Seahawks give O-line a boost, draft Grey Zabel from North Dakota State

Bob Condotta, The Seattle Times on Apr 24, 2025

Published in Football

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The Seahawks didn’t zig or zag with their first-round pick this year.

The offensive line was widely considered as the team’s biggest area of need heading into Thursday’s first round.

And the Seahawks didn’t disappoint those who hoped they’d address it, taking offensive lineman Grey Zabel of North Dakota State with the 18th overall pick.

Zabel played guard, tackle and center in college but was listed as a guard in the announcement of his pick and it is expected he will compete for a starting spot there as a rookie.

The Seahawks have uncertainty at both guard spots after letting starting left guard Laken Tomlinson leave in free agency and with a revolving door on the right side a year ago.

Zabel is listed as 6-foot-6, 316 pounds.

The Seahawks talked to teams over the last few days assessing options for moving down and adding to an already a solid haul of 10 picks for this year — or adding one for 2026.

Ultimately, they stayed put, as they had the last two seasons.

The Seahawks have four picks in the second and third rounds on Friday — 50, 52, 82 and 92.

Two of those were acquired in the trades for DK Metcalf (50) and Geno Smith (92), and the Seahawks are hoping to use that haul to further invigorate a team that went 10-7 last season under rookie coach Mike Macdonald.