Three Thoughts on Bengals First Round Pick Myles Murphy

Cincinnati took the Clemson product with the 28th pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

CINCINNATI — The Bengals took Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Some were surprised they didn't take Notre Dame tight end Michael Meyer. Others wanted Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith. Here are my thoughts on the decision to go with Murphy and what he brings to the Bengals' defense:

Young, Athletic and Productive

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Murphy is only 21-years-old and the Bengals' pass rush needed help. 

Cincinnati had the fourth-fewest sacks (30) in the NFL last season. Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard are the anchors on the edge, but Murphy gives Cincinnati another young edge to pair with Joseph Ossai. 

In an ideal world, the tandem of Murphy and Ossai would be able to spell Hendrickson and Hubbard on a regular basis. 

It would be nice for Cincinnati to have a real pass rush off the edge, even when Hendrickson is on the sideline. 

Keeping him fresh and healthy is important. Hendrickson's played through back and wrist injuries in recent seasons. If he's 100% going into the playoffs, it would be a huge win for a team hoping to win a Super Bowl. 

Athleticism and Production

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Murphy is an elite athlete—or at least he looked like one during the pre-draft process. 

He ran a 4.53 40-yard dash at 268 pounds. He's quick, has explosion and has the physical tools to be a successful four-down defensive end in the NFL. 

Murphy produced at Clemson, finishing with 139 tackles and 17.5 sacks in three seasons, but he wasn't dominant. Can he develop his pass rush arsenal to take a few steps forward in the pros? Will he be one of those players that's even better in the NFL than they were in college?

“There’s still room to grow," Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said. "He’s played three effective years there at Clemson (and) done a great job for them academically and on the field. He seems very mature from our experiences with him. He’ll fit right in. He’s still 21 years old and there’s still some development to be had, and that’s exciting”

It's also worth noting that Murphy tested in the 97th percentile among defensive ends since 1987 according to RAS.Football. 

He's more athletic than Hubbard was coming into the NFL at nearly the same size. 

Final Thoughts

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Murphy should become a quality, every down player for the Bengals. As a rookie, he'll be a piece of a defensive line rotation that certainly feels much deeper with him on the roster. 

Adding him was good value, but it wasn't like last year when a top guy fell into their laps at No. 31. 

There's a lot to like about this pick. Yes, they passed on Mayer, but he wasn't a true contender for the Bengals in the first round. 

Cincinnati was all-in on addressing the defense with the 28th pick. There were scenarios where they ended up with an offensive tackle or Utah tight end Dalton Kincaid. They also really liked Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

Those guys would've always taken a back seat to the top cornerbacks and defensive linemen the Bengals had on their board. 

Cincinnati was hoping they'd be able to address a premium position on defense with the 28th pick and that's exactly what they did on Thursday night. 

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