Byron Murphy rookie contract figures with Seattle Seahawks revealed after NFL Draft

After a historic run on offensive players, two consecutive defensive players are off the board. Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is the latest, being taken by the Seattle Seahawks with the 16th overall pick. A later riser in the class, a kid from the Dallas area is heading to the Pacific Northwest.

Murphy will make the move and take quite a pile of cash along with him. Spotrac revealed his contract details after being picked, expected to sign a four-year contract worth $16 million. He will get a nice signing bonus as well.

“As the #16 overall #NFLdraft pick, DT Byron Murphy should sign a 4 year, fully guaranteed $16M contract with the #Seahawks, including an $8.5M signing bonus, & a 5th year option in 2028,” Spotrac said via X.

Producing NFL draft picks has not been Texas’ specialty over the years but Steve Sarkisian has changed the narrative in Austin. Murphy gives the program back-to-back first-round picks for the first time in over a decade, something that used to be a regular occurrence.

Turning Murphy from a three-star prospect coming out of high school to the No. 16 overall pick will be something Sarkisian sells moving forward. Having exact contract details and being able to show what players are earning will only help the cause.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Byron Murphy II

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com provided some analysis of Murphy in his scouting report. He projected him to be taken in the first round and compared him to Ed Oliver of the Buffalo Bills. Oliver made the All-Rookie Team in 2019 and is coming off a 2023 season where he tallied 9.5 sacks.

“Muscular ball of explosiveness with the tools and talent to become a productive three-down defender in the right scheme,” Zierlein wrote about Murphy. “Twitchy first-step quickness combined with flexion and power in his lower half create a recipe for disruption as a gap shooter or as a pass rusher. Murphy is powerful and well-schooled at taking on double-teams but lacks ideal mass and length for that role long-term.

“He’s successful at bypassing protection with sudden hands and quick feet, while his motor and passion create an activity level coaches will love. Forget the average physical traits and modest production and focus on his competitive spirit and disruptive qualities. Murphy is ascending and could become a successful nose tackle or 3-technique in an even front.”