Heading into this year’s draft, the Seahawks had a significant need at the guard position. According to ESPN’s Brady Henderson, they had their eyes set on Alabama’s JC Latham, who ended up being chosen by the Titans as the seventh overall pick. The Seahawks had plans to transition Latham, who primarily played tackle in college, to the interior offensive line, at least initially in his professional career.
In a draft marked by a surge in offensive talent, several top defensive prospects were available later than anticipated. When the Seahawks were on the clock with the 16th pick, only one defensive player, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, had been selected, going to the Colts at No. 15. This left Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II on the table for Seattle, whom they regarded as the top defensive player in the 2024 class, leading them to select him.
Amidst a flurry of offensive selections, the Seahawks, lacking a second-round pick, entertained trade offers to move down the draft order and accumulate additional picks. According to Henderson, they received offers from multiple teams including the Steelers, Eagles, Vikings, and Falcons, with the Packers also showing interest in the 16th pick but not making an offer.
Despite considering trading back, Seahawks GM John Schneider ultimately decided against it, as Murphy’s talent was too compelling to pass up. The team’s new head coach, Mike Macdonald, echoed this sentiment, expressing excitement over Murphy’s fit with their style of play and his versatile skill set.
Despite having a surplus of defensive linemen and limited cap space, the Seahawks aren’t planning to trade any of their defensive assets, especially since Macdonald intends to rotate players more frequently than his predecessor, Pete Carroll.
In other news, outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu is expected to return for training camp after missing part of the 2023 season due to injury. Nwosu, who signed a contract extension in July, recorded 9.5 sacks in his debut season with the Seahawks in 2022.
