#ProBison: Grey Zabel Selected 18th Overall by the Seattle Seahawks in the 2025 NFL Draft

GREEN BAY, W.I. (KVRR) –The expectation entering Thursday’s NFL Draft first round was that Zabel would be taken. After great showings at the Senior Bowl and the NDSU Pro Day, Zabel grabbed the attention of scouts and climbed draft boards. Several mock drafts had Zabel selected in the first round with one as high as Number 11.

On Thursday, Zabel was selected 18th overall to the Seattle Seahawks making him the first NDSU offensive lineman to be selected in the first round. He becomes the third overall Bison first round pick (Trey Lance -#3 in 2021, Carson Wentz -#2 in 2016).

This past season, Zabel was named First team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference and was a two-time MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week. In his career, Zabel was a two-time NCAA Division I FCS national champion with title wins over Montana State in 2021 and 2024, and part of two Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) championships in 2021 and 2024. He started the final 36 consecutive games of his career and totaled 41 starts over his five seasons including games at left tackle, right tackle, left guard and right guard. He was also named First team FCS All-American at left tackle as a senior in 2024.

Zabel joins former Bison offensive lineman Jalen Sundell on the Seahawks roster.