The 2024 NFL draft began on Thursday, April 25 and wrapped up Saturday, April 27. The Seattle Seahawks made eight of the draft’s 257 picks.
ESPN provided pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Seahawks’ selections as they were made.
A look at each of Seattle’s selections:
My take: This had to be a meat-and-potatoes draft for the Seahawks in which they found upgrades up front on both sides of the ball. In that sense, Murphy wasn’t a surprise at 16, but the more predictable scenario would have been either a trade back and/or a guard with their first pick, given Seattle’s draft history and need for difference makers along their O-line.
The Seahawks’ rationale must have been that Murphy, widely considered the best defensive tackle in this draft, was too good and too rare — with his excellent burst and power at 300 pounds — to pass up. And another likely piece of that thinking was that a defensive tackle is going to impact games more than an interior O-linemen.
Key stat: Murphy led the country last season in pressure rate among defensive tackles at 12.7%. That was to go along with 5.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in 14 games. He should also be an impact player against the run, which has been an Achilles’ heel for Seattle the past two seasons while allowing the most rushing yards in the NFL over that span. A new scheme plus a full season of Leonard Williams and a disruptive force like Murphy teaming with him inside should equip coach Mike Macdonald’s defense to be much better against the run.
Will he start as a rookie? The Seahawks wouldn’t have taken Murphy as high as they did unless they were planning to play him extensively right away, whether he’s technically a starter or not. He said the Seahawks view him as a three-technique who can also play on the nose — which he did in college — so he’ll primarily play inside. The Seahawks also have Jarran Reed and Johnathan Hankins there, though Hankins is an early-down run-stuffer. Williams and Dre’Mont Jones both have the versatility to play defensive tackle and defensive end. So Macdonald will have plenty of talent and options up front.
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Seahawks guard Christian Haynes’ prospect profile
Check out some of the top college highlights for new Seahawks guard Christian Haynes.
My take: Breathe easy, Seahawks fans, they found a right guard — even if it took longer than many may have expected or hoped. What might have been the dream scenario of Alabama’s JC Latham falling to them at 16 died when he was taken seventh overall. Another potential fit, Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe, lasted longer than expected but was snagged eight picks before Seattle’s turn.
Haynes looks like a good consolation prize, a four-year starter and two-time team captain whose extensive experience at right guard matches perfectly with the last remaining opening on Seattle’s O-line. With no second-round pick and just the one third-rounder, there was no guarantee the Seahawks would be able to get a guard they liked on Day 2. Based on where Haynes was generally projected to be taken, it appears they didn’t have to reach to get him.
Will he start as a rookie? He’ll be the heavy favorite to win the job over Anthony Bradford (who made 10 starts as a rookie last year) and Tremayne Anchrum Jr. (a former Rams backup whom Seattle signed to a minimum-salary deal). Laken Tomlinson, the veteran Seattle signed earlier this month, has played almost exclusively at left guard in nine NFL seasons. Haynes made all 49 of his college starts at right guard, so their roles would seem to already be defined.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, Haynes allowed five sacks in first season as starter in 2019, but then allowed just one sack in nearly 1,200 pass blocks over the last three seasons (none in the last two). He only surrendered five pressures in 729 pass blocks over the last two seasons. Haynes spent six seasons at UConn (with a redshirt year in 2018 and a COVID-cancelled season in 2020) and recently turned 24, so he’ll be older than a typical rookie.
Round 4, No. 118: Tyrice Knight, LB, UTEP
My take: The remaking of Seattle’s inside linebacker corps continues with Knight, who projects as a backup for now, behind Jerome Baker and Tyrel Dodson. The Seahawks signed those two in free agency to replace Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks, but both are on one-year deals and there’s not much depth behind them. Knight has okay speed (4.63 at the combine), solid size and a ton of college production. A four-year starter at UTEP after transferring from junior college, his 388 tackles since the start of the 2020 season are tied for third most in FBS in that span, according to Sports Info Solutions. Last season, his 24 run stops (a tackle at or behind the line of scrimmage on a designed rush) were tied for fourth most in FBS.
Round 4, No. 121 AJ Barner (from Miami via Denver), TE, Michigan
My take: Given all the connections that the Seahawks’ new coaching staff has to the Washington and Michigan programs, it would have been an upset had Seattle not taken at least one ex-Husky or Wolverine. Barner becomes the first, joining veteran free-agent pickup Pharaoh Brown as another option behind Noah Fant. Barner’s modest receiving production in college (64 catches, 610 yards, five touchdowns in 45 games) suggests he’ll project as more of a blocker than an offensive weapon. Either way, his experience in Jim Harbaugh’s pro-style offense should give him a chance to see the field early on. He played on every special teams unit at Michigan under coordinator Jay Harbaugh, who now has that title in Seattle.
Round 5, No. 136: Nehemiah Pritchett (from Minnesota via Philadelphia), CB, Auburn
My take: Pete Carroll is gone, but Pritchett is the kind of long, press cornerback that he typically favored. He’s 6-foot, 190 pounds with arms that measure a shade under 32 inches, which was something of a threshold in Seattle. And he’s fast. Pritchett’s 4.36 40 was fourth fastest among cornerbacks who ran in Indianapolis. He said he’s been timed as low as 4.28. A four-year starter in college, Pritchett had 329 press-coverage snaps since the start of 2020. According to ESPN Stats & Information, that was 10th most among Power 5 players in that span. The Seahawks weren’t lacking for cornerback depth, with Tre Brown, Mike Jackson and Artie Burns on their roster as backups to Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen. So Pritchett will have plenty of competition to make the 53-man roster let alone see the field on defense.
Round 6, No. 179 (from Washington): Sataoa Laumea, G, Utah
My take: After taking Christian Haynes in the third round, general manager John Schneider said the Seahawks may not be done drafting interior O-linemen. They weren’t. Laumea began his college career as a right guard before moving to right tackle for his final two seasons out of necessity. He’s built like a guard, considers himself an interior player and said the Seahawks do as well. Haynes projects as Seattle’s starting right guard, with veteran Laken Tomlinson on the left side. So Laumea is likely competing for a roster spot as a backup option along with Anthony Bradford, Tremayne Anchrum Jr. and McClendon Curtis.
Round 6, No. 192: D.J. James, CB, Auburn
My take: The Seahawks were already deep at cornerback after drafting Nehemiah Pritchett in the fifth round, so taking his Auburn teammate with their second-to-last pick suggests that was a best-player-available move. James is a hair shorter (just under 6-0) than Pritchett, 15 pounds lighter (175) and not quite as fast (he ran a 4.42 40 at the combine). He’s built like a nickelback and has experience playing both on the perimeter and inside in college. So much remains to be seen about how Mike Macdonald plans to use his cornerbacks, but James’ path to sticking around in a deep group of corners could be to earn a spot as Devon Witherspoon‘s backup in the slot. Seattle’s other options there include Coby Bryant and Artie Burns.
Round 6, No. 207 (from Denver): Michael Jerrell, T, Findlay
My take: The later rounds are where teams sometimes take fliers on small-school prospects with intriguing measurables and physical tools. Jerrell fits that bill. He played right tackle at D-II Findlay in Ohio and took part in Ohio State’s pro day, where he ran a 4.94 40 at 6-5 and 310 pounds. That performance also included a 32-inch vertical jump and 26 bench press reps. Jerrell said the Seahawks view him as a swing tackle. They gave George Fant a two-year deal to fill that role, but Fant is 31, and Seattle has incentive to keep its pipeline stocked given the question about whether right tackle Abraham Lucas‘ surgically repaired knee will continue to give him trouble. Jerrell spent six seasons in college, earning his MBA, and is 24 years old.