Byron Murphy II | Texas 6’0.5” | 297 lbs 09/08/2002 (Age 21)
Byron Murphy was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the first Defensive Tackle and 16th overall player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE PRODUCTION
Byron Murphy is an early-declare defensive tackle who played all of his seasons at Texas. In 2021 he appeared in all 12 games as a freshman and earned one start, registering 15 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and 2.0 sacks on the year. During his sophomore season in 2022, he was again a reserve player but played in all 13 games and again earned one start. He logged 26 tackles, three TFLs, and one sack. In 2023 Murphy entered the starting lineup and broke out in a big way. He earned second-team Associated Press All-American and Big 12 Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year. He also earned first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors. Murphy started all 14 games and recorded 29 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and five sacks. He also displayed some ball skills for a big man, scoring two TDs on offense, one rushing and one receiving.
FILM
Byron Murphy II was a fast riser over the past six months based on his level of intensity and disruptiveness displayed both this past season and in the pre-draft process. Murphy has some positional versatility and could be adept at the nose in an odd front, but he is probably best suited as a 3-technique where he can shine as a pass rusher.
Murphy is rocked up and looks the part of an NFL player, and actually better than most defensive interior guys look. He is extremely explosive on film and performed well during scouting combine testing. He has the raw talent and athletic ability to be a difference-maker at the next level, his best football is still in front of him. Murphy has twitchy first-step quickness and great balance and flexibility to adjust his rush path or redirect when necessary. His power in his lower half creates a recipe for disruption in both the run game and the passing game.
The biggest knock on Murphy right now is his lack of ideal size, but as Aaron Donald has shown us, this can be overcome. Murphy is extremely powerful and relatively well-schooled in terms of his hand technique and move arsenal. Perhaps most impressive is his relentless motor and high intensity. He does share many similarities with Aaron Donald.
ATHLETIC TESTING
Murphy recorded an impressive 4.87 40-yard dash with a 1.69 10-yard split. He repped out 28 reps on the 225-lb. Bench press and was able to record a 9’3” broad jump. His vertical jump was 33” which is impressive at 297 lbs. He chose to opt out of the short shuttle and three-cone drills.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Excellent
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Excellent
Murphy was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Byron Murphy lands in Seattle in a favorable spot, as the franchise has a recent history of strong defensive line play. He is also surrounded by talented players, with veterans Leonard Williams, Dre’Mont Jones, and Jarran Reed to learn from and work with. While the back-7 of the defense may struggle in coverage (outside of Devon Witherspoon), they all come ready to support in the run game.
Many view this landing spot as unsexy, but your author feels it is vastly underrated, as the Seahawks also boast a stable of talented edge rushers. While Murphy is no doubt talented enough to start and handle a heavy snap count immediately, he won’t necessarily need to or be asked to. The upside for Murphy, if the development and the technique and arsenal continue to improve, might literally be similar to an Aaron Donald-like career–but this is if everything goes right.
Murphy is the first DT to come off of any draft board in dynasty IDP rookie drafts that require the DT position. He is your authors’ DT1 of the class and the #5 overall rookie defensive player in the rankings. He often goes as the fourth or fifth overall IDP rookie in drafts, after three or four of the EDGEs and one or two of the LBs, roughly at the end of the second or early third rounds of dynasty IDP rookie drafts this offseason. Murphy may not be a starter on opening day, but he will certainly be an every-down starter in your lineup by the end of the fantasy season.
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