tackle and forced a quick incompletion. Geno had no chance to get the ball off. Emmanwori also made his presence felt at the line of scrimmage as a run stopper, and looked fluid in coverage. It appears that this guy has the ability to play safety, off ball linebacker, nickel, and edge rusher in this scheme. In a word, WOW.

Wide Receiver Tory Horton

I am not one to overly attach myself to receivers like I see many other fans often do. Seattle has a rich history of receivers dating all the way back to the seventies and eighties with Steve Largent, and for most fans, this is the position that they cannot help most gravitate towards, buying their jerseys, and talking about with their friends. They are the playmakers. They make first downs, and touchdowns, and they help fantasy team owners win.

I am here to tell you now that I think Tory Horton has the stuff to be a new fan favorite. I really liked him coming out of college, I thought he would be a round two or three consideration for Seattle, but because of a knee injury, the struck gold getting him all the way back in round five.

In this game, he caught first down passes, and you saw his skill making a catch and run score in the red zone. Horton showed sure hands, route running, run after the catch juice, and playmaking vibes. It would not shock me in the slightest if after the end of this coming season, Horton is widely regarded as the steal of the 2025 draft. That’s how much I believe in him, and he showed me nothing in his appearance against the Raiders to dissuade that belief.

Tight End Elijah Arroyo

Arroyo made a first half grab of 10 yards or so out in the middle of the field and he was so fast and fluid in his route that I thought he was a receiver. He was largely outshined by other players on offensive who were either runners or catches, but this play jumped off my screen in a big way. I’m excited to see more.

Quarterback Jalen Milroe

It is impossible for me resist the training camp hype building off of Seattle’s third string quarterback. He is the most toolsy quarterback I have ever seen in a Seahawk uniform, more so than Russell Wilson. Anyone watching this game bore witness to his electrifying running abilities, but I thought in the times he threw, he generally showed well enough going through his progressions with good enough accuracy to think there is something positive there in him as a passer, as well.

His long scrambles were things straight out of a video game, but it was his play action roll out to his right on his lone touchdown leading drive where he hit his tight end down the seam that felt especially electric on the night. You could feel his threat as a thrower on the run, and how that can stress out defenders.

I am a Sam Darnold guy, admittedly, but the drive that Milroe led for a touchdown was so run heavy setting up play action that it left an impression on me that was kick ass to the point in which I could legitimately see a future where Milroe is QB1, and Seattle is playing in title games. He wasn’t perfect on the night. He took a sack when the year needed him not to in the end, he threw on fourth and short long and the pass was not completed when he could have probably made the first down with his legs, but this was a good game to build off of and learn from. Personally, I hope he gets that last preseason game where he is playing most of the quarters, if not all.

Final thoughts

I don’t know what is to become of Seattle’s quarterback situation this year or long term, but I cannot help but think that the solution might already be rostered and I didn’t fully think that in recent years with Geno Smith, as much as I really liked Geno. Last night, Milroe gave me hope that it could be him, but it also wouldn’t completely shock me if we ultimately see him push Sam Darnold into building off his 2024 Vikings campaign in a way in which it will be hard to unseat him further down the line. For the first time in over a decade, I am really fascinated by Seattle’s QB situation with all of its unknowns and possibilities.

I am not going to pit one Seahawk QB over the other in any of this. I embrace this situation with an open mind and heart. In the same breath, I will not fault a single Seahawk fan for being dazzled by Milroe and wanting him even more to become the guy. I totally get that.

But time will be the big teller in this, and I am excited to see what unfolds out of it. I think Seattle’s QB situation might be one of the sneakier ones in the league this year.

Aside from taking QBs, I thought through four quarters, I really felt Klint Kubiak’s offensive scheme, and I fell in love with it. I love the use of the fullback, the tight ends, the running backs looked liked they knew what they were doing, and where they were going. I feel like it really does have the makings of being a strong compliment to Mike Macdonald’s defense.

If I am to nitpick roster concerns a bit, I thought the third string Seahawk defense showed warts in coverage against third string rookie QB Cam Miller and made him look great at times, and I am a bit concerned about the depth at off ball linebacker, as well. This unit let the Raiders back in it when the second string defenders were largely kicking ass.

I was also a bit surprised and disappointed that we didn’t see more out of drafted rookie running back Damien Martinez as a runner. I was expecting more out of him with some of the hype. These next two preseason games could be huge for him because second year back George Holani looked stellar, and undrafted back Jacardia Wright also impressed quite a bit.

Kudos to the offensive line generally not sucking, and playing pretty well at times. It is either that they are improved with the new scheme and coaching, or the Raiders defensive front totally sucks. Could be a little of both. Probably is but we will see.

Okay, that’s it. I am going to spend the next week trying really hard not to be overly hyped about Milroe but I don’t believe I will be successful at it. I won’t blame you at all if you are having the difficulty.

Go Hawks!