Why Seahawks draft pick Ricky White III reminds John Schneider of a Packers legend

Ricky White III has Schneider thinking about one of the great Packers receivers of all-time.

The Seattle Seahawks wrapped up their 2025 NFL Draft by selecting Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year Ricky White III in the seventh round. White might have been an outstanding special teams player, recording four blocked punts and a touchdown in 2024, but he was also a two-time First-team All-Mountain West player at wide receiver.

In Saturday’s post-draft media conference, Seahawks general manager John Schneider made a very interesting comparison point with regards to White. Naturally, Schneider went back to his days with the Green Bay Packers for this one.

“Ricky (White III), the special teams part, Jay (Harbaugh) and Fitz (Devin Fitzsimmons) are really excited about him. Josh (Bynes), all those guys. He’s blocked four punts. Personally he kind of reminded me of Donald Driver, they (Green bay) drafted him in the sixth round. He was one of the better special teams players in the league before he completely established himself as our number one receiver. That’s kind of who he reminded me of. He’s tough. He’s kind of got that gangly feel to him, too.”

Schneider’s actually a little inaccurate regarding Driver, although he can be forgiven since he wasn’t on the Packers staff when Driver was drafted.

Coincidentally, Driver was also drafted in the seventh round back in 1999. The former Alcorn State star seldom featured in the offense over his first three seasons with the Packers, but eventually broke through as a four-time Pro Bowl selection with seven 1,000-yard seasons to his name. Driver retired with 743 catches (a Packers record) for 10,137 yards (also a Packers record) and 61 touchdowns on his way to the Packers Hall of Fame.

White is listed at 6’1 and 184 lbs while Driver was 6’0 and 194 lbs, but he was listed at 181 lbs at the time he entered the league. Take a look at this quote from Mike Sherman and what he said about Driver’s special teams value early in his career:

“He’s by far our best player on special teams,” head coach Mike Sherman said near the end of Driver’s third season. “Covering punts. Jamming. He does a hell of a job.”

Yes, Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson might have been higher profile names on either side of Driver’s career, but Donald was an outstanding player in his own right. If White followed in Driver’s footsteps, this could be one of the most prophetic statements Schneider has ever made.

Anyway, wouldn’t it be cool if Ricky White did something like this to the 49ers?