After an explosive sophomore campaign, Seattle’s disruptive defensive tackle is primed for superstardom. National analysts expect the former first-round pick to anchor a ferocious front and achieve elite status.
The Seattle Seahawks may already have one of the NFL's most talented young defensive linemen, and national analysts believe Byron Murphy II could soon receive recognition among the league's elite.
In a recent Pro Football Focus projection highlighting players who could earn their first All-Pro selection in 2026, Murphy was included among a select group of rising stars expected to take a major leap this season. The recognition adds to the growing belief that the former first-round pick is on the verge of becoming a centerpiece of Seattle's defense.
"The Seahawks’ defense should be championship-caliber yet again even after losing a handful of pieces, giving Murphy another year to build along a ferocious front," PFF's Bradley Locker writes. "If the former first-rounder can play more consistently on the ground, he’s capable of reaching another level of stardom in Year 3."
Murphy showed significant growth during the 2025 campaign after an injury-interrupted rookie season. While he was already known for his explosive athleticism and disruptive ability coming out of Texas, he began translating those traits into consistent production at the NFL level.
He racked up 62 total tackles, seven sacks, and seven tackles for loss in his sophomore season, as he was one of the big reasons Seattle had one of, if not the best defensive unit in the whole NFL.
What makes Murphy's outlook especially intriguing is the environment around him. Seattle's defensive front features veteran talent such as DeMarcus Lawrence and Leonard Williams that prevent offenses from focusing all their attention on the second-year standout.
With opposing offensive lines forced to account for multiple threats, Murphy could find himself in even more favorable situations to create pressure from the interior.
The Seahawks did lose a pretty big contributor in Boye Mafe, but that is just another factor that could lead to Murphy taking an even bigger step forward than he already did in his second season.
For Seattle, that would be a massive development. The Seahawks invested heavily in Murphy when they selected him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, believing he could become a cornerstone defender for years to come. If he reaches the level many expect in 2026, Murphy won't just be one of the NFL's rising stars—he could establish himself as one of the best defensive tackles in football.
