Seattle Seahawks' Byron Murphy II Projected for Breakout 2026 Season

Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald told the media that defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is expected to significantly improve his pass‑rush production in the 2026 campaign, anticipating a "spike in productivity rushing the passer." Murphy recorded seven sacks, seven tackles for loss and 13 quarterback hits in the 2025 season after a modest rookie year in 2024 when he posted 0.5 sacks. Selected 16th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the 306‑pound interior lineman has drawn praise from teammates, with left guard Grey Zabel saying there is "no ceiling" on his play and fellow defensive lineman Jarran Reed calling him an "unbelievable player" capable of elite performance. The coaching staff expects Murphy to build on his breakout sophomore season and become a key factor in Seattle’s defensive success moving forward.