Seahawks select DT Byron Murphy II with 16th pick in NFL draft

RENTON — There was no trade for the Seahawks on Thursday night.

Instead, by the Seahawks’ own admission, they saw Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II fall into their lap during the middle of a first round of an NFL draft dominated early by offense.

And when a player that president of football operations John Schneider said the Seahawks had graded “as the best defensive player in the draft” was still available, they leapt.

Or, rather, they decided to stick and pick, getting a player who was the Big 12’s Defensive Lineman of the Year last season, and judged by many as the best pass-rushing interior defensive lineman — something the Seahawks can use as they try to revive their defense under new head coach Mike Macdonald.

Because the Seahawks do not have a second-round pick, they are not scheduled to pick again until the 81st overall pick in the third round. That gap had many expecting that they would try to trade down to acquire some more picks in between those two spots.

Schneider said the Seahawks indeed considered it, saying “we had four opportunities” to potentially make deals, calling them “good ones, too.”

“I’d be lying to you if I said we didn’t think about it,” said Schneider, who was running the draft without Pete Carroll sitting beside him for the first time in 15 years in Seattle. “But the player was just too good. He influences the game a lot.”

Murphy was just the second defensive player taken after the first 14 were all offensive players, a surprising development that left the Seahawks with almost all of the defensive players on their big board still available.

“That was pretty rare,” Schneider said. “To sit here and think when we started that we’d be able to acquire him, we’d be lying to you.”

Murphy was also a caught off guard as he had not had much contact with the Seahawks. Murphy did not have a pre-draft visit to the VMAC and says he has never been to Seattle. He did meet with the team at the combine, but Schneider said he tried not to talk to Murphy during the process.

“Totally tried staying away from him,” Schneider said. ” … I didn’t think he was going to be available, but still not to trying to show much interest.”

Murphy got the call he would be a Seahawk at a draft party with his family and friends — he estimated there were 300 to 400 guests — at a hotel in Dallas.

While he’d thought he might go earlier — as high as 10 to Minnesota — he was more than happy with where he ended up, revealing in a conference call with Seattle media that he became a big fan of the Seahawks after watching them win the Super Bowl following the 2013 season.

“Growing up, that was my favorite team,” he said. “To be drafted by Seattle, man, is crazy.”

Murphy cited Michael Bennett as a favorite, saying, “Used to watch that guy a lot, man. Michael Bennett, he was a great player.”

Now it’s up to Murphy to help the Seahawks’ defense get back to that level — or at least something close to it — in the first season of the post-Carroll era.

Murphy, who measured 6-foot, one-half inch and 297 pounds at the combine, helped the Longhorns allow just 2.9 yards per rush in 2023 and allow the 15th-fewest points in the nation, while recording five sacks in what was his first season as a full-time starter.

Murphy, who doesn’t turn 22 until September, also had 45 pressures, as charted by Pro Football Focus, fifth-most among all defensive tackles.

“He is a versatile three-down player who brings plus abilities as a run defender and a pass rusher, projecting as a first-round impact starter for any front,” wrote Pro Football Focus.

Some question his size, especially if the Seahawks were to ask him to play nose tackle.

Macdonald noted that one crucial factor is Murphy can play all along the defensive line, as can several others up front, such as Leonard Williams and Dre’Mont Jones.

“Both guys have position flexibility,’’ Macdonald said of Murphy and Williams. “Leonard can play all across the line. So can Byron. We have lots of guys [that can]. That’s one of the reasons I’m so excited about it is you are not going to know where guys instantly are going to be all the time, and we will have some really sweet ways to move guys around and have them in different spots based on the teams we are going to play.’’

Murphy said he’s confident he can thrive however the Seahawks want to use him.

“I can stop the run and rush the passer,” he said. “I’m an all-three-downs type of guy.”

No one questions that the Seahawks need all the help they can get up front after they finished 30th in points allowed last season and 25th in yards allowed and also allowed 4.6 yards per rush to rank 27th, while also 31st in rushing yards allowed.

Schneider and Macdonald insisted they weren’t focused solely on defense with their first pick.

“We were open-minded,” Macdonald said.

Any thought of taking a QB evaporated when six went among the top 12, including UW’s Michael Penix Jr. to Atlanta at eight.

In fact, when the Seahawks’ pick arrived at 16, every defensive player but one was still on the board — UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu.

Schneider said he’d gotten an idea earlier in the day of how the draft might go and lean toward offense early. And knowing Murphy might be available kept them patient.

“We had four opportunities [to trade], and we were ready,” Schneider said. “But he just kept coming, so we were super blessed so we just stayed and picked.” 

The Seahawks could try to make moves Friday to add more picks. They might have to endure waiting until pick 81 to make another selection and address other needs, such as the offensive line, linebacker and maybe quarterback.

The Seahawks had planned for the chance that no QBs considered worth taking in the first round would be gone by 16 by trading last month for Sam Howell of the Commanders. Not having to force adding a backup for Geno Smith helped give them the flexibility to wait for Murphy to come to them Thursday.

Schneider also cited Murphy having already gotten his degree (listed as sport management) and being on the Big 12 All-Academic list all three years at Texas as other key factors in drafting him.

New Seahawks offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and offensive line coach Scott Huff saw Murphy up close when he had a 1-yard rushing TD as well as three tackles in Texas’ Sugar Bowl loss to Washington.

“He just plays our style of football, really,’’ Macdonald said. “And he’s so talented, versatility along the front, such an aggressive player. … Just really excited to have him.’’