The Seattle Seahawks are having themselves a season - and not just because they’re sitting at 10-3, tied atop both the NFC West and the entire NFC alongside the Los Angeles Rams. Sure, the on-field product has been impressive, but what’s happening behind the scenes might be just as important to the story unfolding in Seattle.
Let’s start with the quarterback position. The Seahawks made a bold move this offseason, parting ways with Geno Smith and handing the reins to Sam Darnold after a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders. That decision raised some eyebrows back in the spring, but it’s clear now that it was part of a broader vision - one that’s paying off in a big way.
And that vision extended to the NFL Draft, where Seattle made a couple of picks that are already making serious noise. You’ve probably heard plenty about second-rounder Nick Emmanwori this week - and for good reason.
The rookie defensive back had a monster game in the Seahawks’ 37-9 demolition of the Falcons last Sunday. But while Emmanwori grabbed the headlines, it’s the guy drafted before him who’s quietly turning into a foundational piece of this team.
Enter Grey Zabel.
The 6-foot-6, 316-pound left guard out of North Dakota State was the Seahawks’ first-round pick at No. 18 overall, and while offensive linemen don’t always get the spotlight, Zabel is starting to demand it - not with words, but with the way he plays.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, a respected voice when it comes to evaluating young talent, didn’t hold back when discussing Zabel’s performance against Atlanta. Speaking on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk show, Jeremiah shared what he told an NFL general manager while reviewing the game tape.
“Dude, Grey Zabel - just watching him in this game and the torque and the power that he can play with - he is an elite guard now,” Jeremiah said.
That’s not just high praise. That’s a declaration.
When Seattle drafted Zabel, the hope was that he could develop into a top-tier player at his position. But according to Jeremiah, that future might already be here.
“This is not, ‘Oh, he’s going to end up being one of the better guards in the league.’ He is one of the better guards in the league right now with what he did (against Atlanta),” he added.
For a team that has often struggled to get consistent play along the offensive line, Zabel’s emergence is a game-changer. His size and strength were never in question, but what’s standing out now is his ability to translate those tools into impact plays - creating movement in the run game, anchoring in pass protection, and showing the kind of physical dominance that sets the tone up front.
It’s easy to focus on the flashier parts of Seattle’s 10-3 start - the quarterback change, the explosive defense, the big wins. But if you’re looking for the kind of player who helps turn a good team into a great one, Grey Zabel is that guy.
He’s not just holding his own. He’s controlling the line of scrimmage, and that’s the kind of presence that wins games deep into December and beyond.
Seattle’s front office made some gutsy calls this year. So far, they’re looking like the right ones - and Zabel might be the best example yet of just how well this team is being built from the inside out.