Many defensive players have taken a productive leap in their second seasons in Mike Macdonald's system. It happened when the coach with the defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens. It is happening again with the Seattle Seahawks.
No Seattle player is a better example of the jump than 2024 first-round draft pick Byron Murphy II, though. Just when some were beginning to think general manager John Schneider made a mistake by choosing Murphy, the defensive lineman is begin to emerge as a great player.
He isn't simply trending toward destroying his rookie statistics, he's already done so in many way. He had half a sack in 2024, and he has 4.5 through six games this season. After having just one quarterback hit last year, he has nine this season.
Byron Murphy II is taking a second-year leap for the Seattle Seahawks
He also has three tackles for loss, and had only two as a rookie. He also doesn't miss tackles. He's miss three in his career so far. While he could still be a tick better in run support, he's already solid. But his pass rushing effectiveness is far better than anyone expected before the season.
Many times, a rookie has trouble adjusting to the strength and speed of the NFL. This is the case no matter the position. An interior defensive lineman who is used to dominating at the college level might struggle against the power of the NFL. Murphy adjusted in one season.
Offensive linemen are clearly having huge issues with his quickness. His 15 total pressures rank fifth among interior defensive lineman, and his 4.5 sacks rank first. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Murphy is the ninth-best IDL in terms of pass rush so far in 2025.
Seattle Seahawks fans shouldn't expect his efficiency to slow, either. He has enough individual talent to give opponents issues, of course, but teams also have to account for fellow defensive linemen Leonard Williams and Jarran Reed. Not everyone can be double-teamed.
Currently, Reed and Williams are seeing a lot more double-teams. Both players rank in the top seven in the NFL in terms of how much they are having to overcome two blockers. This has freed Murphy a bit. Eventually, teams will need to rotate their attention to Murphy, but this should only help Williams and Reed be more productive.
A lot of the reason for the success of the trio is how Mike Macdonald designs his pressures, but without good players, even the best schemes don't work. Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Byron Murphy II is proving to be great, and that is likely going to continue.