Myles Murphy Draft Profile – 2023 NFL Draft

Myles Murphy NFL Draft Scouting Report Introduction

As the NFL draft approaches, many are buzzing about the potential impact of Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy. With a rare combination of size, length, explosion, and fluidity, Murphy has all the makings of a scheme-versatile defender who will cause headaches for offensive tackles. But it’s not just his physical abilities that have experts talking, it’s also the growth and development he’s shown throughout his college career.

Murphy was a highly sought-after recruit coming out of Hillsgrove High School in Powder Springs, GA, where he was listed as a top-10 recruit nationally and garnered interest from top programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Despite the competition, he chose to play for the Clemson Tigers, where he quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with. In his very first game as a true freshman, he recorded two sacks and was named a Freshman All-American by ESPN.

As impressive as his debut was, it was just the beginning. Throughout the course of his three seasons in college, Murphy continued to develop and improve, becoming a more dominant player with each passing game.

He finished his college career as a dominant force on the field during the 2022 season. He was recognized for his impressive performance by being named a First-Team All-ACC selection and received additional accolades as a Second-Team All-ACC honoree by the Associated Press and a Third-Team All-ACC selection by Phil Steele.

Throughout the course of the season, the Clemson edge rusher recorded 45 tackles, including 11 for loss, and a team-high 6.5 sacks. He also contributed three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Murphy played in 580 defensive snaps over 13 games, starting in 11 of them, and was named the 33rd-best player in college football for 2022 by ESPN.

Myles Murphy 2023 NFL Draft Profile

At 6’5″ and 275 pounds, Murphy has the prototypical build for a 4-3 end, but he has also shown the versatility to play in different fronts and alignments. He’s comfortable dropping into zone coverage and even taking on spy responsibilities, but his true strengths lie in his ability to get after the quarterback and act as an every-down defensive end.

 

Myles Murphy forty yard dash- 4.5 seconds

Player Comparison- Bradley Chubb

 

Scouting Report- Strengths

One of the biggest reasons for Murphy’s success is his arsenal of tools and traits. He has long arms and active hands that can keep offensive tackles occupied, and he’s not afraid to use a variety of counters to get past blockers. He also has powerful hands that allow him to manufacture creases and slip-off blocks, and his movement skills, including a potent first step and the ability to flatten the edge, make him a formidable presence on the field.

Murphy is not a pure speed pass rusher but uses his size and good hands to get off blocks to create pressure and contribute in the run game as well. For his size, he moves very well and is a good athlete; he is a true three-down player. He doesn’t sellout to pass rush and makes tackles against the run well. He’s arguably a more well-rounded defensive end than Will Anderson Jr.

Scouting Report- Weaknesses

Murphy is not a quick twitch, speed edge rusher. Our player comparison is Bradley Chubb, but a more recent draft selection that’s also similar is last year’s first-round pick, Travon Walker. Will Anderson Jr. is the speed edge rusher at the top of the draft, but our 2nd ranked at this position is the Clemson stand out.

Myles Murphy 2023 NFL Draft Summary

It may take a few years for him to fully adjust to the NFL and find his footing as a sacks producer, but by season three, it’s not hard to imagine Murphy completely changing the look and feel of his team’s defensive front. With his rare blend of athletic tools and traits, there is no limit to what he can accomplish.

While there are certainly areas where Murphy still needs to improve, such as finishing plays and transitioning in his rush counters more quickly, there is no doubt that he has the potential to be a game-changer on the defensive front.

With consistent production and steady development under his belt, as well as glowing reviews as both a player and a person, there are many reasons to buy into the hype around Myles Murphy.

He consistently improved in each of his three seasons at Clemson and there’s no reason why he couldn’t do the same at the NFL level.

Plus Side:

• Day 1 impact starter
• Tackles and sacks, three down defensive end
• Great hands could form basis of elite pass rushing skills

Negatives:

• Needs to work on finishing plays
• Build up an arsenal of pass rushing moves
• Steeper angles when setting the edge

NFL teams will be clamoring over the Clemson Tigers defensive end Myles Murphy. We have him as the 7th overall ranked player on our draft big board and 4th defensive lineman behind Will Anderson Jr. (1st), Jalen Carter (2nd), and Tyree Wilson (3rd).