With the defense being one of the best in football, the Seahawks have seen a couple of players land on ESPN's latest list.
The Seattle Seahawks rode their defense to a Super Bowl win last season, and yes, the offense did its part, but for most, it was the guys on the "Dark Side," as they were called, who did the heavy lifting.
Easily the best defense in football, the Seahawks, under Mike Macdonald, have winners and playmakers everywhere.
From the defensive line to linebackers and the secondary, it was a unit in total unison that made life hell for quarterbacks.
Yes, this offseason has seen some moving and shaking roster-wise, with Seattle saying goodbye to Boye Mafe, Coby Bryant, and Riq Woolen from the defense, but the front line has remained intact.
And it is here where perhaps the Seahawks boast the best talent in football.
Coaches, executives, and scouts ranked the top 10 defensive tackles for ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, and the list is good news for Seattle fans.
Leonard Williams came in at No. 1, but that isn't the real headline here (although it is a feather in Williams' cap); the real headline is that fellow defensive tackle Byron Murphy II has his name on it as an honorable mention.
"He's so explosive. Teams double him, and he can break through it." -- veteran NFL defensive coach per Fowler.
Looking at the numbers, Murphy had himself quite the season.
He finished as the joint leader in sacks for the Seahawks (7.0), ranked joint fourth in quarterback hits (13), and ranked sixth in tackles for loss (7).
Given how deep the Seahawks were on defense, it was a constant rotation of key players that offenses couldn't handle.
As for Murphy, it was just his second NFL season, and that second year leap was real.
He went from 0.5 sacks in 2024 to 7.0, one QB hit to 13, two tackles for loss to seven, and started all 17 regular-season games (nine in 2024). So it is easy to see why Byron has made the honorable mention portion of this ranking.
Now, as he enters Year 3 as one of the best young defensive tackles (just 23 years old) in football, Macdonald boasts a weapon few NFL teams have.
A veteran in Williams and then an up-and-coming star in Murphy.
So, despite the losses to the Seahawks defense this offseason, don't forget they still have loads of talent at every level, with defensive tackle maybe their biggest strength.
