Seahawks vet Johnathan Hankins makes a bold prediction about rookie Byron Murphy

There's no question that the Seahawks' wide receivers and cornerbacks are two of the most-gifted groups on this 2024 roster. However, on paper the interior defensive line unit is ranked higher than either of them compared to the competition. We're waiting to actually see them play together but for what it's worth more than one NFL analyst has this group ranked in the top two around the league.

Most of them are solid and proven vets, but the biggest unknown has yet to play a real snap at this level. That would be rookie Byron Murphy II out of Texas , who was the team's first-round pick in this year's draft. For what it's worth, starting nose tackle Johnathan Hankins really likes what he's seen from Murphy so far. So much that he's predicting he will win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

This is nice to hear but fans probably shouldn't put their money on Murphy. This particular award is one area where the media's east-coast bias has shown through the last couple of seasons.

While he's since been proven the lesser corner, in 2022 Riq Woolen had a vastly-superior season statistically compared with Sauce Gardner, and last year Devon Witherspoon got robbed of the award, as well. Odds are Murphy will be in the running but lose out to somebody who played fewer snaps and made less of an impact but did it wearing a more famous uniform.

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