Seahawks draft OL Grey Zabel: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel
The Seattle Seahawks added some protection along the offensive line, selecting North Dakota State center Grey Zabel with the No. 18 pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Starting 40 of his 62 games at North Dakota State, Zabel started games at both tackle spots and both guard spots. His senior year saw Zabel start all 16 games at left tackle, earning him consensus All-American honors and first-team All-MVFC.
Advertisement
Despite playing at the FCS level, Zabel has held his own against better talent. After accepting an invitation to the Senior Bowl, Zabel was voted the overall practice player of the week. He also has experience playing alongside NFL talent as part of a North Dakota State offensive line that included Cordell Volson (a 2022 fourth-round pick) and Cody Mauch (a 2023 second-rounder).
In 2024, Zabel was part of a high-volume rushing offense that dominated FCS. North Dakota State finished its season with 3,093 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground, both fourth-most in the FCS. Their 654 rushing attempts were the second most in the FCS.
Zabel ranked No. 32 in Dane Brugler's top 300 big board. Here's what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:
'Whether out in space or in confined areas, Zabel shines as a run blocker with his athletic range and grip strength to connect, strain and seal lanes. In pass protection, he can be walked back and surrender depth versus power, but he mirrors well and stays balanced through contact as he refits his hands to grind bull rushes to a halt. Overall, Zabel must prove he can consistently anchor against NFL power, but his light, flexible movements and strong hands keep pass rushers busy and displace defenders in the run game. A college tackle, he projects best inside at either center or guard, where he will compete for immediate starting reps and offer Pro Bowl upside.'
What an anonymous coach had to say about Zabel in Bruce Feldman's mock draft:
'He's a talented, physical kid. I don't think he's quite as good as (Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard) Cody Mauch or (Buffalo Bills tackle) Spencer Brown, but I think he's better than (New Orleans Saints first-round tackle) Trevor Penning. Grey is a really good athlete, but I think Mauch bent better and was more of a mauler.'
.@NDSUfootball @GreyZabel took more 1 on 1 reps at the @seniorbowl than any other OL…and at nearly every position. Seemed like he won every rep #nfldraft #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/7R4XMj1cGo
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) March 2, 2025
Come back later for more analysis of Zabel.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
16 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Titans embrace Callahan's competition hoping to boost performance, accountability and wins
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Drop a ball, lose points. A red zone touchdown catch isn't worth six but still nets points. Jump offside earns a deduction. Lose a wide receiver in coverage also hurts. The Tennessee Titans don't kick off coach Brian Callahan's second season until Sept. 7 at Denver. With the Titans going 3-14 and losing the final six games, Callahan made some changes all designed to help Tennessee win more in 2025. The biggest new offseason feature is an internal competition. Callahan broke up the Titans into eight teams with a captain and assistant with rankings updated daily. Teams earn — or lose — points for what they do particularly on the field. For pro athletes, that's all they needed to hear. Outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones, an offseason free agent signee going into his seventh NFL season, said Wednesday that the Titans are '100%' bought into Callahan's offseason competition. Jones said everything they do is a competition, keeping energy high. 'We need that competition,' Jones said. 'We have a young football team. We need to keep that edge and that competitive (approach) throughout the whole entire offseason leading into the season.' Tennessee lost six games in Callahan's debut season by eight points or fewer. Combined with a roster stocked with 48 new players, this competition is designed to have the Titans hold each other accountable for mistakes including turnovers, penalties and mental errors that prove so costly in an NFL season. Callahan knows this won't show results that matter until September and October at the earliest. This is all part of his focus on doing everything possible for the Titans to be better. 'A lot of it was kind of through this offseason program that we developed and how do we best win football games? And how do I best put our team in position to do that? How do I coach that better? And how do I do a better job from a leadership perspective for our players and our staff?' Callahan said. Jones is on a team captained by running back Tony Pollard who likes how Callahan also mixed up assignments in the locker room. No longer are position groups sitting together. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is next to rookie quarterback Cam Ward. 'You got to talk to different guys, get to know people throughout the locker room,' said Pollard, who now has cornerback L'Jarius Sneed and defensive lineman Keondre Coburn to the right. 'So it's just, it's a great thing just connecting with the whole team.' That talking isn't done just inside the locker room. Part of the schedule includes time for each group to get to know each other better by discussing four H's: history, heroes, hopes and heartbreaks. 'That's just a great thing just learning backstories, what guys have been through and what they've had to overcome to be where they are now,' Pollard said. Callahan hasn't shared what the rewards will be for the winners. It doesn't matter. Linebacker Cody Barton, who signed a three-year deal in March, joked that he heard winners got a car and asked for that to be confirmed. A pat on the back also works. Right guard Kevin Zeitler is another newcomer going into his 14th NFL season. He said every NFL team has its own approach to the offseason program with some business-like, others 'super competitive and fiery' with others making it fun. 'Having an extra competition throughout the day to be more on your details. ... it makes it more fun,' Zeitler said. Treylon Burks working Callahan said Treylon Burks, the Titans' 18th pick overall in 2022 as part of the A.J. Brown trade, is doing more in his rehab from a partially torn ACL that limited him to five games and four catches last season. Burks is doing more than Callahan expected at the beginning of the offseason program. Burks is doing more individual drills and routes. Callahan said the hope is Burks will be cleared by the start of training camp. ___ AP NFL:
Newsweek
30 minutes ago
- Newsweek
DeMarcus Cousins Suspended for Season After Altercation With Fan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former NBA All-Star center and lottery pick DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended from the Puerto Rican basketball league after an altercation with a fan. More NBA news: Former NBA All-Star Believes Thunder Resemble Prime Warriors Team The National Superior Basketball Association announced the following sanctions and fines for Cousins. "Guaynabo Mets player DeMarcus Cousins has been suspended for the remainder of the 2025 season and fined $4,250 for a disqualifying foul, a technical foul, and acts that incite violence or provocation. "In addition, the player must show cause why he should not be fined an additional $5,750, given the seriousness of the incident. "In view of the above, the player faces fines of up to $10,000." Dwight Howard #39 of the Philadelphia 76ers and DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Houston Rockets speak before playing at Wells Fargo Center on February 17, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dwight Howard #39 of the Philadelphia 76ers and DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Houston Rockets speak before playing at Wells Fargo Center on February 17, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo byThe incident, which took place on Monday, saw Cousins confront a fan courtside. He was eventually ejected, and as he returned to the locker room, fans threw drinks at him, which led him to confront some of the fans. The 34-year-old signed with the Guaynabo Mets in late April for the 2025 season. He had played with the team in 2023 and was sensational. In that season, Cousins averaged 20.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game in 25.4 minutes per game. He shot 44 percent from three and 69 percent from the charity stripe in free throws. As for this season, Cousins was great, averaging 18.2 points per game, nine rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 10 games played this season. Cousins, a four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA selection, spent 11 seasons in the league. Over the course of 654 regular season games, he suited up for the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Pelicans, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets. A former standout at Kentucky, Cousins put together a strong NBA resume, averaging 19.6 points, 10.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on .460/.331/.737 shooting splits. The Kings made him the No. 5 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and early in his career, he looked like a franchise cornerstone. But injuries changed the course of his journey — most notably a torn left Achilles tendon in 2018 during his first full season with the Pelicans. That injury marked a turning point. His production declined, and he never fully regained his dominant form. From that point on, he became somewhat of a journeyman, struggling to find long-term footing with any team. At 34, Cousins could still have something left in the tank, but teams across the league have been reluctant to take a chance. More NBA news: Former All-Star Center DeMarcus Cousins Signing with Overseas Team
New York Times
30 minutes ago
- New York Times
The next Travis Hunter? Not quite, but Packers are working Bo Melton at WR and CB
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers wide receiver Bo Melton made it crystal clear that he's not switching to cornerback right now. If anything, he's trying to play both positions. Rich in wide receivers and perhaps lacking cornerback depth, head coach Matt LaFleur raised the idea last week of Melton working at cornerback. Why? The Packers have been impressed with Melton's special teams ability. He plays cornerback on their punt return unit, taking backward drops and getting physical with opposing fliers. He also plays flier on their punt coverage unit, so he has experience tackling in the open field. Advertisement Trying Melton at cornerback wasn't just a recent thought. Not long after Melton signed with the Packers in December 2022, LaFleur asked if he had ever played cornerback. Melton played the position in high school and sparingly at the beginning of his Rutgers career, but he was drafted by the Seahawks in the 2022 seventh round as a wideout. Videos of Melton working on his drops and ball skills with other defensive backs at Tuesday's mandatory minicamp practice took off online, but it's important to remember that this is a June experiment that might improve Melton's chances of making the 53-man roster, not a Jaire Alexander replacement plan. 'It's just something that came up,' Melton said after Wednesday's practice. 'I want to give it a shot. I'm still a wide receiver, so I'm not really transitioning to no cornerback, but if it works, it works.' Jeff Hafley coaching up Bo Melton — Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 11, 2025 Melton didn't realize how much his position addition would resonate with people until he checked his phone after practice. 'I was like, 'Shoot, maybe this is bigger than what I thought,'' he said. 'I just went out there, like I said, gave it a shot. I kind of liked it a little bit.' Not only did Melton emphasize that he's not strictly a cornerback, he also made clear that he's no Travis Hunter. The No. 2 pick in this year's draft and reigning Heisman Trophy winner has taken the football world by storm. After playing both sides at Colorado, he'll do so for the Jaguars, too. 'Travis is a different athlete, as everybody knows,' said Melton, who himself might be the fastest player on the Packers. 'He's a Heisman Trophy winner, won a lot of awards. I'm not going to compare myself to somebody that's done that, but what I will say is I like to run for days.' Advertisement Melton played in only five games in 2023, but he was the team's first 100-yard receiver that season when he caught six catches for 105 yards and a touchdown in Minneapolis to keep the Packers' season afloat in Week 17. Despite being on the active roster all last season, however, Melton only caught eight passes for 91 yards. The Packers drafted wide receivers Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third, in addition to returning Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. That group of five doesn't even include Christian Watson, who is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a Week 18 torn ACL. They also signed veteran wideout Mecole Hardman this offseason. Christian Watson, cleats and gloves on, continues working his way back from his Week 18 torn ACL — Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 11, 2025 At cornerback, though, the Packers are much lighter. After the Monday release of Alexander, their top three are Keisean Nixon, Nate Hobbs and Carrington Valentine, with a slew of unproven players behind them like Kalen King, Kamal Hadden and Gregory Junior. If Melton were only playing wide receiver, he might still make the initial 53-man roster as the sixth wideout because of his special teams ability, but would struggle to crack the regular-season rotation. Why not try earning a spot higher on the depth chart at a different position in addition to competing at your original one? 'I think versatility is critical and it creates added value for that player,' LaFleur said. 'I just love everything about the guy, how he shows up every day ready to compete and give his best effort.' LaFleur even showed the team clips of Melton working out on Tuesday morning to demonstrate the coach's desired effort level. 'We just thought that if there is somebody that can potentially do both,' LaFleur said, 'he would be that guy.' Advertisement Melton is familiar with route concepts from his time playing receiver, so he has a better understanding of how to defend certain routes as a cornerback. He doesn't want to take advantage of his fellow wide receivers too much, however, so he doesn't look at the offense's practice script that he has access to as a wideout. 'I was watching film last night and he's pretty sticky in coverage for his first time out there,' safety Evan Williams said. 'Any time we can get a guy like that who's just an athlete out there, it's pretty cool, in my opinion, for him to be as versatile as he is and play both sides of the ball.' Despite the encouraging early feedback, Melton said he's still not the best cornerback in his family. That would be Max, his younger brother, who was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round last year to play corner. Bo didn't tell Max he was practicing at cornerback, so Max learned when he saw the news online and called his older brother with a simple question: 'What the hell are you doing?' .@MecoleHardman4 had the offense turnt after this 70+ yard TD 🔥 — Green Bay Packers (@packers) June 11, 2025 Max wasn't the only person caught off guard. 'That was definitely confusing,' quarterback Jordan Love said. 'During the jog-through, I was mentioning that it looked like Bo was a receiver out there (wearing his typical white No. 80 jersey), but he was actually playing DB. So I was trying not to throw it to him, but nah, it was fine and they actually switched jerseys and gave him a little green jersey later on.' 'I actually caught a pass and … I turned out, took a few steps and saw someone do a fly-by out of my peripheral,' tight end Tucker Kraft said. 'I turned around. I'm like, who was that? Like a wide receiver just decided to mess around and come tag off on me or something like that, but no, yeah, Bo was out there taking snaps at defense. I was very surprised, to say the least.' Melton said that teammates learned he'd be practicing at cornerback when he stood beside them during individual drills on Tuesday. Advertisement 'Everybody turned and looked at me like, 'What are you doing?'' Melton said. 'I said, 'I'm with y'all today.' I was telling everybody before and they were like, 'You lying. You lying.' I started putting bets on it, so people owe me money now … it was fun just to see everybody's comments. I don't got Twitter. I've got Instagram, so I probably shouldn't have Twitter. I know that joint was probably jumping.' Jumping it was, but as those who made the decision clarified, this is simply a trial run to see if a player everyone in the building already loves can add even more value to the Packers this season. 'There are very few guys who have done it in our league,' general manager Brian Gutekunst said. 'There have been a few and when a guy's able to do that, it certainly helps your football team. Bo is everything we want in a football player out there as far as his ability as a receiver, certainly on (special) teams. If he's able to add to his arsenal, that makes him really, really valuable to us.'
