The Seattle Seahawks selected University of Texas defensive lineman Byron Murphy with the 16th overall pick of the NFL Draft on Thursday night, helping solidify their front seven.

A former NFL executive tells the NFL Analysis Network was not surprised by the selection and thinks that the Seahawks landed quite the catch.

“This is who I thought the Seahawks would go for with this pick,” the exec said. “Byron Murphy may be undersized, but he’s the best defensive tackle in this draft class in my opinion. As they look to rebuild that defense, Murphy is a big step in the right direction.”

Murphy is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he registered 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks.

The 21-year-old arrived at Texas in 2021 and had a rather minimal role during his freshman season, logging 15 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and a couple of sacks.

The following year, Murphy’s role grew, but he was still just solid, finishing with 26 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.

He finally broke out this past season.

The Seahawks entered the draft in serious need of defensive help. They finished 30th in the NFL in yards allowed and 25th in scoring defense in 2023. They had a lot of trouble stopping the run, finishing second to last in the league in that category. Their pass rush was actually decent, as they totaled 47 sacks, but Murphy should bring an all-around presence to Seattle’s defensive line.

We’ll see what Byron Murphy brings to the table in 2024.

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