Among the some of the success of the Seahawks season was the contribution the 2024 Draft Class had throughout the year. During the NFL Draft the Seahawks drafted eight rookies – Byron Murphy II, Christian Haynes, Tyrice Knight, AJ Barner, Nehemiah Pritchett, Sataoa Laumea, D.J. James and Michael Jerrell. Seven of which saw snaps during the season and four of them, Byron Murphy II, Tyrice Knight, AJ Barner and Sataoa Laumea seeing some pretty significant snaps for Seattle.
Murphy, Seattle's first-round pick, played in 14 games, missing three with a hamstring injury in the middle of the season.
"Byron Murphy II, is going to be a great player in this league," head coach Mike Macdonald said. "He already is a great player in this league. He's going to have a great career, he's in a great room so his role can skyrocket, and it'll be what he makes of it and he'll create that. But this guy's a three-down player, he's done a great job."
And while some may look at just the stats and think that Murphy wasn't successful off the stat book alone, Macdonald said the production will come with more playing.
"He does the stuff at a high level, he plays really hard, he's a great technician for being how young he is. Just tough as nails going out there and playing the last game not 100 percent and working through it. Production-wise, I know the sacks aren't there and the pass rush reps, but like every time this guy's taken a three-technique pass rush rep, that means Leonard Williams isn't on the field. And right now, I think Leonard (Williams) is probably the best interior d-lineman in the game. So, it's like what do you want to do? We have to be more creative to get him on the field, but he'll earn those opportunities and the production will be there in the long run. I'm convinced of that. This guy's a really good player."
Another rookie who saw significant playing time was Tyrice Knight, the linebacker out of UTEP. Knight was thrown into being a full-time starter this season with an in-season trade that sent Seattle's starting weakside linebacker, Jerome Baker, to the Titans in exchange for Ernest Jones IV.
Before the trade, Knight was already seeing significant defensive snaps playing in place of an injured Baker.
"I mean Tyrice Knight coming in and playing really significant snaps for us, playing winning football… I think the overall development of the class is what I'm most excited about and then a lot of them are forced into meaningful reps, but that's going to pay dividends for us in the future."
Like Knight, another rookie whose name was called on because of injuries was Laumea, who took over at right guard when Anthony Bradford went down with an ankle injury and was later placed on injured reserve. Laumea and rookie Christian Haynes were battling it out for the starting right guard position and following that week of practice, Laumea ultimately got the nod.
"I think he's got a bright future," Macdonald said of Haynes. "I really do. When we were making that decision to go to Sataoa (Laumea), it wasn't that Christian hadn't done enough to earn an opportunity. We just felt like Sataoa did more, but Christian's gotten all the reps, he still had meaningful reps early in the season. I thought he played well earlier in the season, good enough to win, but we want more from our entire offense. We want more from our offensive line, guys know that, but I believe in the guys that we have and any opportunity we have a chance to develop those guys and make our team better, we're going to do it."
AJ Barner, the tight end out of Michigan that was labeled as "just a blocking tight end," going into the draft, according to Barner, proved that narrative false this season and showed that he can be a “complete tight end.”
Barner started six games for the Seahawks this season, played 46 percent of the offensive snaps and finished the season with four touchdowns.
"Well, he (AJ Barner) doesn't feel like a rookie," Macdonald said early in December. "That's probably the best compliment I can give him. Sometimes he's a knucklehead, but he's ours, so we love him. He's a great competitor, he's really smart, kind of does all the things at the tight end position."
And the success of this last draft class comes on the heels of two successful drafts in 2023, and 2022. In 2023, the Seahawks drafted Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Derick Hall, Zach Charbonnet, Anthony Bradford. Cameron Young, Mike Morris, Olu Oluwatimi, Jerrick Reed II and Kenny McIntosh. And in 2022 the Seahawks drafted Charles Cross, Boye Mafe, Kenneth Walker III, Abraham Lucas, Coby Bryant, Riq Woolen, Tyreke Smith, Bo Melton and Dareke Young.
Those two draft class, includes a two-time Pro Bowler, two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists, and an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist.
Go behind the scenes with team photographer Rod Mar as he shares moments from the Seahawks' victory over the L.A. Rams in the team's season finale.
Seahawks linebacker Ernest Jones IV boards the team's charter flight for the trip to Los Angeles to face the Rams in the season finale.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider talks a call while the team buses wait to depart the tarmac in Los Angeles.
On gameday, Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith boards the team bus on a sunny Southern California day.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba makes his way to the team buses.
Seahawks receiver Cody White makes a leaping grap during early pregame warmups.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon stretches on the field during pregame.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider tosses a football up to a young Seahawks fan sitting behind the team's bench before the game.
Seahawks defensive backs Devon Witherspoon, Tre Brown and Rayshawn Jenkins chat before kickoff.
Seahawks head athletic trainer David Stricklin works with center Olu Oluwatimi before the game.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith strikes a pose in the locker room before the game.
In the locker room, offensive tackle Charles Cross gathers the linemen before they head to the field for pregame warmups.
Seahawks veteran wideout Tyler Lockett addresses the team before they take the field.
Seattle's Uchenna Nwosu makes his way from the locker room to the field.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett was one of the last to leave the locker room before the game.
Seahawks game captains Michael Dickson and Tyler Lockett after they, along with Ernest Jones IV, won the opening coin toss.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight combines with Ernest Jones IV and sacks Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald with safety Coby Bryant during a break in the action.
Seahawks receiver Jake Bobo leaps to make his first touchdown catch of the season to open the scoring for Seattle.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald congratulates quarterback Geno Smith after Smith's TD pass to Jake Bobo in the first quarter.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant manhandles a Rams receiver.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith celebrates with receiver DK Metcalf after the duo combined for a touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett created lots of space to make this catch.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers lines up a 56-yard field goal which he converted in the second quarter.
Seahawks safety Julian Love celebrates his first half interception with teammates.
At halftime, head coach Mike Macdonald addressed the defense.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams flies through the air to sack Rams quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams performs his signature sack celebration.
Seattle's defense stuffed this second half run with Uchenna Nwosu and Devon Witherspoon making the stop.
Seahawks president of football operations/general manager John Schneider hugs receiver Tyler Lockett in the locker room after the victory.
Receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf shake hands in the locker room after the game.
Seahawks defensive stalwarts Uchenna Nwosu and Leonard Williams celebrate after the win.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith is congratulated by assistant coach Devin Fitzsimmons in the locker room after the game.
Seahawks assistant head coach Leslie Frazier awards a game ball to head coach Mike Macdonald after the game.
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is celebrated by his team after being awarded a game ball.
Upon arriving back in Seattle, the Seahawks were greeted by these loyal 12s who stood in the dark and cold to thank the players for the season.
