Seattle Seahawks will need new playmakers in 2025, fifth-round rookie primed for immediate breakout, ‘he was putting…’

Seahawks fifth-round draft pick Tory Horton could play impact role in 2025 season and beyond

Jaxon Smith-Njigba had a breakout year in 2024, totaling 100 receptions for 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns. The 2023 first-rounder quickly rose to a primary role in the offense, meaning the Seahawks were ready to move on from two of their veterans.

Tyler Lockett was a pending free agent, and after ten seasons with the team said an emotional goodbye after signing with the Tennessee Titans.

DK Metcalf was due a mega deal with just one season left on his contract extension, and rather than pay him themselves, the Seahawks opted to send him to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a second-round pick.

With Smith-Njigba filling the volume receiver role, the Seahawks set about building around him. Cooper Kupp signed a three-year $45 million deal, saving the franchise a lot of money on a pass catcher while providing veteran leadership to the group.

The 32-year-old grew up going to Seahawks games, having played both high school and college football in his home state of Washington. He said he learned a lot from Seahawks legend Doug Baldwin growing up.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling will add a vertical option to the unit, but fifth-round pick Tory Horton is generating a lot of buzz as a potential playmaker.

The rookie fell to the fifth round of the draft after suffering an injury just five games into the 2024 season. He had to have surgery and was ruled out for the rest of the year, but his production over the two seasons prior is enough to get very excited about.

Horton initially started out at Nevada, having been a three-star prospect out of high school. After an impressive sophomore season, he transferred to Colorado State, where he had a true breakout year in 2022.

Horton caught 71 passes for 1,131 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his first season with the Rams, while averaging 15.9 yards per catch. He played 71% of his snaps from out wide, with more reps in the slot than he’d ever had before.

The 2023 season was similar, only with more volume and more catches closer to the line of scrimmage. He recorded 96 catches for 1,144 receiving yards, and again, eight touchdowns.

Had Horton been healthy for the duration of the 2024 season, he likely would have been a day two draft pick. He’s explosive with a knack for finding space downfield, as well as being dangerous with the ball in his hands.

While he spent most of the 2024 season rehabbing from surgery, Horton was already a full-go during the team’s mandatory minicamp and OTAs. One reporter said:

“He was putting moves on DBs while full go in open field drills”

Horton’s path to playing time in 2025, as Seattle reshuffle the deck on offense

A lot could change for the Seattle Seahawks this season, with new faces across the offense.

Sam Darnold will be building relationships with all of his receivers, and while Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp are expected to be the priority targets, there is a lot of space behind them to contribute.

Tory Horton will most likely compete with Marquez Valdes-Scantling for reps as the third wide receiver, lining up outside. The Seahawks’ two stars can both operate out of the slot, which could give Horton license to pick up some one-on-one matchups and deep routes down the field.

The Seahawks also drafted a new tight end in second-round pick Elijah Arroyo, who is expected to challenge Noah Fant for reps early. Arroyo caught 31 passes for 526 yards and six touchdowns this past season while playing with Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes.