Seattle Seahawks' Byron Murphy II: Most Dangerous Addition?

Byron Murphy II should improve the Seattle Seahawks defensive line in 2024.

Jeremy Brener | May 27, 2024

Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy II / Ricardo B. Brazziell / USA TODAY NETWORK

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Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are hoping that they will have a better defensive line with new head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde.

While the coaching staff has shifted more towards a defensive philosophy, they need players to carry out their vision. That's why they selected Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II with the No. 16 overall pick in last month's NFL Draft. Bleacher Report believes he can have a major impact, naming him the team's most dangerous addition of the offseason.

Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (90) celebrates after a play during the second quarter in the 2024 Sugar Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

"New Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald should have a field day deploying Byron Murphy II up and down his defensive front," Bleacher Report writes. "Macdonald spent the past two seasons working with Justin Madubuike as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator. If he deploys Murphy in a similar way, the rookie should thrive. The Texas product's athleticism and pass-rush repertoire will take the pressure off a veteran like Leonard Williams."

The Seahawks added veterans like defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins and linebacker Jerome Baker, but Murphy has the opportunity to be a Day 1 starter in the NFL and a mainstay on Seattle's defense.

Macdonald likely wanted to make a statement with the first pick under him as a head coach, and taking a player with potential like Murphy's could give him the start he needs to build a football team the way he wants to.

If Murphy can develop similar to the way Madubuike did in Baltimore, he won't just be one of the most dangerous addition in Seattle, but perhaps the entire league.

Published May 27, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.