The return of Philip Rivers to the NFL won’t concern the Seattle Seahawks as much as rookie tight end Tyler Warren will against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 15, so the ‘Hawks need the right matchup, somebody who can stick to the 14th pick in the 2025 draft “like glue” at Lumen Field.
Fortunately, the Seahawks have a special rookie of their own, in the shape of safety Nick Emmanwori. He’s predicted to be the matchup equalizer against Warren by Thomas Valentine of Pro Football Focus.
Valentine anticipates Emmanwori’s “going to be stuck to him (Warren) like glue. Both players are physical, hard hitters. This is going to be a fun matchup if we see it.”
Putting Emmanwori over Warren makes sense as a strategy for Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. Not least because Valentine also expects Rivers, the 44-year-old quarterback expected to start immediately on his return to the pros, will “pepper targets to Warren, who has 60 passes for 699 yards and four touchdowns this season. Warren is as reliable as they come, and his 7.1 yards after the catch per reception is third among all tight ends. Rivers will get him the ball early and often, and let his rookie tight end do the work.”
Emmanwori can be the Seahawks’ best answer to Warren because he’s coming off a historic game during which he proved able to get the better of another dynamic tight end.
Nick Emmanwori Is a Matchup Weapon for Seahawks
Having Emmanwori play multiple roles has become the hallmark of Macdonald’s multi-layered and dominant defense. A flavor of that multiplicity is provided by Pro Football Focus crediting the Seahawks’ very own “Swiss Army knife” with playing 275 snaps as a slot corner, 166 in the box, 54 along the defensive line, six at free safety and five as a wide corner.
Emmanwori’s comfort in the slot and experience as a box safety will be key to subduing Warren. It’s how Emmanwori frustrated another roving tight end, Kyle Pitts, against the Atlanta Falcons last week.
Second-rounder Emmanwori snatched his first interception in the pros after shadowing Pitts in the slot.
Staying over the top of Pitts before closing on the ball in a hurry showcased why “Emmanwori has seven pass breakups and surrenders just 9.5 yards per reception,” per Valentine.
He’s a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder with cornerback-type speed, so the 21-year-old is the perfect matchup for Warren, who has bullied coverage as a first-year pro.
Tyler Warren Still a Focus for Seattle D’
Rivers likely stepping in for the injured Daniel Jones shouldn’t alter the Seahawks’ focus on Warren. Jones had targeted the rookie seven or more times in six games, per Pro Football Reference, before the veteran QB tore his Achilles in Week 14.
Warren has been making the most of his targets. He’s earned plaudits as a rare athlete at his position with a talent for moving the chains.
One of Warren’s best qualities has been the ability to make tough catches. Like this clutch grab to convert on 4th-and-2 amid tight coverage against the Falcons.
Shutting Warren down as an outlet will be key for the Seahawks. It will stymie Rivers, who is sure to have some rust, despite a strong pedigree as an eight-time Pro Bowler, but one who hasn’t played since the 2020 season.
Rivers is likely to play it safe and lean on Warren, so Emmanwori taking him away without help will let the Seahawks commit numbers to bottling up 1,000-yard running back Jonathan Taylor.
It’s the formula for another dominant day for the Seahawks’ defense.
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