Seahawks draft perception on what led to Seattle drafting Byron Murphy II

For the fifth consecutive yr, the Seattle Seahawks opted to “stick-and-pick” with their high draft selection. It’s a 180 from when basic supervisor John Schneider frequently traded down within the first spherical, which is what he did in 2012, 2014, and 2016-2019. And not using a second-round choose this draft because of the Leonard Williams commerce, the surface expectation was that we might see the Seahawks return to their trade-down methods.

ESPN’s Brady Henderson revealed in his Seahawks draft insights article that whereas the Seahawks in the end took former Texas star Byron Murphy II at No. 16 total, Seattle was on the telephone with a number of groups.

Within the meantime, the Seahawks have been discussing trade-back eventualities with the Pittsburgh Steelers (who picked twentieth), Philadelphia Eagles (twenty second), Minnesota Vikings (twenty third), Inexperienced Bay Packers (twenty fifth) and Atlanta Falcons (forty third), in response to sources. Whereas the Seahawks didn’t attempt to commerce up with Atlanta to take quarterback Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8, they did discipline a later commerce provide from the Falcons, who have been seeking to get again into the primary spherical after taking Penix. The Packers bowed out as Seattle’s choose approached, which is why Schneider solely referred to having 4 alternatives to commerce again from 16.

The Vikings did commerce as much as No. 17 to take Alabama’s Dallas Turner. It’d be attention-grabbing to know if the Seahawks obtained this actual provide or one thing related from Minnesota. The Vikings didn’t have a second-round choose to supply, so their various was giving up picks in 2025.

One other main notice from Henderson is that neither UCLA move rusher Laiatu Latu nor Washington’s Troy Fautanu have been on Seattle’s draft board attributable to medical purple flags. Latu was briefly medical retired attributable to a neck harm when he was on the College of Washington. Fautanu, who was finally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 20, had an unspecified knee difficulty flagged.

For what it’s value, Schneider mentioned they anticipated the highest six quarterbacks to be drafted earlier than the Seahawks have been on the clock, so wanting buying and selling up they by no means had a shot to take anybody. That perception ties into the Sam Howell commerce and why Schneider puffed up Sam’s beginning expertise and the truth that he’s youthful than each Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.

Lastly, had the Seahawks thought-about an offensive lineman at No. 16, Henderson experiences it could’ve been Alabama’s JC Latham, who was taken by the Tennessee Titans at No. 7. Very like Fautanu, the plan would’ve been to maneuver Latham from sort out to protect. It appears as if Seattle was dedicated to investing within the trenches with its high choose, and that’s what we noticed on draft night time.