The Seahawks add a playmaker to their defensive line!
The Seattle Seahawks have made their first selection of the Mike Macdonald era, and they used it to draft Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II!
Murphy was considered the best defensive tackle in the draft, if not the best defensive player. With the first 14 picks coming off the board all on offense, Murphy feel into Seattle’s lap at No. 16 overall. The Seahawks got themselves a 21-year-old blue-chip defensive tackle at a time when interior defensive linemen are highly prized.
In his final season with the Longhorns, Murphy II won Big XII Defensive Lineman of the Year. Here’s what the SB Nation team had to say about Murphy:
The near-unanimous choice at the top of the defensive tackle rankings is Texas’ Byron Murphy II. While Murphy is undersized at 6’0.5, 300 and with 32 3/8” arms, he is unquestionably one of the best athletes in the class. Murphy ran a 4.87s 40 at nearly 300 pounds, which is absolutely incredible, and managed a 4.5s short shuttle and 7.5s 3-cone. He turned in an elite workout at the NFL Combine (9.23 RAS) which solidified him as a first-round prospect.
While Murphy and second-place DT Johnny Newton share similar size constraints, Murphy wins more win his combination of athleticism and strength, while Newton relies more on his advanced technique. That leads to higher upside for Murphy, particularly against the run, while I think his floor is a bit lower. Murphy’s lack of technical polish and pass rush moves might lead to a slower start for him in the NFL, but his natural gifts make him a more imposing run defender. Either way, I think Murphy has impact starter potential, it just might take a little time.
What will he contribute to the team? Hopefully something like this:
Go Hawks!
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