With most rookies, there has to be an air of patience around their development. The deeper in the draft they are selected, the more patience it takes to see what kind of pro they can be. But the special ones hit the ground running.
It’s not easy to find those special players, even in the first round. But hitting on a fourth-rounder from a program not particularly known for its pro potential grade is always a welcome scenario.
But according to Bucky Brooks’s 2025 All-Breakout team on NFL.com, the Seattle Seahawks may have found one of those special players, as Tyrice Knight was mentioned among a host of young defenders poised to make their first big impression on the league.
Tyrice Knight is quickly outpacing expectations in the Seahawks defense
Knight was selected No. 118 overall in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft out of UTEP. The now 24-year-old wasn’t necessarily expected to be a huge contributor in Year 1, but he clocked in with 88 tackles on the season with three tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
“With Mike Macdonald poised to tap into the second-year pro's skills as a sideline-to-sideline pursuer, the Seahawks might have found another defensive gem to build around,” Brooks wrote.
Knight will continue to pair with Ernest Jones IV in the middle of Seattle’s defense. The next step is more impact plays. An uptick in TFLs and turnover-creating plays should be his ticket to making him a household name in the coming seasons.
That’s something he showed he was capable of at UTEP. There, he had tallied 35 tackles for loss, snagged two interceptions, forced five fumbles, recovered four fumbles, and had 8.5 sacks. His senior season showcased a bit of everything as he recorded career-highs in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, pass deflections, and fumble recoveries.
Steady progression will get Knight and Seattle’s defense where they are trying to go. While Jones is nearing veteran status entering his fifth season, he hasn’t been in Seattle long and is already well-traveled on his third team. It’s Knight who can grow into a leader and cornerstone of the defense if he continues to grow at a steady pace.
Nonetheless, there’s room in the NFL for a breakout linebacker to climb the ranks. All it takes is one breakout season to get the ball rolling for a player in Knight’s position.