BREAKING: In the ESPN mock draft, Seahawks select a pivotal player with Ravens style.

The fans can anticipate a significant improvement in the defense next season with Mike Macdonald taking over as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Therefore, according to ESPN NFL draft expert Matt Miller, Macdonald’s new team will select Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II at No. 16, who is similar to Justin Madubuike, a vital defender for the Baltimore Ravens.

Seattle selects Byron Murphy II in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Defense is where Mike Macdonald will want to leave his personal mark on his new team. With a career built on teaching linebackers and defensive backs, Macdonald is a defensive-minded head coach following two seasons as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator and one season as the Michigan DC.

In 2022, his Ravens defense ranked ninth in yards and third in points allowed; by 2023, they had improved to sixth and third place, respectively. Without too many household names, the new head coach of the Seahawks assembled a formidable defense. Although Madubuike, Kyle Hamilton, Patrick Queen, Roquan Smith, and Patrick Smith are all amazing players, they are not exactly the first NFL defenders that the average fan would think of.

It makes sense that the least desirable defensive position, D-tackle, would be selected first in Macdonald’s first draft in Seattle, given this philosophy of team-building. However, Miller has the Seahawks going exactly there in his ESPN mock draft from February 5.

“The Ravens are the new coach, Mike Macdonald, who developed defensive tackle Justin Madubuike into an All-Pro caliber player. Macdonald can now obtain an additional exceptional three-technique in Seattle. Miller writes in his mock draft’s Seahawks section.

In Texas’ 3-3-5 scheme, Murphy was expected to play over the tackle, but Miller adds, “his power and burst allowed him to routinely make an impact as a pass-rusher.” The 30-foot-one, 6-inch player had five sacks in 2023 despite not often being used as a true pass-rusher. Murphy would be fantastic in Macdonald’s defense because of his extremely high ceiling.

This season, Madubuike totaled 55 tackles, including 12 stops for a loss and one forced fumble. But what really made the Ravens defense one of the best in the league were his 33 QB hits and 13.0 sacks.

Should Murphy become even 75% as good as Madubuike, then the

The Macdonald-led team will get off to a terrific start right away.

Who are the Seattle Seahawks? Don’t Miss Out on DT in This Draft Mock
There is an opportunity cost associated with choosing to do one thing over another, just like in life and football. It is a worthy endeavor for Mike Macdonald to improve the Ravens’ reputation in the Pacific Northwest, which is, to be honest, the main reason the Seahawks signed him.

But there’s always the unexplored path, which in the NFL draft refers to the players passed over.

The Seahawks could target three positions of need with their first-round pick, which they do not have owing to the Leonard Williams trade, aside from the defensive line. The interior offensive line and edge rushers are the first two.

In Matt Miller’s mock NFL draft, there are a number of intriguing prospects at both spots who go off the board quickly, following the Seahawks at number 16.

Laiatu Latu from UCLA and Darius Robinson from Missouri are selected later in the first round in the pass rush category; Macdonald’s former team, the Ravens, will receive the latter pick. Regarding interior linebackers, Pac-12 players like Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson and Washington guard Troy Fautanu are known to Seattle supporters.

The third area that requires attention is quarterbacking.

By pick sixteen, the big three—Caleb Williams of USC, Drake Maye of UNC, and Jayden Daniels of LSU—as well as J.J. McCarthy of Michigan and Bo Nix of Oregon—are all clearly out of the running. At No. 42, Michael Penix Jr. of Washington, a top signal-caller, slips to the Minnesota Vikings, according to Miller.

The Seahawks run the risk of losing Penix, who has brought life to the college football scene in Seattle over the past two years. The Vikings and any other team selecting after the 16th pick, if he is a good fit, will be questioned by general manager John Schneider.

Having said that, Macdonald is experienced in defense, so you have to give him the benefit of the doubt if he does like Byron Murphy II.