2024 NFL Draft prospect profile: Byron Murphy II, iDL, Texas

Could the Giants really pair Murphy with Dexter Lawrence?

The Texas Longhorns fielded one of the most dangerous interior defensive lines in the country this past year. The duo of Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat formed the core of a good defense and gave offensive lines fits all year long.

While Sweat’s mammoth physique garnered the most casual attention, Murphy may be the more dangerous defender.

The New York Giants already have their own big DT in Dexter Lawrence, and they may look to find him some more help on the interior. Could the Giants possibly land Murphy? Or will the value just not line up for them?

Prospect: Byron Murphy II (90)
Games Watched: vs. Alabama (2023), vs. Kansas (2023), vs. Oklahoma (2023), vs. Kansas State (2023)

Measurables

Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.football

Strengths

• Hand usage
• Competitive toughness
• Explosiveness
• Leverage

Byron Murphy is a compact, powerful, explosive, athletic, skilled, and tough defensive tackle.

Murphy has a stocky, powerful build at 6-foot, 297 pounds with 32 ⅜ inch arms. He carries his weight very well with obvious strength in his upper and lower halves and precious little of his nearly 300 pounds is “sloppy” weight.

Murphy’s natural leverage plays well with his explosive power and he’s a headache for any interior offensive lineman tasked with blocking him. He keys the snap very well and does a great job of firing out of his stance hard and fast with good leverage. He’s definitely a fast-twitch athlete who generates power immediately and also has the agility to change direction suddenly.

Most defenders with Murphy’s athletic profile are able to win through sheer power and “out athleting” their opponents. Murphy, by contrast, comes to the NFL with a solid technical foundation and already understands how to win with his hands. He bases his game around his power and explosive first step, but also uses a wide range of pass rush moves to counter his power and he understands how to rush with a plan. Murphy will often use his power to set blockers up for speed counters later in the game.

He’s obviously disruptive in the backfield, penetrating or collapsing pockets while also being able to make plays off of blockers in the run game. Murphy also shows fantastic competitive toughness in multiple phases. Not only is he willing to eat blocks when double-teamed or fight through multiple blockers when rushing the passer, but he’s also willing to pursue ball carriers across the field.

Weaknesses

• Length

There are very few real weaknesses in Murphy’s game.

Teams’ biggest concern may well be with his overall length. He’s only in the second percentile for height among defensive tackles and his arms are in the 22nd percentile. That does give opposing tackles the opportunity to get their hands on him first despite his explosiveness and general athletic advantage. By the same token, his height limits the amount of muscle he can carry without sacrificing athleticism and his frame is likely maxed out.

Particularly good technicians can deal with Murphy’s own hand usage while anchoring against his bull rush. That shouldn’t be a big or wide-spread problem at the NFL level, but it’s something of which teams (and Murphy) should be aware.

It’s possible that teams with particularly strict thresholds could move him down draft boards due to his height or arm length.

Game Tape

(Murphy is Texas iDL number 90)

Projection

Byron Murphy projects as a starting defensive tackle in a 1-gap defense, and should be able to seize a starting job immediately.

Murphy enters the NFL with a great foundation and an understanding of how to use his athletic traits to his advantage – not to mention the play demeanor to mix it up in the trenches with NFL vets. Some teams may be a bit wary of Murphy’s relative lack of length and likely maxed out frame. Likewise, teams that run a relatively high rate of 2-gap defenses or look for defensive linemen to eat blocks for edge defenders or blitzers might not get the most out of him.

However, he should be a disruptive defender as a rookie as long as he’s put in position to attack into the backfield as a defensive tackle in an even, odd, or multiple defensive front.

Does he fit the Giants?
Yes, though they may not have the chance to draft him

Final Word: A first round value