The Seahawks made a big move up on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, trading up to Pick No. 35 to select University of South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori.
In exchange for that pick, which was held by Tennessee, the Seahawks sent pick No. 52 in the second round and pick No. 82 in the third round to the Titans.
I was excited, "Emmanwori said on a conference call after getting picked. Genuinely, I'm happy they came and got me. I felt great when I went up there for the visit, talked to the coaches, had a great visit. I felt the most connected with them. So if it was anybody to do it, I knew it was going to be them."
After making the pick, the Seahawks still hold Pick No. 50 in the second round and pick No. 92 in the third round, as well as five more picks on Day 3 of the draft.
Emmanwori, who is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, gives the Seahawks a rare combination of size and athleticism, having run a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine while posting a 43-inch vertical leap and an 11-foot, 6-inch broad jump.
And Emmanwori has the production to match those physical traits, having recorded a team-leading 88 tackles in 2024 as well as four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and three tackles for loss. Emmanwori earned first-team Associated Press All-American honors last year, as well as first-team All-SEC honors.
Because of his size, Emmanwori has drawn comparisons to Seahawks Legend Kam Chancellor, and in fact, Emmanwori heard from Chancellor, via an Instagram direct message, during yesterday's first round. Those two have never met, but they both played in college for current South Carolina defensive backs coach Torrian Gray, and Emmanwori is thrilled to be playing for the team where Chancellor helped turn the Legion of Boom into the league's best secondary.
"Coach Gray coached him and he coached me, so Coach Gray used to tell me all the time that we have a lot of similarities, he used to compare our games a lot," Emmanwori said. "Kam Chancellor is one of my favorite safeties ever, so it means a lot going to Seattle. I used to watch him all the time on TV, I used to pull up his highlights before games. It's crazy."
The assessment of Emmanwori's tape could depend on which games you watch. He's a physical specimen with rare size and outstanding speed, but he doesn't always play with a "first to the action" mentality in run support. When he gets it cranked up, he becomes a much more effective tackler and overall run stopper from sideline to sideline. He's capable of playing over the top, inside the box or even matching up with pass-catching tight ends. He's upright with average transition fluidity in coverage, but he has great recovery speed and uses his length to throw a blanket over the catch point. He has rare NFL traits and talent, so a boost in urgency could take him from a good starter to a Pro Bowl-caliber player.
The Seahawks drafted South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori with the 35th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Check out the best photos of the second-round pick throughout the years.
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E Braley)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) pushes Texas A&M wide receiver Evan Stewart (1) out of bounds after a catch during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Texas A&M wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) tries to the turn the corner after catching a pass as South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) pursues him during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) intercepts a pass in the end zone over Kentucky tight end Izayah Cummings (8) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) is tackled by South Carolina defensive lineman Elijah Davis (11) and defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori, left, is called for defensive pass interference on LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy (2) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Vanderbilt, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori, right, tackles Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) after a short gain during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) tackles Wofford running back Ryan Ingram, left, for a loss during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) pushes Clemson wide receiver T.J. Moore (1) out of bounds during an NCAA college football game between Clemson and South Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) reacts during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game against Illinois, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Illinois running back Aidan Laughery (21) rushes for yardage as South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) defends during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (DB40) poses for a portrait at the NFL football Combine on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Indianapolis. (AJ Mast/AP Content Services for the NFL)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori speaks during a press conference at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori lifts weights at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori, right, talks with defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) warms up during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) takes warm up catches during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) warms up during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) reaches for pass as he warms up during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) catches a pass during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) runs drills during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) makes a catch in drills during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (7) runs drills during South Carolina's Pro Day event Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Scott Kinser)
