‘The ninja’: Seahawks players, coaches rave about Byron Murphy II

Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II was a game-wrecking force for the Seattle Seahawks’ top-ranked scoring defense last season.

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Murphy experienced a second-year breakout with 7.0 sacks, which was tied for the third-most among all NFL defensive tackles. The 2024 first-round draft pick also had 25 run stops – the second-most on the team, according to Pro Football Focus – for a suffocating unit that allowed a league-low 3.7 yards per carry.

What’s in store for the 6-foot, 306-pound Murphy in Year 3? Based on the rave reviews coming out of training camp, an even bigger season might be on the horizon.

Here’s a look at what some of Murphy’s coaches and teammates have said about his camp so far.

• Edge rusher Uchenna Nwosu: “This past year, he unleashed it all. You guys saw a full force. And we all expect him to take another step. Byron’s always been that quiet assassin. We call him the ninja, because he’s got so many moves and he’s so athletic and elusive. He’s always had the tools, but now he’s just come into his own being another leader on that defensive line. He’s just got so much confidence now and it’s awesome to see.” (via Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob)

• Defensive tackle Jarran Reed: “I expect him to take the next jump. I thought he had an All-Pro season last year, … but it’s coming. His time is coming. He’s just waiting on it, just working hard. The people see. It’s just time to put a little bit more respect on his name, from my perspective, on what he’s doing in his game – because what we ask him to do, he does it better than anybody in the league.” (via Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk)

• Left guard Grey Zabel: “Byron wins the leverage battle right away. He’s got the strength to bull rush. He’s got the quickness to go side to side. He’s got the ability to bend if he needs to get to an edge or bend a corner. … I don’t think there’s a ceiling on what he can do. And I think last year, what was so cool to see was he was really just in the A-gap for most of the time. To have those numbers being an A-gap nose tackle is pretty remarkable. It just shows you his ability and his floor of what he has. (He) set the baseline, … and now it’s just up from here.”

• Head coach Mike Macdonald: “I really expect Murph to have a spike in productivity rushing the passer. He’s earned it, but he does it every day, and it’s great work for our offensive line. He is in a great spot.”

• Defensive coordinator Aden Durde: Byron is an unbelievable player that can play at an elite level. … He’s an elite run defender. He got sacks and production last year, but he’s going to show that he is an elite pass rusher too.”

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