NFL DRAFT 2024 GRADES: SEAHAWKS EARN OUTSTANDING MARKS FOR BYRON MURPHY II PICK

The NFL Draft is here, and that means arbitrary grades are soon to follow! Sure enough, with day one in the books, analysts around the league are sounding off on how they feel about yesterday’s first round picks. Despite the shocking run on quarterbacks that saw six passers off the board before the middle of the round, the Seahawks stood pat and selected the best player available in Byron Murphy II. Unsurprisingly, this selection has earned rave reviews from pundits around the league.

Noted draft expert Dane Brugler of The Athletic gave the Hawks a solid ‘A,’ describing Murphy as a disruptive force inside.

Murphy doesn’t have ideal length, but his rare combination of lower-body twitch, natural leverage and power throughout his frame sets his apart. With his disruptive energy, both as a pass rusher and versus the run, he projects as an impact starter who can play shaded nose or three-technique, similar to Grady Jarrett.

Grade: A

Nick Baumgartner shared similar sentiments, as he also gave the pick an outstanding mark.

Good things come to those who wait? Sure, we’ll go with that. The Seahawks have had a need right in the middle of their defense for what seems like several years now. And after an early run on quarterbacks and tackles pushed the top defenders down, Seattle hits a whopper by landing the top interior defensive lineman in this draft at No. 16.

Murphy, who can play nose or three-technique, is extremely powerful and explosive with a lethal punch at the point of attack. A smaller body in the Aaron Donald mold, Murphy is all gas off the line of scrimmage and his natural leverage makes him a bear to deal with inside. Some teams valued Murphy as a top 10 player in this draft. This is terrific value for new coach Mike Macdonald. Grade: A

Chad Reuter of NFL.com joined the chorus, giving the Seahawks yet another ‘A.’

Analysis: One of the least surprising picks in the first round was Murphy to the Seahawks. His skills as a run-stuffer and interior pressure machine were worthy of a pick in the top half of the first round and something Seattle needed in its front four. His 6-foot-1/2-inch, 297-pound frame belies how well he plays under the pads of offensive linemen, and his quick first step makes him tough to handle one-on-one, especially on reach blocks. Similarly-sized tackles like Ed Oliver and Calijah Kancey show you don’t have to be huge to be a top-notch lineman.

Pete Prisco joined in as well with his own stellar grade.

Grade: A

They patiently wait and get the player who might be the best defensive player in this draft. Murphy has been compared to Justin Madubuike, who new Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald coached in Baltimore.

Pro Football Focus put the pick in their “good” category, which is clearly... good. Only eleven teams graded as “very good,” or “elite.”

Pick Grade: Good

The Seahawks opt to improve a position where they already have some pieces in place with one of the best defensive players in the draft. Since 2021, Murphy’s 12.5% pressure rate ranks third among defensive tackles with at least 500 pass-rushing snaps, trailing only 2023 first-round picks Jalen Carter and Calijah Kancey. A Murphy and Leonard Williams tandem on the interior creates a clear strength for Seattle heading into 2024.

Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated was also positive, even if he wasn’t blown away by the pick.

By most accounts, Murphy is the best defensive tackle in this class. He dominated in the Big 12 over the past two seasons, totaling six sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

More importantly, his traits jump off the tape. He’s 297 pounds, has incredible power off the line and is able to hold his own against double teams while also penetrating on pass plays. It’ll be interesting to see how Murphy approaches potentially adding some weight at the next level as well.

Grade: B+

USA Today shared a similar sentiment, with Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz giving them a ‘B+’ and comparing Murphy to Justin Madubuike.

The Mike Macdonald era is officially underway in the Pacific Northwest. The former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator lands his version of Justin Madubuike, the defensive tackle who broke out in 2023 with 13 sacks. The Seahawks have tied up a lot of resources in their defensive front after re-signing Leonard Williams and bringing aboard Dre’Mont Jones last offseason, but Murphy is massively disruptive and is poised to be a foundational piece for Macdonald moving forward.

Rob Rang of Fox Sports was possibly the least impressed of the takes I could find, which is saying something because he was still quite positive on the pick.

Rang: Voted the Big 12’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in his first season as a starter, Murphy’s game screams untapped potential. His explosive quickness, agility and natural leverage advantage make him impossible to block one-on-one. The issue I have with this selection for Seattle is the scheme fit, as the Seahawks are expected to feature more of a three-man front boasting defensive tackles with longer arms and whose game is all physicality. Murphy’s addition does make the Seahawks’ defense more dangerous and versatile, though.

Grade: B

The second day of the NFL Draft is about to get underway, so stay tuned for more grades and analysis as the Seahawks continue to make picks!

2024-04-26T16:39:20Z dg43tfdfdgfd