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A year ago, Gray Zabel wasn’t on anyone but the most hardcore draft pundits’ radars as a first-round pick. But, the North Dakota State prospect was indeed a first-round selection on Thursday night, going 18th to the Seattle Seahawks.
Zabel should shore up a subpar Seattle interior line by sliding down from tackle to guard or even center. But, before he embarks on that, he just wants to drink some beers.
Zabel was a sensational player for the FCS powerhouse North Dakota State Bison, and his draft stock rose a ton in the post-draft process as teams really got to dig into his tape.
When watching his film, they saw a player that moves incredibly well for his size and has great overall athleticism. His vertical jump was off of the charts for an offensive line at the NFL Combine, and his agility really sticks out when you watch his tape. His lack of arm length will move him off of tackle at the next level, but that’s okay, as the Seahawks really need help on the interior. He should be a plug-and-play guard.
What was on Zabel’s mind after became a first round pick? Beer.
An all-time answer from Grey Zabel on our conference call just now. Asked what he's about to do now that the Seahawks have taken him 18th overall, he said: "Man, I'm probably gonna start diving into these Busch Lights."
— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) April 25, 2025
That’s classic lineman behavior.