Rylie Mills is starting to look like more than a name buried on the Seahawks’ defensive depth chart.
That matters in Seattle, because the team’s starting defense is already crowded with proven talent. Devon Witherspoon and Josh Jobe give the Seahawks what looks like a top-five cornerback duo.
Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy may be the league’s best defensive tackle pair. DeMarcus Lawrence brings veteran punch at defensive end, and Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love form a strong safety tandem.
Against that kind of starting group, Mills isn’t trying to jump the line overnight. He isn’t a starter at defensive tackle or defensive end, and he isn’t about to force his way into that role before Week 1. But he is making noise in a way that could matter by the end of camp.
The Seahawks list him at both defensive tackle and defensive end, which gives him a path to value in a room that is already deep. Right now, he sits third at defensive tackle behind Williams and Jarran Reed, and he’s behind Lawrence and Mike Morris at defensive end. That’s a tough climb, but not a dead end.
Mills is also doing this in his first real NFL training camp. He missed last season while recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, the same injury that ended his college career at Notre Dame in December of 2024. Seattle drafted him in the fifth round last summer, and now the second-year player is finally getting a full chance to show what he can do.
The early returns are encouraging. Reports from camp say Mills has been “killing it” on the field, and there doesn’t seem to be any sign of the injury slowing him down. In June, Mills told the media that he’s feeling back to who he was before the injury, which is exactly what the Seahawks wanted to hear.
There’s also a chance for him to climb if he keeps stacking strong days. Reed is a 10-year veteran, and a younger, faster player like Mills could push that battle harder than expected during camp.
One snap from this past week stood out: Mills beat guard Gray Zabel with a swim move, then got him again on the very next play. Leonard Williams and Reed were right there afterward to give him a pat on the back.
For Seattle, Mills is one of the clearer signs that a player the team likes is making real progress. He’s not threatening Williams or Lawrence for a starting job, but he could work himself into a bigger backup role if this keeps going. Camp is where young players get their chance, and Mills is making the most of his.
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For a team adjusting after Klint Kubiaks departure, Arroyos emergence offers a welcome boost of optimism. He looks capable of becoming more than just a complementary piece next to starter AJ Barner, and the way he has worked into the passing game suggests there may be a bigger role waiting if this camp momentum carries into the season. [Read more 🡒]