A quarter of the 2025 NFL season has already passed, and so far, the Seattle Seahawks look like a team ready to get back into the postseason discussion.
Seattle went 10-7 last year, so it isn’t some huge jump for the franchise. But in trying to get back over that hump, every piece of the puzzle matters. Even a fifth-round pick with a handful of touches in four games.
There’s a lot to be excited about in Seattle this season, but rookie wideout Tory Horton has made a few arguments to be near the top of the list.
Seattle Seahawks may have landed the NFL’s biggest draft steal in Tory Horton
It’s been a bit of a slow build for the 166th pick, but it’s hard to say that there is a bigger pass-catching steal from Day 3 of the NFL Draft than Horton. No receiver or tight end from the fifth round or later has more yards or total touchdowns than Horton through the first quarter of the NFL season.
Only one rookie, Tampa Bay first-rounder Emeka Egbuka, has more total touchdowns than Horton, regardless of position, excluding quarterbacks.
Horton’s three touchdowns have come on just 14 touches, eight of which have been punt returns. That fact just points to how dangerous Horton is with the ball in his hands, which should only further excite Seahawks fans for his future potential. After all, he’s just getting started.
With the offensive system in place, Horton isn’t afforded many opportunities in the offense yet. He’s played 106 offensive snaps, just 44% of the plays Seattle’s offense has run this season so far. Klint Kubiak’s system calls for more 12 personnel than anything, so Horton’s snaps are understandably limited with Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba ahead of him on the depth chart.
Still, as Horton comes along and the season progresses, Seattle’s offense can certainly look to run more three-wide receiver sets to get Horton involved and spread out opposing defenses.
Of course, despite his draft status, Horton’s early success isn’t a huge surprise given his production in college. In three seasons at Colorado State, Horton picked up 193 catches for 2,620 yards and 17 touchdowns and added three more scores in punt returns. If not for a devastating knee injury, he would have been drafted long before the fifth round.
It will take some time for Seattle to completely unlock Horton’s full capabilities in the NFL, but the team is in a position where it can be patient with his development. And if the first quarter of the season is anything to go by, then Seahawks fans have plenty to be excited about once Horton and Seattle are positioned to unleash his talents to their full potential.
