Byron Murphy Ii

Career StatsB+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		31	7.5	98	10
2025		17	7.0	62	4
2024		14	0.5	36	6

Updated Jun 6, 2026

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Byron Murphy II drew a B on the Contract Value Index — a calibrated read on Seattle's cap allocation at DT. At $4M AAV on a four-year rookie scale deal, Murphy is operating in the sweet spot for a first-round interior pass rusher still on his entry-level contract: he's cheap relative to what he's producing, and the Seahawks locked in his services well before any breakout season could trigger a market reset. His 2025 season delivered 62 tackles and 7 sacks across 17 games, a respectable sophomore output that anchored Seattle's Super Bowl run and has now elevated him into All-Pro candidate territory heading into Year 3. The narrative around Murphy has shifted dramatically — media coverage treats him not as a developmental prospect but as a disruptive presence whose on-field impact finally matches the production sheet — yet his current deal remains a bargain precisely because it was signed before that narrative fully took hold. At 23 years old and only two seasons into his career, Murphy is in the rare position where he can deliver sustained Pro Bowl or All-Pro-caliber performance while the Seahawks continue reaping the salary-cap value of his rookie scale contract, making this one of the league's more undervalued interior defensive line arrangements heading into a championship-defense window. The CVI grade reflects both the quality of the deal today and the franchise's shrewd early-career positioning: Murphy isn't locked into a bloated extension, and if his trajectory continues, Seattle will have extracted years of elite production at a fraction of market rate.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Byron's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Byron Murphy II is a second-year defensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks who has emerged as one of the more intriguing young interior disruptors in the NFC. At just 23, he earns a B+ overall grade, reflecting genuine promise from a player still developing his full professional arsenal. His trajectory suggests a ceiling well above his current production. Murphy's pass-rush numbers are legitimately elite, posting 0.41 sacks per game against an NFL average of just 0.14 — production that rivals established veterans like Dexter Lawrence. His 3.65 tackles per game nearly doubles the league average of 1.82, signaling exceptional motor and instincts in pursuit. The one concern worth monitoring is his tackles-for-loss rate, sitting at 0.24 per game against an NFL average of 0.27, suggesting he occasionally gets washed out before he can fully disrupt in the backfield. His development arc tells an important story — Murphy jumped from a D+ grade in 2024 to a B in 2025, a dramatic single-season leap that few young linemen achieve this quickly. If he can improve his TFL consistency and continue refining his initial burst off the snap, a Pro Bowl conversation becomes realistic within two seasons. Watch whether Seattle deploys him in more creative stunts and games to maximize that elite sack production going forward.

How Byron Compares at the Position

Byron Murphy Ii ranks 19th of 216 graded defensive tackles by performance. That slots Byron between Arik Armstead (B+) just ahead and Jarran Reed (B+) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Byron Murphy II has emerged from relative obscurity into a legitimate conversation starter for the 2026 season, with media coverage uniformly highlighting his Year 2 breakout and positioning him as a potential All-Pro candidate at defensive tackle. The Seahawks' defensive line has clearly benefited from his development, and recent headlines suggest he has moved beyond the role-player category into solid-starter territory with upside. His quiet but steady ascent—marked by consistent performance improvements rather than flashy individual plays—has earned respect from beat writers and analysts who note he was overlooked for All-Pro recognition despite a strong 2025 campaign. The fact that trade speculation includes his name alongside elite pass rushers like Myles Garrett signals that front offices view him as a core piece worth retaining, not a depth option. Heading into 2026, Murphy II carries momentum and legitimate expectations to reach All-Pro honors, though his relatively modest career sack total (7.5) and lack of prior accolades mean he remains a tier below established stars in the broader perception hierarchy.