Falcons Combine Interviews: Clemson DE Myles Murphy Has 'Good Conversation' with Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons have formally met with one of the 2023 NFL Draft's top defensive ends. Could Clemson Tigers defensive end Myles Murphy be a good fit for the Falcons pass rush?
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INDINAPOLIS -- The NFL Scouting Combine presents the first opportunity for teams to meet with some of the draft's top underclassmen - and the Atlanta Falcons have capitalized early at this year's event.

Speaking to Falcon Report, Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy confirmed that he had a formal interview with the Falcons in Indianapolis, meeting with both general manager Terry Fontenot and coach Arthur Smith.

Murphy, a native of Marietta, Georgia, is widely projected to be one of the top defensive ends in this year's class and has been commonly sent to the Falcons in mock drafts.

The 6-5, 276-pound Murphy had 17.5 sacks across three seasons at Clemson and earned first-team All-ACC honors this past season ... and he's already imagined donning the red and black in Atlanta.

"It's been a thought," Murphy said. "I've seen the mock drafts - some family members (and) cousins have showed me it ... I grew up watching the Falcons, my parents have been season ticket holders for them. It's a good feeling to have that formal interview with them, sit down with the GM, the coach.

"It was a good conversation."

Murphy, 21, starred at Hillgrove High School in Marietta and was ranked as the No. 1 player in Georgia by several outlets during his senior year.

While the Falcons won't solely select Murphy because he's a Georgia native, it's important to note that Fontenot mentioned Tuesday his team uses magnets to identify players that hail from the Peach State and that he's "excited" about the amount of "good players" at the Combine that come from the area.

And Murphy might just be atop that list - and could be on his way to having another "good conversation" with Fontenot, Smith and the rest of Atlanta's staff on draft night.


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Daniel Flick
DANIEL FLICK

Daniel Flick is an accredited NFL writer for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Daniel has provided boots-on-ground coverage at the NFL Combine and from the Atlanta Falcons' headquarters, among other destinations, and contributed to the annual Lindy's Sports Magazine ahead of the 2023 offseason. Daniel is a co-host on the 404TheFalcon podcast and previously wrote for the Around the Block Network and Georgia Sports Hospitality Media.