The 2023 NFL draft is less than one week away, and we here at Commanders Wire will look to profile multiple 2023 prospects daily leading up to day one of the draft.
We will focus on prospects who could be available for Washington and who fit a position of need. Our prospect profiles will not be exclusive to projected first-round picks only but also players who will be selected on the second and third days of the NFL draft.
The Commanders are first on the clock at No. 16 overall.
Today, we profile Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy.
The numbers
Size: 6-foot-5, 268 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.52 seconds
Arms: 33 3/4″
Hands: 8 1/2″
Vertical jump: 31″
Broad jump: N/A
10-yard split: 1.61 seconds
Murphy was unable to participate at the NFL combine or at Clemson’s pro day due to injury. The above times were recorded at Murphy’s private workout.
Scouting report
Murphy has great size, athleticism and college production. He has the ability to set the edge in the running game, something that is important to Washington’s coaches. Murphy isn’t explosive as either of Washington’s starting edge rushers, Chase Young or Montez Sweat.
Here’s Lance Zierlein of NFL.com’s scouting report on Murphy:
Murphy has excellent size/traits and has been consistently productive in impact categories for three straight years. He plays with a plus motor and good first-step quickness, but his game isn’t really twitchy or explosive. He has finishing talent when he’s inside the pocket, but he needs to vary his rush angles and find an effective inside counter, as NFL tackles will be expecting his long-arm bull-rush technique. Murphy’s length and post-up strength could provide the scheme and positional versatility that puts him on every draft board. The traits and upside are there, but his skill level needs a boost to push the ceiling higher.
College stats
2020: Murphy appeared in 12 games, making six starts and recorded 51 tackles, including 12 for loss, three forced fumbles and four sacks. Murphy was named a freshman All-American.
2021: Played in 10 games, finished with 43 tackles, with 14 for loss, seven sacks and two forced fumbles. Murphy was named to the second-team All-ACC team.
2022: Murphy played in 13 games, recorded 40 tackles, 11 for loss and 6.5 sacks. Murphy was a first-team All-ACC selection.
Highlights
Fit with Commanders
Murphy wouldn’t start for the Commanders as a rookie in 2023. If drafted by Washington, it would definitely mean the Commanders were moving on from either Sweat or Young after the 2023 season. Sweat is a free agent, while Washington is still debating on whether or not to pick up Young’s fifth-year option for 2024.
Washington brought Murphy in for a visit. I’m skeptical the Commanders would take any pass rusher at No. 16 overall, but if they move down and a pass rusher is No. 1 on their board, it’s a possibility. Murphy would likely play in a rotation with James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill and Efe Obada behind Young and Sweat in 2023.
