NFL Combine Analysis: Offensive Winners From Indy Who Fit Seahawks’ Personnel Needs

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Michigan Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards turns upfield for a big gain against the Ohio State Buckeyes. [/caption]

Ushering in a new offseason, the annual NFL Scouting Combine has come and gone with the Seattle Seahawks and all 32 teams evaluating over 300 prospects with on-field workouts, medical examinations, and formal meetings.

Now less than two months away from the 2025 NFL Draft, considering Seattle’s new scheme under coordinator Klint Kubiak, which offensive players helped themselves the most with excellent weeks in Indianapolis?

Here are five winners from the combine that should be on the radar for the Seahawks as strong personnel fits:

Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan

Only two years ago, Edwards looked the part of a potential early round pick when he averaged north of seven yards per carry to pace Michigan’s run game in 2022. But while he did torch Washington in the National Championship game two years ago, his overall production dipped significantly in his last two seasons in Ann Arbor with under 589 rushing yards in each campaign and 10 total touchdowns, causing his NFL draft stock to plummet into afterthought territory in a historically deep class of running backs.

Following the combine, Edwards may still be a late day three pick due to the logjam of backs in this year’s class, but he restored some of his shine in Indianapolis with an impressive all-around workout that should remind teams of his excellent physical traits and put him back on the map for gap or zone-oriented schemes as an intriguing depth piece in the backfield. Aside from running the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at 205 pounds, he showed off his elite acceleration with a 1.51-second 10-yard split and explosiveness ranking among the top backs in the vertical jump (38 1/2 inches). The Seahawks have three quality backs already, but there’s no such thing as too much depth and he would be an intriguing late round piece to add to the mix.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State

Stuck in the shadow of teammate Jayden Higgins, who likely will be a first or second round pick and one of the first wideouts off the board in April, Noel quietly put up nearly identical numbers for the Cyclones as a senior. His 1,194 receiving yards actually led the team last season and he finished with 80 receptions and eight receiving touchdowns, but leading up to the combine, he had been viewed by most draft analysts as the second-best NFL prospect of the two players, in part due to his lack of size at 5-10, 194 pounds.

That no longer may be the case, however. Noel put on a show in Indianapolis, running the 40-yard dash in a blistering 4.39 seconds to go with a 41 1/2-inch vertical jump and elite 6.82 3-cone drill, illustrating his complete package of speed, burst, and agility while standing out amongst his peers and posting a fantastic 9.48 Relative Athletic Score. One of the better route runners in this year’s class, coupling that skill with his raw athleticism and kick/punt return talent, he may have earned as much money as any player at the combine this year. With the Seahawks likely to need a replacement for Tyler Lockett, he could be the perfect complement to DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba as a day two selection.

Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech

After playing his first three years at Arizona State, Conyers put together a steady final college season in Lubbock as an underrated cog in the Red Raiders’ passing arsenal, catching 30 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns and garnering Second-Team All-Big 12 recognition. Despite that production and improved run blocking over the course of his collegiate career, he entered the combine viewed as a day three prospect in a crowded tight end group that could have as many as two or three first-round picks in it.

While Conyers won’t be crashing the party in the first 32 picks, teams seeking a quality all-around tight end with after the catch ability and soft hands could now be in the market for his services on day two after exceeding all expectations in combine testing. At 260 pounds, he ran a respectable 4.74 40-yard dash while adding a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump and 121-inch broad jump, but he was most impressive in the agility drills. Flashing elite change of direction skills, he led all tight ends with a 6.94 3-cone drill and a 4.27 short shuttle. With Kubiak expected to use extensive multi-tight end sets, his athleticism and versatile skill set would be a fun fit to pair with Noah Fant and AJ Barner in Seattle.

Aireontae Ersery, T, Minnesota

Like many tackle prospects before him, despite being a three-year starter and all-conference performer for the Golden Gophers against top-tier opponents in the rugged Big Ten, Ersery arrived in Indy with plenty of questions about his fit playing on the outside in the NFL. Some draft analysts have speculated that he would be best served sliding inside to play guard with concerns about tight hips to recover against edge rushers when beaten and limited lateral mobility that will be a bigger problem on outside zone plays at the next level.

While some teams may still consider moving Ersery, he did nothing but help his cause as a viable tackle prospect in Indianapolis by standing out as one of the most athletic tackles in his positional group. Measuring in at 6-6, 331 pounds with 33 1/8-inch arms, he impressively rumbled his way to a fast 5.01 time in the 40 with a 1.75-second 10-yard split, and he posted one of the top broad jumps at 111 inches to demonstrate his top-notch explosiveness. His agility testing may not squash concerns about his fit in a zone offense, but with Abraham Lucas entering the final year of his contract, the Seahawks would be an intriguing landing spot for him as a potential future starter down the line selected late on day two or early day three.

Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia

A multi-year starter at Georgia, Ratledge’s draft stock took a bit of a hit during the 2024 season due to an ankle injury that required tight rope surgery. Upon his return, it took him several games to get back up to speed and playing at his best, as he struggled in pass protection more than usual and wasn’t as effective on zone and pulling plays as usual due to limited mobility. Even given his pedigree as a former top recruit and a three-year starter for one of college football’s blue bloods, some mock drafts had him falling into early day three.

But after a stellar week at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, a healthy Ratledge continued his resurgence back up draft boards with an epic performance at the combine, posting one of the best workouts of the week for any position. With his mullet flowing and mustache finely trimmed, he blazed his way to a 4.97 40-yard dash time and a 1.72 10-yard split while also posting elite numbers in both the vertical jump (32 inches) and broad jump (113 inches). He capped off his workout with a 7.38 3-cone drill time, showing off his change of direction skills. Known as a mauler in the trenches, his athletic profile proves he should be able to handle any scheme and the line-needy Seahawks should have him as a top target on day two.