Seahawks re-draft sees 12s saying goodbye to Byron Murphy II

Immediate ref-drafts are weird ideas. The main reason is that we have not even seen the players perform for their new teams. For instance, Byron Murphy II might be a fantastic player for the Seattle Seahawks for many years, but a recent 2024 NFL re-draft has him going to another team while Seattle doesn't even choose a defensive player in the first round.

Bleacher Report's re-draft is not a bad one, to be sure. It's not like they have Seattle choosing a punter in round one or anything. In fact, the player that B/R has the Seahawks choosing - offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga - makes sense. Fuaga is a bit like former Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu in that both played tackle in college but both are expected to be moved to guard initially in the NFL.

Seattle clearly needs long-term help in the interior of its offensive line but should be OK in 2024. The team signed Laken Tomlinson as a free agent this offseason and Seattle drafted Christian Haynes. The offensive line is a bit boom or bust, but if the unit is successful with Charles Cross, Tomlinson, Olu Oluwatimi, Haynes, and Abe Lucas then that success should be high-level.

One site re-drafts the Seahawks taking offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga in 2024 NFL draft

This is opposed to Seattle's defensive line which has more proven talent but that talent is getting a bit old. Leonard Williams is 30 and while he was re-signed this offseason his contract is a bit front-loaded. He should be great, but will he be great in three years? If so, great! He's a Seahawk. If he fails this year, the team could move on from him next offseason and save $12,550,000.

Jarran Reed is past thirty as well. He was decent in terms of pass rush last year, but not good against the run. His future might be as a situational pass rusher while Murphy takes his early-down snaps. That is one part that Bleacher Report has incorrect. They say Murphy plays the same spot as Williams and Dre'Mont Jones, but Murphy is much more of an inside player than Jones, specifically, and more of a pure defensive tackle who can help against the run.

NFL drafts are about the future and not only about the now so the Seahawks taking Murphy makes a lot of sense. He should be more impactful than Fuaga. Plus, and this is the most important part, Seattle never had a chance to choose Fuaga anyway as he was taken two spots ahead of Seattle's pick in the 2024 draft. Fuaga was chosen by the New Orleans Saints.

More Seahawks news and analysis: