2024 NFL Mock Draft: Bengals boost defensive line

Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas

Hello people,

I’m again after a little bit of a hiatus. As you recall, I made the good decide of Joe Burrow and, regardless of the brilliance, not an excessive amount of reward was awarded me. Doubtless as a result of I did not beef up his o-line quick sufficient. Although, I additionally didn’t catch an excessive amount of negativity, both. However i did catch one thing else.

As you recall, I used to be previously with Detroit and to get that exec place, nicely, that required me stepping into some awkward positions. And don’t imagine the clever story about of shot of penicillin.

Nicely, after a protracted restoration, we’re right here to crush the draft aided with 10 picks together with 2 within the third.

It is a roster with Tremendous Bowl aspirations and so long as Joey B is wholesome (man I picked), this can be a actual chance.

Solely, his shut buddies get to name him Joey B.

So, Mr. Burrow, might use some assist however Cincy had a reasonably good offseason. The secondary was getting sliced up at occasions, so Vonn Bell returned together with Professional Bowl snub Geno Stone becoming a member of.

Sheldon Rankins was added to ease the lack of DJ Reader and we introduced in Trent Brown at RT together with a slight improve at TE with Mike Gesicki.

These strikes, together with others, put us ready that we don’t have to achieve within the draft however we now have had some shakeup at WR. Tyler Boyd continues to be in the marketplace and Tee Higgins, requested for a commerce. Tee wasn’t a fan of not getting a long-term deal and we aren’t positive how a lot cash we wish tied up at WR with an impending deal looming with Ja’Marr Chase.

Fortunately, WR is the energy of this class and we now have 4 picks within the high 100. Deal with on either side appears to be like sturdy as does CB.

DE is weak this 12 months however we like our rotation and our LBs. And though we now have a mean TE corps, we now have signed 3. And Brock Bowers is already off the board.

Trent Brown may play at a Professional Bowl degree however has a checkered damage previous and is on a 1 12 months deal. The d-line might use extra push specific within the inside. This may very well be the realm needing essentially the most assist.

However we might quickly go from having the most effective WR corps exterior of Philly to 1 important man that groups can deal with.

We invested closely at CB already. So, we hope DJ Turner will step-up. So, the main target depth: sure, upgrades: positive & replacements: probably wanted.

There must be some actual high quality WRs round 50, DT is deep. Buying and selling again isn’t attainable.

With a little bit of a run at WR, and the final OT we appreciated on this spherical got here off the board, seeing probably one of many high DT within the draft nonetheless accessible we determined to go together with:

Byron Murphy II, standing 6-1 & weighing someplace in-between 300-308. He turned a starter as a junior and in 2023, named the Massive 12 Defensive Lineman of the Yr alongside Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat. He confirmed some actual athleticism on the mix, placing up nice numbers. A few of his strengths:

Athletic, fast inside move rusher
Quick on the level of assault
Instinctive
Harmful inside pass-rusher
Closes on quarterbacks in a rush
Unfastened hips to alter route
Heavy fingers
Disruptive
Makes use of fingers and ft at identical time
Fast ft
Skill to shed blocks
Agile
High quality run defender

The one actual weak spot is lack of size. The remainder is likely to be nitpicking. However as he develops he ought to be capable of develop extra counter strikes, some higher hand and foot motion. Has performed up and down the road, each efficient in run sport and particularly has a variety of move rush potential on account of his spectacular agility and quickness.

Daniel Jeremiah has him at 22 on his high 50 and different retailers, even have him as high 20-25 participant.

Most have him ranked as 1st or 2nd greatest DT within the draft. The Athletic calls him a “freak.”

He posted a 4.87 40-time, the third-fastest time amongst defensive linemen, together with a 33-inch vertical. Murphy additionally confirmed off his upper-body energy with 28 reps on the bench press.

That is simply the kind of participant Cincy wants to enhance the line of defense and put extra stress on opposing QBs, one thing we had bother with final season. Whereas be barely overshadowed by Sweat who was lately arrested, Murphy has additionally been in a position to shine trying like a 1st rounder.

On slightly identified facet be aware, whereas touring close to DeSoto, a pregnant cow got here dashing out final minute and solely my swift and brave motion brought about me to keep away from taking out the lumbering mom to be however I went off the highway right into a ditch and was knocked unconscious quickly and as I awoke a 300 lbs. angel had pulled me from the automotive and was about to carry out CPR. To keep away from any attainable draft rules points we selected to maintain this quiet, so I received’t point out the angel’s identify. Nor how shut he got here to performing CPR.

Simply to summarize, DT has been recognized as one among Cincy’s important wants, particularly the inside rush needing an improve. SI and different retailers have linked BM quantity 2 🙂 as a possible goal and viable long-term substitute for Reader.

He’s listed as among the finest DT’s within the draft and we really feel very lucky to have him principally fall into our lap. Win-win, BPA that fills a necessity. We like our DL depth, way more now and hopefully our selection will assist us decelerate a number of the opposing QB’s we’ll face. If he flames out, not less than we made a possible sturdy addition to our medical employees.

Stats:

https://www.espn.com/college-football/participant/_/id/4570040/byron-murphy-ii

Highlights:

Draft profile:

Muscular ball of explosiveness with the instruments and expertise to grow to be a productive three-down defender in the appropriate scheme. Twitchy first-step quickness mixed with flexion and energy in his decrease half create a recipe for disruption as a niche shooter or as a move rusher. Murphy is highly effective and well-schooled at taking over double-teams however lacks preferrred mass and size for that position long-term. He’s profitable at bypassing safety with sudden fingers and fast ft, whereas his motor and keenness create an exercise degree coaches will love. Neglect the typical bodily traits and modest manufacturing and deal with his aggressive spirit and disruptive qualities. Murphy is ascending and will grow to be a profitable nostril sort out or 3-technique in an excellent entrance.

Spider chart:

2024 BGN Mock Draft Order

1) Bears (Draftjunky): Caleb Williams, QB, USC2) Commanders (surefooted): Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State3) Patriots (niels.rosenquist): Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina4) Cardinals (eaglenomics): Malik Nabers, WR, LSU5) Chargers (SeanEFootball): Rome Odunze, WR, Washington6) Giants (89Tremaine) Jayden Daniels, QB, LSU7) Titans (Philly21): Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame8) Falcons (Eagles_Blitz80): Dallas Turner, EDGE, Alabama9) Bears (pheebthegoose): Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia10) Jets (GreenGrampa): Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State11) Vikings (The Participant Previously Generally known as Mousecop): J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan12) Broncos (PBARB1978): Bo Nix, QB, Oregon13) Raiders (iam4theBirdz): Taliese Fuaga, OT, Oregon State14) Saints (Fly Like An Eagle): Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington15) Colts (J. Wil): Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo16) Seahawks (Phreezy E): Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois17) Jaguars (dredscottroberts): WR Brian Thomas Jr., WR, LSU18) Bengals (grantspectations): Byron Murphy II, DT, Texas19) Rams (Nolo0oo)20) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen)21) Dolphins (Neil Dutton)22) Eagles (ablesser88)23) Vikings (RabidPanda13)24) Cowboys (Elliptical Man)25) Packers (LeFire)26) Buccaneers (FlJoe)27) Cardinals (green1us)28) Payments (Leo Bedio)29) Lions (MrOilman)30) Ravens (LancGuy)31) 49ers (SakPrescott)32) Chiefs (Hoosinole)

Now it’s time so that you can vote for who YOU assume must be chosen within the 2024 BGN Group Consensus Mock Draft.

1) Bears: QB Caleb Williams2) Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels3) Patriots: QB Drake Maye4) Cardinals: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.5) Chargers: WR Malik Nabers6) Giants: WR Rome Odunze7) Titans: OT Joe Alt8) Falcons: EDGE Dallas Turner9) Bears: OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu10) Jets: TE Brock Bowers11) Vikings: QB J.J. McCarthy12) Broncos: QB Bo Nix13) Raiders: OT Taliese Fuaga14) Saints: OT Troy Fautanu15) Colts: CB Quinyon Mitchell16) Seahawks: DT Byron Murphy17) Jaguars: CB Terrion Arnold18) Bengals: