The Seattle Seahawks selected one of the top defensive players in this draft with Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II. As the second defensive player taken in the draft, Murphy fits their front as a day-one impact starter on the defensive line.
New head coach Mike Macdonald gets a nasty line on defense with veterans Leonard Williams and Dre’Mont Jones as their 3-4 defensive ends. At nose tackle, Seattle signed Johnathan Hankins in free agency to plug the middle next to Jarran Reed.
With the addition of Murphy, the Seahawks will have an improved pass rush in the interior and a gap penetrator as an impact run defender. Although they have needs at the interior offensive line, this defensive tackle class is shallow so getting a playmaking starter at his age and talent was the move to make with the 16th overall pick.
Seattle Seahawks: Draft Byron Murphy 16th Overall
Draft call drop. 📞
The moment @ByronMurphyII found out he'd be playing for his favorite team. pic.twitter.com/nAGoFWsXCz
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 26, 2024
The Seattle Seahawks are getting a defensive tone-setter in the middle of their defense in Byron Murphy. While there were rumors of an offensive lineman or even a quarterback, they got their defensive tackle to play next to veterans like Hankins.
The 21-year-old had five sacks in 2023 and won Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year while being First-team All-Big 12. As a junior, Murphy was a starter with 8.5 tackles for loss and showed tons of quickness for his size, power, and burst to get after the ball carrier.
At 6’0″ and 297 pounds, the former Longhorn has experience to line up anywhere on the defensive line. For his size, he could even line up as the nose in college. Murphy took on multiple double-team blocks while still being productive last season for Texas.
Seattle Seahawks: Draft Outlook for Texas DT
Murphy could be in the running for defensive rookie of the year in 2024, similar to what Jalen Carter almost did for the Philadelphia Eagles.
Houston Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. won the award in 2023, but Carter was the runner-up so it is possible for a defensive tackle to get close to win the award. Murphy’s competition would most likely be the top five pass rushers that went in round one after him.
Those players include Laitu Latu on the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Turner on the Minnesota Vikings, Jared Verse on the Los Angeles Rams, Chop Robinson on the Miami Dolphins, and Darius Robinson on the Arizona Cardinals.
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