The Seattle Seahawks entered this year’s draft with a pressing need for a guard, aiming to shore up their offensive line. ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports that the team had set their sights on Alabama’s JC Latham, envisioning him as a solution to bolster their interior line play. However, their plans were thwarted when Latham was snapped up by the Titans with the seventh overall pick.
Despite the scarcity of defensive picks in the early stages of the draft, the Seahawks found themselves in a favorable position when they were on the clock with the 16th overall pick. With only one defensive player off the board, the Seahawks seized the opportunity to select Texas DT Byron Murphy II, whom they regarded as the standout defensive prospect of the 2024 class.
As offensive players dominated the draft board, the Seahawks entertained trade offers from several teams eager to acquire their first-round pick. Offers poured in from the Steelers, Eagles, Vikings, and Falcons, with the Packers also expressing interest. However, Seahawks GM John Schneider was swayed by Murphy’s talent and impact potential, ultimately deciding against trading back.
Addressing the decision, Schneider admitted to contemplating trading down but emphasized Murphy’s game-changing abilities. Echoing his sentiments, new head coach Mike Macdonald praised Murphy’s alignment with the team’s style of play and highlighted his versatility and aggression on the field.
Despite the Seahawks’ surplus of defensive linemen and tight cap space, the team has no plans to deal from their depth. Macdonald intends to deploy a rotational strategy with his players, diverging from the approach of his predecessor, Pete Carroll.
In other news, outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu is expected to return for training camp after recovering from a pectoral strain. Nwosu, who notched 9.5 sacks in his debut season with the Seahawks in 2022, missed the latter part of the 2023 campaign due to injury. He remains under contract through 2026 following a lucrative extension signed in July.
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