Byron Murphy II leads all NFL interior defensive linemen in sacks, pressures, hurries, run stops, and solo tackles through three weeks of the 2025 NFL Season.

The Seahawks have dangerous momentum three weeks into a long year. After losing to the division rival 49ers 17-13 in a freak accident in Week 1, they stepped on the gas to beat a historical rival in the Steelers 31-17 in Pittsburgh. Week 3 was a complete display of dominance as they whooped the Saints 44-13 at home, and Seattle’s defense is 2nd in total points allowed through 3 weeks of the regular season with just 47 (the Green Bay Packers have only allowed 44).

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The defensive backs have had plenty of splash plays to rave about, from Derion Kendrick’s interceptions in back-to-back weeks to D’Anthony Bell and Julian Love’s special teams blocks. However, Murphy has an argument as the best player on the defense thus far- at a spot that it seems impossible to find enough production from. His dominance has set up the splash plays from the secondary. He’s turning out to be everything they hoped when they drafted him 16th overall last year.

Production from the IDL position has as direct of an effect on team success as any. The best of recent years in Chris Jones, Jalen Carter, and Aaron Donald have anchored super bowl teams, and it’s hard to find a championship contender without a stout, deep and top-heavy interior defensive line. Luckily, head coach Mike Macdonald has had success developing them in the past. In Baltimore, he helped Nnamdi Madubuike blossom into a second-team all-pro in 2023, also making the pro bowl each of the last two seasons. Now in Seattle, his decision to draft one with his first choice in charge is paying off.

It’s still early on, but Murphy had his best game yet last week and hardly slowed down this week, with one sack and five pressures after two sacks and four pressures last week. After talking wrote about how the Saints’ depth crisis at guard would give Murphy ample opportunity to continue his breakout season. He’s far and away the best pass rusher from the interior this season, and even if there could still be questions about his ability to produce against better offensive lines, last week against Pittsburgh showed his explosiveness and size combo is a rare mismatch. With prayers for good health, he has the chance to be the Seahawks next All-Pro in just his second season.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks DT Bryon Murphy II is having an All-Pro caliber season