Myles Murphy Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

School: Clemson (Junior)

Position: EDGE

HT: 6’5

WT: 275 lbs

Sideline Prospect Ranking: #22

Myles Murphy is an absolute unit. He is a strong player and as an edge rusher he is able to stiff the run incredibly well. He is a 3 dimensional edge player as he is good for passing and rushing downs. He has full control of his power and weight which allows him to remain upright in the trenches and power through his blockers. He has a variety of pass rush moves, including a lethal spin move, that will give opposing tackles plenty to think about at the point of attack. Murphy can win consistently with either speed or power off the edge. That aforementioned speed allows for Myles to be able to chase down a quarterback even if he has moved too far upfield in his rush. Murphy has been a key piece for an elite Clemson defense since he stepped foot on campus as a true freshman, and while he is a talented player, you could argue that his best ability is availability as he has played in every game he has been eligible for. Murphy never is caught pushing himself too far up field and is able to diagnose run plays with adequate quickness. Murphy is one of the strongest pound-for-pound players in the draft, benching 405 lbs. This contributes to his incredible versatility along the defensive line. Murphy has the quickest and most violent hands among the edge rushers, he is able to use his upper body to push through the blocker. Oftentimes, these blockers have tried to use aggressive hands against Murphy and that simply doesn’t work.

When it comes to areas of improvement for Murphy, he has become slightly uncreative when it comes to his pass rushing moves and relies on his pure strength to get to the backfield, which works for him in college, but will not work in the next level. As Murphy is a strong player, he doesn’t possess the adequate lateral quickness that you would like to see from a top tier edge rusher. While his lateral quickness isn’t up to par, he also lacks appropriate bend off the edge. He can’t dip his hips real low as he often stiffens up while shedding blocks. He is able to pick up speed fairly well for his size, but it is more straight line speed and he has a tough time shifting that in a new direction when reacting to the play in front of him. Murphy can end up being a really good find for an organization, but his hype seems to be due to his natural size and strength.

He has not shown enough on tape to warrant being one of the top 3 defensive players in the draft. Myles Murphy could be a stud with his physical frame and resume. If he goes to the right situation, he will be an impact starter right away.

Scheme FIt: Even Front with blitzing tendencies

Ideal Role: 3-point stance edge rusher

Best Team Fits: LVR, ATL, HOU

Player Comparison: Khalil Mack

Player Grade: 85.1