The Seattle Seahawks just made it very clear how much they are invested in former South Carolina star safety Nick Emmanwori, and he hasn't even played a snap in the NFL yet. Emmanwori agreed to a fully guaranteed rookie contract with the Seahawks, making NFL history in the process. The former Gamecock becomes the first No. 35 overall pick ever to have every single dollar of his rookie year locked in. The four-year, $11.6 million contract also includes a $5 million signing bonus, setting a new bar for second-round picks in the draft.
ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report the first fully guaranteed contract for a second-rounder in Seahawks history, and Emmanwori confirmed the news by reposting the announcement with the simple word, "Showtime."
Showtime https://t.co/39tz5h5Sgk
— Nick Emmanwori (@Eman7Nick) July 18, 2025
In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks made a bold move, trading up 17 spots to select Emmanwori early in the second round. Since then, the rookie has turned heads and made headlines in the offseason workouts. Lining up at safety, in the nickel, and even as a hybrid linebacker, Emmanwori has impressed coaches in Seattle with his rapid grasp of the playbook.
Emmanwori's history-making deal also comes in the middle of a league-wide shift in how rookie contracts are handled. After the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns guaranteed their second-round deals, all eyes turned to Seattle to see if they would follow suit with Emmanwori. And they certainly did.
The former South Carolina prodigy is expected to report to camp in the next day or two, just in time or the Seahawks' first training camp on Wednesday. The veteran players will arrive on Tuesday, and all signs point to Emmanwori being in the mix for a starting role this season.
From Columbia to Seattle, Nick Emmanwori's legacy keeps growing, and now he's not just in the big leagues, he is already making history.