Back to the Seattle Seahawks Newsfeed

Seahawks draft pick could crash Defensive Rookie of the Year race

The Seattle Seahawks defense is aiming for a significant leap in Year 2 under head coach Mike Macdonald. There will be a few new faces, but all eyes are on rookie second-round pick Nick Emmanwori.

Emmanwori carries plenty of hype as the No. 35 overall pick in this year’s draft. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive back is set to be a versatile piece in Macdonald’s defense, taking on a role similar to Kyle Hamilton when Macdonald was the defensive coordinator in Baltimore.

That hybrid safety/nickel/will linebacker-esque role has evolved over the years into a critical piece for NFL defenses as teams continue to utilize wide sets and 11 personnel.