Seahawks rookie Byron Murphy issues warning to the Falcons ahead of Week 7

Byron Murphy II was just the second defensive player taken in the 2024 NFL draft. In fact, no defensive players were taken in the first 14 picks. Teams needed more offensive help, clearly, but not Seattle. The Falcons needed some defensive help, too, but when Atlanta went in a completely different direction.

After signing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins this offseason, the Falcons also took quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. in the first round of the draft. The move might work out in the long term, but Penix also might be sitting behind Cousins for a few years. Atlanta could have taken a quarterback in a later draft and gone with a defensive player first.

One of the players that the Falcons were reportedly targeting if they did go with a defensive player was Murphy out of Texas. Atlanta is 25th in the league in yards allowed per game rushing (142.7; Seattle is 27th at 144.7) so theoretically, Murphy might have been able to help Atlanta right away had he stayed healthy. Either way, as draft picks have slotted salaries, Atlanta not taking Murphy cost him millions of dollars.

Seahawks fans should expect an extra motivated Byron Murphy II in Week 7 versus the Falcons

Murphy is expected to be able to play in Week 7 when Seattle travels to Atlanta. He has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury. In speaking with the media on Thursday, Murphy made it clear he felt snubbed by the Falcons during the draft. He is using that for motivation.

Murphy said, "They passed up on me. That’s they fault. That’s a big loss for them. They will feel me Sunday."

The Seahawks need that kind of approach, too. While not quite as bad as in the later years of the Pete Carroll era, Seattle certainly isn't as aggressive defensively as many 12s might have been hoping for. Nor does Seattle play with a bullish mentality. Not yet anyway, but Murphy's return might help with that.

Murphy's quickness in the interior of the defensive line helped him get seven total quarterback pressures in 53 pass-rush snaps in the Seahawks' first three games. Where the defensive tackle needs to be an even bigger help is in stopping the Falcons run game, however. Atlanta averages 4.7 yards a rush, which in ninth in the league.

The Falcons are led in rushing by second-year pro Bijan Robinson. He already has 541 yards from scrimmage this season. He isn't the Falcons' only good back, though. Tyler Allgeier has averaged 5.5 yards a carry on 51 rushes this season. He ran for over 1,000 yards in his rookie season in 2022.

The Seahawks have been horrendous against the run in the last three games. Murphy cannot fix that all on his own, of course, but his presence should certainly help. Plus, he will feel extra motivated against Atlanta due to what he sees as a draft-day snub.

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