We proceed our 2024 NFL Draft evaluate of draft prospects that would curiosity the Dallas Cowboys. At present we’re taking a look at defensive sort out Byron Murphy (Texas).
Byron Murphy IIDTTexas LonghornsJunior4-star recruitHeight- 6’1”Weight- 308 lbs
Historical past:Byron Murphy II was a four-star recruit and obtained 20 gives which included Georgia and LSU. He opted to remain in-state and enrolled with Texas in 2021.
In his freshman 12 months was a task participant on the sector for 321 snaps. He produced 11 pressures and two sacks as a cross rusher, and on run protection he made 15 tackles and three tackles for loss.
In 2022, Murphy performed extra of a task for the Longhorns, however was nonetheless enjoying as a rotational defender. He performed on 462 snaps and picked up 20 pressures and one sack on passing downs whereas making 26 tackles and three tackles for loss as a run defender.
In Murphy’s junior 12 months he actually got here into his personal. He performed 501 snaps for the Longhorns and was made a starter on the line of defense. He had 45 pressures and 5 sacks (second-most on staff in 2023). On run protection, Murphy made 29 tackles and eight tackles for loss (third-most on staff in 2023). He additionally scored twice on offense with one speeding landing and one receiving landing from the one-yard line. On the finish of the season, Murphy was named to Massive 12’s first-team and was awarded Massive 12’s Defensive Lineman of the 12 months, the primary Longhorn recipient of the award since Charles Omenihu in 2018. He’s additionally credited with enjoying in each recreation for Texas since becoming a member of the staff in 2021.
2023 Statistics:501 Complete snaps438 Defensive Snaps45 Complete Pressures 5 Sacks21 Defensive Stops29 Complete Tackles9 TFL0 Penalties
NFL Mix/Professional Day:TBD
Awards:All-Massive 12 First Crew (2023)Massive 12 Defensive Lineman of the 12 months (2023)
Scorecard:General- 93.8/100Tackling- 63/100Run Stopping- 85/100Pass Rush- 91/100Discipline- 99/100Speed- 87/100Strength-93/100Acceleration- 87/100Agility- 88/100
THE GOOD:
Has probably the greatest explosive first-steps among the many defensive linemen on this 12 months’s draft. That is his most elite trait.
Brings an aggressive mentality on each play.
Shoots gaps with unbelievable timing and accuracy.
Calls for double-team blocks as he defeats one-on-one linemen too persistently.
Clearly has excessive degree of understanding of the oppositions play and personnel. This exhibits his degree of dedication to watching tape.
Has an excellent vary of cross rush strikes.
Has constant hand placement.
Maintains good pad degree.
Excessive motor participant.
THE BAD:
For the function he can be anticipated to play within the NFL, he’s slightly undersized in peak, weight and arm size.
An odd tendency to cease his toes shifting when contacted. It’s as if his toes are all of a sudden rooted to the spot.
His over aggressive mentality typically leads him to overrun the play.
His athletic dominance in school means he lacks technical refinement as a cross rusher.
Not sufficient mass to defeat double-teams.
THE FIT:There’s completely each likelihood that Byron Murphy goes off the board as the primary defensive linemen on this 12 months’s draft. He has the talents and flexibility to play wherever on the road from nostril sort out to five-technique and achieve success within the NFL. Based mostly on simply his explosiveness and energy alone, he ought to get on the spot ends in his rookie season.
However Murphy does want teaching as a way to get an understanding that within the NFL his energy and acceleration will solely take him thus far. He has a stable set of cross rush strikes and his swim transfer is by far his finest instrument to win now. However he must study when to carry his floor and when to shoot the gaps. His greatest situation can be associated to scheme. On account of his measurement and magnificence of play, Murphy must play on an excellent entrance to supply him each likelihood of being hat-on-hat with an offensive lineman. He simply lacks the majority to play as defensive sort out on an odd entrance the place he would lose the elements of his recreation that makes him particular and get slowed down by double-team blocks.
His capability to acknowledge the play, set up a plan and deconstruct the opposition together with his arms and explosiveness makes him an thrilling participant that each one defensive coordinators will wish to unleash. Murphy is ready to have a productive profession within the NFL and make a Professional Bowl early on.
COMPARISON:-A shorter Larry Ogunjobi, Pittsburgh Steelers
GRADE:Early second-round/late-first-round grade
CONSENSUS RANKING:twenty second(Consensus rating based mostly on the common rating from 90 main scouting providers)
