After completing a 10-7 season in 2024, the Seattle Seahawks drafted offensive lineman Grey Zabel with the 18th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Zabel, an alumnus of North Dakota State, played multiple positions on the offensive line before settling at left tackle in 2024, earning accolades such as First-team All-MVFC and All-American honors. The Seahawks, needing to enhance their pass-blocking, see Zabel as a versatile asset who could initially play guard. Zabel expressed his excitement about joining the Seahawks, humorously mentioning his celebratory plans before shifting his focus to the team's needs. With key players lost to free agency, the Seahawks might further bolster their offensive line with additional picks in the draft's later rounds to protect new quarterback Sam Darnold effectively.

Grey Zabel was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks as the 18th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft following their 10-7 season in 2024.

Zabel played at North Dakota State, where he transitioned from a backup to a starting offensive lineman, demonstrating versatility by playing four out of five positions on the line.

During his collegiate career, Zabel played primarily at left tackle in his final year, achieving First-team All-MVFC and First-team All-American honors.

Seattle struggled with pass-blocking in 2024, ranking ninth in sack rates, and lost key linemen Laken Tomlinson and Stone Forsythe in free agency, increasing the urgency for line reinforcements.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald suggested starting Zabel at guard due to his versatility, with the team likely to focus on further line improvements in the draft's subsequent rounds.

Zabel's initial reaction to being drafted was one of joy, humorously noting his intention to celebrate with Busch Lights before transitioning to his professional duties.

The Seahawks aim to improve their offensive line to better protect new starting quarterback Sam Darnold, with Zabel expected to contribute significantly to this goal.

Following their 10-7 season in 2024, the Seattle Seahawks received the 18th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, and on Thursday, they remained at their selection and took offensive lineman Grey Zabel.

Zabel, 23, played both offensive and defensive line at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, North Dakota, before heading to North Dakota State for the 2020 season.

After starting his collegiate career as a backup offensive lineman (getting snaps at both guard and center), Zabel took over as a starter in 2022, playing four of the five positions on the offensive line. It wasn't until 2024 that he finally stuck to one spot, as he played all 961 of his offensive snaps at left tackle this past year.

Throughout his time with the Bisons, Zabel won two national championships and earned First-team All-MVFC and First-team All-American honors once.

When Zabel found out that Seattle was taking him, he was understandably ecstatic. In fact, he told reporters that he was "probably going to start diving into these Busch Lights" before turning his attention from celebration to work on Friday (via The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar).

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Seattle was not a great pass-blocking team in 2024, allowing their quarterbacks to be sacked on 8.35% of their dropbacks, the ninth-highest rate in the NFL last year. They then lost Laken Tomlinson and Stone Forsythe to the Houston Texans and New York Giants, respectively, in free agency.

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Zabel may have the versatility to line up all over the offensive line, but it probably makes the most sense to start him out at guard, and after the selection, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said exactly that.

Hopefully, the Busch Lights have stopped flowing by the time Zabel is hitting the practice field for the first time in a Seahawks jersey because this offensive line needs the help protecting new starting quarterback Sam Darnold.

It actually wouldn't be surprising to see Seattle attack offensive line with any of their four picks on Day 2 of the draft.

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