Nick Emmanwori had every reason to expect his name to be called in the first round. The South Carolina safety came out of the Combine looking like exactly what NFL teams want, 4.38-second 40-yard dash, 43-inch vertical, and a top safety grade of 6.41.
Analysts praised his size, speed, and ability to cover ground. A first-round grade felt secure. But draft night in Green Bay went a different direction. Teams loaded up on linemen, with 10 taken up front while just four defensive backs were selected all night.
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Concerns about his production and positional value were enough to push Emmanwori out of the first round entirely. For a player who looked like a lock heading into the weekend, the slide stung.
He talked about it on a recent episode of “The Pivot,” and didn’t hold back on what that night felt like sitting there waiting.
“I remember the first thing I did, I was outside, came back in, I dapped up everybody, like, appreciate them for coming, just ain’t wanna be a sore loser. But I remember when everybody left, and I just sat down, I was just pissed. I was mad. I couldn’t really explain the feeling, it doesn’t really bother me, because, you know, everything worked out in the end but back then, the mindset I had was just, I was so pissed.”
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (DB40) runs in the 40 yard dash during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“It was just a feeling I would never forget. It was just, I felt disappointed in myself, that I didn’t go first round, because I felt like, the everything I had, that I did up to this point, the Combine, everything I did in college, a real team should definitely see and be like, No, we can’t let this dude go, but I’m not sure what the, you know, the GMs were thinking, I know they pissed off now, though.”
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Those GMs have reason to regret it. The Seattle Seahawks closed the season as champions, beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX behind a dominant defensive performance.
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Seattle Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori (3) reacts after a fumble recovery against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half in an NFC Divisional Round game at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Emmanwori was a steady presence throughout that run. During the regular season, he recorded 56 tackles and 11 pass breakups as a rookie finding his footing in the NFL.
He carried that into the Super Bowl, five tackles on the biggest stage, with NBC’s broadcast team consistently pointing him out as someone always around the ball. The draft slide is old news now.
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The Lombardi Trophy tends to have that effect.
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