The Seattle Seahawks may have struck gold with the 35th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Nick Emmanwori, the versatile safety out of South Carolina, has been nothing short of a revelation in his rookie season - and he’s doing it on the biggest stage possible.
From the moment he stepped on the field, Emmanwori has looked like he belongs - not just in the league, but among its elite defenders. He’s not playing like a rookie. He’s playing like a tone-setter, a difference-maker, and a key cog in a Seahawks defense that’s rediscovering its edge during a deep postseason run.
Let’s talk production. Emmanwori leads all safeties - not just rookies - with 13 forced incompletions, per Pro Football Focus.
That’s the kind of stat that doesn’t just pop off the page - it tells the story of a player who’s consistently disrupting passing lanes, arriving at the catch point with authority, and making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks and receivers. He’s also a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year, and while Cleveland’s Carson Schwesinger may be the betting favorite, Emmanwori’s impact is impossible to ignore.
Even Tom Brady took notice. On the latest installment of his “LFG Awards,” the seven-time Super Bowl champ gave Emmanwori his personal nod for Defensive Rookie of the Year. And when one of the greatest to ever do it singles you out, it carries weight.
“Nick Emmanwori, what an animal this guy is,” Brady said. “He’s big, he’s fast, he’s physical.
He made some game-changing plays last Sunday in the championship game - covering people, knocking balls away, pass defense, tackles in the run game, aggressive in his run fits. This guy has a very bright future.”
That’s not just praise - that’s a scouting report from a guy who’s seen every type of defender imaginable. And the fact that Brady is highlighting Emmanwori’s play in both coverage and run support speaks volumes about the rookie’s all-around game.
Now, awards are nice - and Emmanwori may very well take one home - but right now, he’s got a much bigger prize in front of him. While most rookies are watching the Super Bowl from the couch, Emmanwori is preparing to take the field in it. And based on what we’ve seen so far, he won’t just be along for the ride - he’ll be a central figure in whether Seattle hoists the Lombardi.
His regular-season numbers paint the picture of a player who’s already doing it all: 81 total tackles, 18 pressures, 11 pass breakups, nine tackles for loss, and a 12.5% forced incompletion rate. Those are impact stats - the kind that show up on film and in the box score. His PFF grade of 71.4 ranked 22nd among 98 eligible safeties, which feels a bit modest considering how often he’s been around the ball and making plays.
What stands out even more than the stats is the attitude. Emmanwori plays with a chip on his shoulder and a swagger that evokes memories of Seattle’s Legion of Boom era.
He’s a hard-hitting, sideline-to-sideline disruptor who brings energy, edge, and a relentless motor. He talks, he hits, and he backs it up.
That’s the kind of DNA that defines great defenses.
And here’s the scary part - he’s just getting started. Once the turnovers start coming in bunches - and they will - he’s going to enter that upper echelon of NFL safeties.
He already has the instincts, the physicality, and the fearlessness. Add a few more splash plays to the mix, and we’re looking at a perennial All-Pro in the making.
For now, though, the focus is on the Super Bowl. And if the Seahawks defense is going to hold up against the firepower of their opponent, Emmanwori’s fingerprints will be all over it. He’s not just a rookie making noise - he’s a foundational piece of a defense that’s peaking at the right time.
Seattle may have found its next defensive star. And the league is starting to take notice.