Scouting report for Seattle Seahawks' fifth-round pick DT Rylie Mills

In the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft, the Seattle Seahawks selected Notre Dame defensive tackle Rylie Mills with the 142nd overall pick. We expected the team to add interior defensive line depth late in the draft and Seattle has done so with Mills.

The 6-foot-5, 291-pound defensive tackle finished the 2024 season with eight sacks and 21 hurries. Those are impressive numbers for an interior lineman. Mills has pure pass-rushing ability but lacks refinement in his technique.

In his 2025 scouting profile, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein praised Mills' length and projected him as a three-down lineman.

"Mills has the size, strength and demeanor of a 3-4 defensive end," wrote Zierlein. "He’s aggressive and physical in phone booth fist-fights but plays off blocks and tackles the gaps around him. He’s not much of a knee-bender, so anchoring firm will get a lot tougher as a pro."

Despite his impressive production at the college level, Zierlein thinks Mills' lack of explosiveness and injury he suffered in the College Football Playoffs are why he's a Day 3 pick:

Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills (99) and linebacker Jack Kiser (24) celebrate a sack by Mills during a NCAA college football game between Notre Dame and Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in South Bend. | MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"He lacks explosive, twitchy movements as a rusher but makes good use of heavy hands to carve open edges and get into the pocket. He’s a better picker than twister and can bull-rush unsuspecting guards. Mills could become a three-down rotational piece provided there are no lingering issues from the knee injury he suffered during the College Football Playoff."

The Seahawks have now upgraded both their offensive and defensive lines while adding talented dual-threat quarterback Jalen Milroe. Seattle also brought in playmaking safety Nick Emmanwori.

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