The Seattle Seahawks enter 2026 as the defending Super Bowl champs and will be at the top of everyone's list. They already reached the mountaintop and will get everyone's best shot, so finding ways to continue motivating yourself is huge.
And defensive tackle Byron Murphy II just got extra motivation. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler released an article in which he ranked the top 10 defensive tackles in the league based on his survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts.
From what he heard, Murphy II wasn't ranked as a top 10 defensive tackle but made the list as an honorable mention.
Seattle Seahawks' Byron Murphy II just got even more reason to prove the NFL wrong
"He's so explosive. Teams double him, and he can break through it," a veteran NFL defensive coach said.
Despite the praise he got from this coach, he wasn't believed to be a top 10 defensive tackle, and that should give him extra fuel in 2026.
The defensive tackles who were ranked ahead of him are Jeffery Simmons, Jalen Carter, Chris Jones, Derrick Brown, Quinnen Williams, Dexter Lawrence II, Zach Allen, Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and fellow teammate Leonard Williams.
How one breaks down this list is a preference, but Murphy II won't agree that he shouldn't be ranked in the top 10. Especially after his terrific 2025 campaign. Across 17 games (all starts), he finished with 62 total tackles, 13 QB hits, seven tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
He also logged 50 total pressures and 38 hurries. On Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Murphy II had a 72.4 overall grade (25th among 134 graded defensive linemen) and a 76.6 pass rush grade (13th among 134 graded defensive linemen).
Murphy II showcased that he's a force to be reckoned with on the interior, and his production has the attention of teams around the league. Despite seeing what he is capable of, teams still don't put him among the top players at the position.
And for a player like Murphy II, who played a pivotal role in the Seahawks' championship run last year, not getting the respect he deserves will give him extra fuel on the gridiron. And for a Seattle team looking for an extra juice going into the season, having one of your best players motivated will go a long way.
The people inside the Seahawks building know the caliber of player Murphy II is. They aren't surprised by how impactful he is, but with these rankings, the Texas product will look to turn things up a notch once again this fall.
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