Seahawks rookies named one of league's least productive groups

The Seattle Seahawks drafted eight rookies in 2024, seven of which made the final roster and were with the team all season. Only two of those selections were in the first three rounds, and three were sixth-round picks.

Seattle's rookies played a fair bit last season (3,293 total snaps), but even that ranked 22nd among all NFL teams. The Los Angeles Rams' rookies, for example, led the league with 7,649 total snaps. However, despite that time on the field, Pro Football Focus ranked the Seahawks' draft class near the bottom of the league.

PFF compiled its most productive rookie classes using the PFF WAR metric — based on player performance and how much those performances contributed towards wins — and snap counts. Seattle's 2024 class ranked 29th in the NFL.

"Seattle’s best rookie by WAR proved to be fourth-round tight end A.J. Barner, who churned out a 63.7 PFF receiving grade with a 119.0 passer rating when targeted," PFF's Bradley Locker wrote. "Fourth-round linebacker Tyrice Knight acquainted himself with a 65.4 PFF overall grade and a 79.6 PFF tackling grade on 550 snaps. Aside from those two, the team’s rookies didn’t produce much at all. First-round defensive lineman Byron Murphy II finished below a 65.0 mark in both run defense and pass rushing, while Day 3 picks Sataoa Laumea and Nehemiah Pritchett combined for a staggering -0.39 WAR."

Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) celebrates. — Nov 24, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) celebrates after sacking Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) (not pictured) during the first half at Lumen Field. | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Postseason rankings like this will always be rampant and often are uninformed on what exactly the players contributed to weekly. A player's entire season and impact can't be simplified into one comprehensive metric. They also lack all of the context present throughout an NFL season.

In reality, Seattle emerged with two major positives in Barner and Knight, while the offensive lineman showed some upside despite still being raw talents. Murphy could be considered a disappointment primarily because he missed three games due to injury and played less than 50% of the team's defensive snaps.

Barner played in all 17 games (six starts) and had at least one catch in all but three games. His 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns were impressive considering he wasn't expected to have a role as a rookie. Instead, he became a solid receiving threat and emerged as a quality blocker.

Knight was as impressive a rookie linebacker as the Seahawks have had in a decade. Head coach Mike Macdonald felt comfortable enough with Knight as the team's starter to waive Tyrel Dodson midseason, and the fourth-round pick out of UTEP finished with 88 tackles, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in just nine starts (16 appearances).

Barring a massive change, Knight will again be the starter in 2025 next to Ernest Jones IV.

While their productivity may not have come through in the metrics, the Seahawks churned out a decent rookie class last season. They will have another solid chance to build on that this season with 10 draft picks overall.

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