With their eighth and final pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Seahawks selected 6-foot, 214-pound Oregon State safety Ryan Murphy in the seventh round (No. 248 overall).
Murphy joined the Seattle-area media for a conference call shortly after the pick was made. Here's three things to know about the Seahawks' newest defensive back:
1. He's Close Cousins With Marshawn Lynch
Murphy, a native of Oakland, Calif. who's called the Bay Area home for each of his 22 years, told the press he's close cousins with Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, another Oakland native.
The two players attended the same high school - Oakland Tech - and Murphy said Lynch served as a mentor and friend through high school and college.
"He took care of me in terms of finding places for me to work out," Murphy said of his relationship with Seattle's "Beast Mode" back. "I've even stayed at his house a little bit when I was 16 years old."
Murphy said he's excited to call Lynch a teammate now, but admitted he would have liked the chance to play against No. 24 at the NFL level.
"I always thought if I can tackle running backs like Marshawn, and running backs like Adrian Peterson, then I can tackle anybody in the League," Murphy said. "It's just a competitive mindset."
2. He Started 39 Games At Oregon State
Murphy described himself as a "very versatile" player that can play multiple spots on the defense if asked to.
Coach Pete Carroll said Murphy will compete for the backup safety role vacated by Jeron Johnson, who signed with the Washington Redskins in free agency this offseason. Johnson was the primary backup to both free safety Earl Thomas and strong safety Kam Chancellor.
"At Oregon State I played up top, in the box," Murphy said. "I played nickel a lot this year, as a senior. I played everywhere."
3. He Had Just Put His Son To Sleep When He Got The Call
Murphy said he was in his Oakland-area home when he learned the Seahawks had made him their final pick of the draft.
"I was in my bedroom, just putting my son to sleep," said Murphy. "I was in the right place at the right time, I would say."
Like Seattle's fourth-round pick Mark Glowinski and fifth-round pick Tye Smith, Murphy's son has a birthday celebration tomorrow, too. Sort of.
"His name is Riley," said Murphy. "He's five months, about to be six months tomorrow."
