2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Byron Murphy II

Strengths

• Short, stout frame gives him a natural leverage advantage
• Plus athlete with explosive traits and a quick first step
• Uses athleticism laterally and vertically to disrupt at the line of scrimmage
• Plays with natural violence and tenacity at the point of attack
• Has developed multiple pass-rush moves and can use and stack them within his pass-rush plan
• Exciting combination of explosiveness, loose hips, and torque generation
• Powerful upper body allows him to throw and rip through blockers
• Instinctive football player with a natural feel for the flow of traffic
• Often finds ways to win, even on reps that start poorly

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent hand usage, gets caught up playing patty cake on occasion
• Lacks the anchor and lower-body power to stand up to double teams consistently
• Power from NFL blockers could give him issues as a run defender
• Feast or famine against the run, typically winning as a gap shooter
• Likely to play from a wider alignment at the NFL level
• Ends up on the ground too often due to his frenetic play style
• Creates chaos but often struggles to finish with a sack, TFL, or tackle
• Played on a heavy rotation with only 438 snaps in 2023, ranking 169th amongst FBS DTs

Final Thoughts and Chicago Bears Fit for Byron Murphy II

Murphy has a top-50 grade from me. He has a lot to gain or lose from the NFL Combine, though. If he comes in over 300 pounds with a strong showing in explosiveness testing, I could see him sneaking into the first round. But if he weighs below 300 pounds or struggles in explosiveness testing, I could see him fall.

On tape, Murphy brings violence, energy, and burst to the table. He shows impressive pass-rush acumen and a knack for making plays. His ceiling would be as an impact pass-rushing three-technique, with his floor being a situational pass rusher who comes off the field on running downs. I think he has the strength to be a three-down player, but his anchor will be tested often at the next level.

Murphy would be an excellent fit for the Chicago Bears under Matt Eberflus' scheme. He fits the pass-rushing mold the Bears desire at the three-technique position. Murphy could replace Justin Jones on the Bears' defensive line, but I have a hard time seeing Ryan Poles invest more Day 2 capital on the defensive front after selecting Gervon Dexter Sr. and Zacch Pickens last year.

Pro Comp: Kobie Turner