Seattle Seahawks Rookie Byron Murphy II 'Learning a Lot' from Veterans

The No. 16 overall pick in April's draft, defensive lineman Byron Murphy II is already beginning to get the hang of things for the Seattle Seahawks.
Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy (DL18) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 29, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy (DL18) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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Seattle Seahawks rookie defensive lineman Byron Murphy II is getting adjusted to his new surroundings.

The No. 16 overall pick out of Texas is making the transition from college to the pros, which isn't as easy as it looks. However, Murphy is learning a lot from his veteran teammates.

"I feel like camp's going great," Murphy said. "I'm learning a lot, learning a lot from J-Reed [Jarran Reed], Leo [Leonard Williams], Hank [Johnathan Hankins], them guys lead me in the right direction. I feel like [defensive line coach Justin] Hinds, just the coaching staff, just putting me in the right position to make plays. And I'm having a great time, great camp; it's a great experience so far."

Perhaps Murphy will get another lesson and opportunity to improve when he makes his preseason debut this weekend against the Los Angeles Chargers or when he laces it up for Week 1 on September 8 against the Denver Broncos, but the fact that the first-round pick is already noticing the change and adapting to it is a good sign for the defensive line long-term.

Murphy is expected to be an anchor for the Seahawks defense for years to come, but that ceiling could be even higher once he can set a bar for himself in his rookie season.

The Seahawks are set to host the Chargers in Saturday's preseason opener at Lumen Field. Kickoff for the game is set for 4:05 p.m. PT.


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Jeremy Brener

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.