Saints 2023 Draft Prospect: Myles Murphy

A closer look at probable first-round pick Myles Murphy and his potential fit with New Orleans.

The New Orleans Saints traded three draft picks to move up in the 2018 NFL Draft to select DE Marcus Davenport with the 14th overall pick. Three years later, the Saints spent the 28th overall selection in the 2021 NFL Draft on DE Payton Turner. Neither pick has turned out how the team had hoped. 

Davenport has had some nice moments, but missed 22 games with injury over his first four years. Coming off the best year of his career in 2021, Davenport regressed badly last season. He had just a half sack, two tackles for loss, and was surpassed on the depth chart by Carl Granderson. 

Turner has been even worse. He's appeared in only 13 of a possible 34 contests with three sacks and eight tackles for loss. This has been mostly because of injuries, but it should also be noted that he was a healthy inactive in two games late last season. 

Davenport has departed in free agency and the team hopes that Turner breaks out in his third season. Granderson and Tanoh Kpassagnon are nice players, but franchise great Cam Jordan turns 34 this summer and is entering his 13th season. 

Could the Saints spend a first-round pick on a defensive end for the third time in six years? Today we profile a player who's been linked to New Orleans in several national mock drafts.

DE - Myles Murphy (Clemson)

6'5" 268-Lbs. (Jr.)

Oct 8, 2022; Clemson Tigers defensive end Myles Murphy (98) fights to get past Boston College Eagles offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo (70). Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

A national top-five high school prospect out of Georgia, Murphy had an instant impact as a freshman. His four sacks and team-high 12 tackles for loss earned him Freshman All-American accolades.

Second-team All-ACC honors were to follow in 2021 as Murphy gathered 7 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. He'd cap off his Clemson career with 6.5 sacks and 11 stops for loss in 2022, leading to 1st Team All-ACC recognition. 

Murphy combines a non-stop motor and outstanding reaction at the snap with ideal physical stature for the position. He's a lean, but muscular athlete with the frame to add more bulk. He'll need to play with better leverage and strength at the point of attack against mauling run blockers.

Murphy will also need to expand his moves as a pass rusher. Blockers can ride him outside of a play, so he'll have to improve his hand movement to put them back on their heels.

Murphy has a quick first step that gives him an advantage at the snap. He relentlessly crashes down on running plays to shut off cutback lanes, but outside of an effective spin move can have problems disengaging from blocks in pursuit. 

Once in the open, Murphy's long stride causes him to close on quarterbacks in an instant. His play strength could allow him to move inside in obvious passing situations. Despite a lack of ''go to'' moves as a pass rusher, Murphy will make a blocker work through the whistle on every play.

Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy (98) sacks NC State quarterback Devin Leary (13). © Ken Ruinard / USA TODAY NETWORK

More than just a speed rusher, Murphy has the arm strength and leverage to push a pocket back into the quarterback. This also applies in his run defense, as he rarely gets pushed backwards off the line. 

Murphy may be the third or fourth edge rusher selected and will almost certainly be a first-round pick.  If still there when the Saints pick at Number 29, his blend of size and athleticism could infuse youth into the team’s defensive end unit.