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Seattle Seahawks strengthened their offensive line on Thursday by selecting Gray Zabel in the first round of the draft.
The former North Dakota State standout will soon be tasked with protecting first-year Seahawks-Quarterback Sam Darnold.
But when attention changes to Zabel’s future, his previous interaction with President Donald Trump also comes back into focus.
Zabel and Hans North Dakota teammates visited Washington, DC, April 9 to celebrate the football team’s latest NCAA Division in FC’s National Championship.
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North Dakota State University Offensive Lineman Gray Zabel answers questions at a news conference during 2025 NFL Combine in the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis March 1, 2025. (Jacob Musselman/IMAGN- Pictures)
Before traveling to the White House, a few delegates and a special guest, late. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., Some Remarks. Some bison football players then reflected on their race to the title.
When they first came to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., President Trump eventually met the football team in the East Room. Trump approached North Dakota State players and posed for photos. At one point during the interaction, Zabel’s teammates pointed out him.
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“Who is the best player? Let’s see who are they pointing to?” Asked Trump. “Biggest guy? Come here.”
Zabel then approached the president and shook his hand.
“Is he so good?” Asked Trump. “Wow. Boy, he’s a big sucker, right?”
Trump then asked which position Zabel played, and the liner of 305 pounds replied, “Offensive line.”
North Dakota State’s football team also visited the White House during Trump’s first period.
President Donald Trump receives a football jersey with his name on it from Quarterback Easton Stick as he welcomes (Oliver Contreras/Pool/Getty Images)
Zabel started 41 matches for five seasons on each position on the offensive line except center. He was an FC’s All-American on the left tackle as a senior last season.
The 23-year-old started the last 36 games in his college career and numbers to castle into the interior of the Seahawks’ line that needs help. Zabel could quickly replace Seattle’s starting left guard from last season, Lake Tomlinson, now a member of Houston Texans.
North Dakota State Offensive Lineman Gray Zabel in 2025 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis March 2, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imag- Pictures)
Seahawks are optimistic Zabel can be part of the solution to an offensive line that fought mighty in 2024. Last season, Seahawk’s 54 sacks surrendered, tied to the third most in the NFL. Seahawks, who went 10-7 last season and won the NFC West, ran the vast majority of their acting out of the shotgun.
The versatile Zabel could go into one of the five starting offensive line positions, but coach Mike MacDonald said he would start on duty.
“Hopefully we find a home for him in a position and he lives there for a really long time for us,” said MacDonald. “But I think it just speaks to his knowledgeable. It’s not easy to find the guys who can play interior and tackle. So he’s one of them and he’s ours now.”
