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Seahawks target the defensive line by selecting Byron Murphy II from Texas with No. 16 pick in draft

Thu, Apr 25, 2024
NFL News (AP)

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - The Seattle Seahawks filled a need on the defensive front, selecting Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II with the No. 16 pick of the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday.

The first draft under new coach Mike Macdonald went to the defensive side of the ball with the first selection of his tenure and bolstered a clear area Seattle needed improvement. The Seahawks had veteran Jarran Reed at the position, but otherwise lacked an impactful second option.

Murphy could end up being exactly what Seattle needs. Athletic and powerful, Murphy was a second-team AP All-American and the Big 12 Conference defensive lineman of the year last season for the Longhorns. Murphy had 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks as Texas reached the College Football Playoff before losing to Washington in the semifinals.

The concern about Murphy was his size after he measured just under 6-foot-1 and 297 pounds.

Seattle and general manager John Schneider seemed poised to potentially trade down and try to pick up a second-round selection after the run of offensive players left all the top defensive players available. But the chance to nab perhaps the top defensive tackle in the draft was too much for Macdonald and Schneider to pass up.

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