For the second yr in a row, the Seattle Seahawks took the second defensive participant off the board within the NFL Draft. Final yr they landed cornerback Devon Witherspoon, an eventual finalist for Defensive Rookie of the 12 months. On Thursday evening in Detroit, Seattle used the No. 16 total decide on defensive sort out Byron Murphy II from Texas.
Unimaginable athletic traits
Byron Murphy II was a standout at February’s NFL mix. There will likely be considerations about his peak and his arm size, nevertheless it isn’t like Seahawks followers haven’t been suffering from a lately retired Los Angeles Rams legend who confronted related pre-draft query marks. If an Aaron Donald comp is a bit too lofty, his Relative Athletic Rating (RAS) mirrors former Cincinnati Bengals star Geno Atkins, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade 2010s Workforce.
#Seahawks 1st spherical DT Byron Murphy has an honest athletic comp in All Professional Geno Atkins. It isn’t good, however with related dimension, shut sufficient athletic traits, and related fame for backfield disruption, I believe it really works. pic.twitter.com/YB0EwiIWWc
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 26, 2024
Murphy ticks the athletic checkboxes to make up for being “undersized.” And earlier than anybody brings up Malik McDowell when trying again at earlier high-profile efforts by the Seahawks to enhance the inside line of defense by means of the draft, learn this quote from Steve Sarkisian.
“Seattle received an important one and a man that may be an anchor on their line of defense for a very long time in Byron Murphy,” stated Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. “The most important factor about Murph is the work ethic. He wasn’t probably the most extremely recruited participant popping out of highschool, however he labored extraordinarily arduous, earned everybody’s respect and developed right into a big-time NFL first-round decide.
McDowell had work ethic, maturity, and energy considerations within the lead-up to the draft that had been documented. Seattle was consciously taking an opportunity even earlier than his ATV accident. Murphy seems to be a high-character participant with none of those self same worries.
Cross rush win charge
Murphy solely managed 8 sacks complete over three seasons at Texas. We all know that sacks generally is a deceptive stat for defensive tackles on the collegiate and NFL stage. In his breakout junior season, Murphy had an distinctive move rush win charge, which is outlined as a pass-rusher beating their block inside 2.5 seconds,
Prime Energy 5 DI move rush win charge years since 2014 (250+ opps)
(‘23) Byron Murphy 19.6%(‘22) Calijah Kancey 19.6%(‘16) Jonathan Allen 17.9%(‘21) Jalen Carter 17.7%(‘18) Quinnen Williams 17.6%(‘20) Christian Barmore 16.9%(‘18) Jerry Tillery 16.8%(‘15) Chris Jones 16.7%
— Soccer Insights (@fball_insights) April 9, 2024
That is an excellent listing of inside defensive linemen and Jerry Tillery. Kancey already seems to be promising with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carter was Defensive Rookie of the 12 months runner-up on an terrible Eagles protection, and Christian Barmore is in line for a giant payday from both the New England Patriots or another person. Chris Jones (who solely had 8.5 sacks in faculty and has 75.5 sacks within the NFL) is finally Canton-bound, whereas Quinnen Williams and Jonathan Allen are multi-time Professional Bowl picks.
In straight dropback passing conditions, he was phenomenal. From PFF:
Whereas Murphy profiles as a real three-down contributor on the inside, he’s even higher when unburdened by sifting by means of run motion. On snaps with out play motion, Murphy amassed 38 complete pressures on 180 snaps for an unimaginable 21.1% stress charge, a charge greater than 7 share factors larger than that of another inside prospect on this yr’s class.
Run stops
Murphy’s 9.5% run cease charge in his closing season ranked twenty sixth within the nation amongst all inside defensive linemen. He’s not setting the world on hearth in comparison with his teammate T’Vondre Sweat (12.8%) or Michigan’s Kris Jenkins (12.6%), however nonetheless above-average in comparison with most of his friends.
His efficiency would possibly received misplaced within the shuffle however #Texas DT Byron Murphy II was excellent final evening.
The stats don’t do him justice, had a handful of pressures, some impactful run stops, pushing the inside pocket. His exercise pressured Washington to assault the perimeter. pic.twitter.com/Sf4Z5D5ANx
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) January 2, 2024
My hope is that the move rush stats are the first cause the Seahawks drafted Murphy. I’m rather more intrigued by what Murphy offers on that entrance than his run protection, which continues to be helpful however not the principle focus. Whereas the run protection have to be higher than final yr’s monstrosity, Seattle has no shot at contending any time quickly if its going to trot out one other below-average move protection, which it has for 5 straight seasons. The Seahawks have had one season since 2017 with a stress charge within the top-half of the league, per Sports activities Data Options.
The proof is evident that you could make deep playoff runs with average-at-best run protection. You’re principally screwed if you happen to don’t have a high-level passing assault and a minimum of a reliable move protection.
13 of the 24 groups on right here didn’t have a top-15 run protection by Anticipated Factors Added.
18 of the 24 groups had a top-15 EPA/dropback (passes + scrambles).
23 of 24 groups had a top-10 passing offense,
Cross the ball nicely + defend the move nicely = Make deep playoff runs. https://t.co/ettOXXQRJx
— Area Gulls (@FieldGulls) February 6, 2024
Murphy is meant to be a two-way participant however I’d slightly see one a part of his sport prioritized much more than the opposite… it’s the one which constantly wins championships.
100% landing charge
The pink zone woes are mounted. This man has two profession touches within the pink zone and he scored each instances.
Welcome to Seattle, Byron!
