The Seattle Seahawks can expect big rewards from their low-round draft pick. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see him steal significant snaps in Week 1.
When John Schneider took this player in the 2025 draft, the pick was generally acclaimed as a major steal for Seattle. He was considered to be a Day 2 selection, so falling to the final day was a gift for the Seahawks. The fact that he can fill not one role, but two, is a huge bonus.
As with many players entering the draft, injuries played a role in his fall. He looked great in camp and in preseason games, so much so that he already allowed the Seahawks to move on from one veteran free agent. If you checked either of the links, you already know who I'm talking about.
Seattle Seahawks rookie Tory Horton can take a huge step forward very early in 2025
Odds are, most 12s already know I'm talking about the speedster fifth-round pick from Colorado State. I wouldn't be surprised to see him become one of Sam Darnold's top targets by season's end.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling is on another team after Tory Horton made such a powerful statement with his solid play this preseason. It took him most of the preseason, but he appears to have completely recovered his 4.41 speed, and at 6'3" and 196 pounds, he has a considerable size advantage on most NFL cornerbacks.
Horton is slated to be the Seahawks' primary punt returner and may get work as one of their kick returners as well.
From a fifth-round pick to Seattle's third wide receiver, after Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, is a pretty heady trip. He's quite a bit bigger, but he reminds me of a player the Seahawks nabbed in the third round a few years ago. That guy returned punts and kicks, and finished second in receptions on a squad that already had Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and Jimmy Graham.
Yes, that player became a Seattle legend on and off the field and was named Tyler Lockett. He is now with the Tennessee Titans.
No, I'm not going to condemn the Seattle Seahawks rookie by saying he's the new fill-in-the-blank; I refuse. Wide receiver Troy Horton is going to be the best player he can be, and no one else. But don't be surprised if he brings a similar jolt to the Seahawks as that guy did.