Is Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II the gold standard at his position in the NFL?
Murphy emerged as a breakout star last season after recording seven sacks on the year, up from the 0.5 that he recorded the year prior, and helping the Seahawks win the Super Bowl at the end of the season. Murphy may not have been named an All-Pro in 2025, but he is not far off from reaching a level that few other defensive tackles in the league are at in 2026.
Fox Sports’ Bucky Brooks named Murphy to his All-22 preseason dream team for the 2026 season, identifying him as one of the top two DTs slated to excel in the league.
“Murphy’s activity and aggression force interior defenders to pay close attention to his whereabouts, particularly on pivotal
downs where the Seahawks are known to crank up the pressure,” Brooks said. “As an emerging standout coming off a season with seven sacks and 13 quarterback hits, the 6-foot-0, 306-pounder is ready to take his game up a notch as an All-Pro-caliber defender at the line.”
Murphy is a defensive tackle to watch yet again in 2026. Another huge year-over-year jump from last season to the present one from Murphy will not come as a shocker. Over 10 sacks registered and additional contributions across the stats sheet make him a player with the potential to be one of the two best defensive tackles in the league when the season is said and done.
This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks DT Byron Murphy II receives high praise from FOX Sports
