Breakout pick could take Seattle Seahawks' D to next level

One of the biggest developments to come out of the Seattle Seahawks’ first season under Mike Macdonald was the emergence of a standout defense during the second half of the season.

Report: Seahawks RB Kenny McIntosh believed to have torn ACL

After ranking 24th in scoring defense and 23rd in yards allowed through Week 9, Seattle was fifth scoring defense and fourth in yards allowed from Week 10 on.

And one of the biggest developments to come from within that standout defense was the emergence of rookie linebacker Tyrice Knight, who took over as a full-time starter in Week 11.

The UTEP product’s performance has caught the eye of more than those in the Pacific Northwest. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks recently named Knight as one of his 11 defensive picks to his 2025 All-Breakout Team, which highlights young players poised for big seasons.

Here’s what Brooks said about Knight:

The unheralded fourth-round pick out of UTEP quietly made his mark as a rookie with 88 tackles (three for loss), 1.5 sacks and four QB hits in 16 games. Knight quickly outplayed his draft pedigree (No. 118 overall), emerging as a disruptive defender on the second level. With Mike Macdonald poised to tap into the second-year pro’s skills as a sideline-to-sideline pursuer, the Seahawks might have found another defensive gem to build around.

If Brooks’ premonition about Knight is true, Seahawks Radio Network and former NFL wideout Michael Bumpus thinks it could bring the Seahawks’ defense to the next level.

“If that were to happen, you will have one of the best duos at the linebacker spot in the league,” Bumpus said during his Four Down Territory segment on Seattle Sports’ Bump and Stacy. “Interior linebacker, it’s a dying position. Everyone wants those edge rushers who look all fast and good in their uniforms. Let’s get some love to the interior guys. And if you were to do this, that means you’re solid against the run, you’re solid against the pass and you’re learning from Ernest Jones.”

What Bump saw from Knight

Knight was a tackling machine during his college days at UTEP. He racked up at least 95 total tackles in each of his final three college seasons and led the nation with 84 solo tackles in 2023.

Knight’s abilities as a tackler showed up during his rookie season. He missed just six tackles all season, and his 6.7% missed-tackle rate was fifth among linebackers who played at least 550 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.

“I think we saw a lot of good things. He’s good at sniffing out the run. He recognizes plays,” Bumpus said. “He’s not twitchy or a big hitter, but he gets the job done. He wraps up. He’s a for-sure tackler. I like this for him. I hope he sees this and uses this as motivation. Accolades never hurt the ego.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Bump and Stacy weekdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.

Breakout pick could take Seattle Seahawks’ D to next level

Tags: