Myles Murphy is Underwhelming on Game Film

On December 14 Clemson’s Myles Murphy declared for the 2023 NFL Draft.

He got some bad advice.

That’s not what I think, it’s what his 2022 game film says.

He looked soft as tissue paper 70% of the time on pass and run plays, and he only turned it on when he wanted to.

Nothing scares me more as an evaluator.

Every NFL team owes it to themselves, and to their owner’s pocketbook to turn on these three games embedded into his report below before doing anything.

Two straight seasons of looking bad against the run

In preparation for this upcoming draft, I have been looking at two years worth of game film (when possible) on the top rated prospects. I’ve done this to gain and to provide a deeper perspective into the prospects full body of work.

🚩Through six games over two seasons, Murphy looked awful against the run🚩

For starters, he could care less about it.

From there, he missed numerous tackles.

To summarize, he consistently showed a tendency to be slow reacting and he lacks instincts against the run (he went the wrong direction of the play flow or lost track of the ball).

It was like watching Clemson play with 10 men on the field when they are out there defending the run.

Sure, in fairness, he got in on a few assists and piled on and he made a couple of easy run stops.

Outside of that, he was bad.

Pass rush ability

Thankfully for Murphy, God gave him talent as a pass rusher.

Murphy can rush the quarterback when he feels like it, which isn’t too often.

He normally comes off the defense’s right side, and wow does he look the part pre-snap with his high-cut chiseled athletic frame. He looks like a coiled spring pre-snap down in his four-point stance.

Murphy gets hung out to dry on the perimeter way too often. Flat-out he looked downright soft at times.

However, on the rare occasion he flips the switch, he showed he has the speed and power to bend the edge.

🚩The one issue he couldn’t overcome is how stiff he is, which got him run by the backside of the pocket and left him being able to adjust inward in time🚩

Buyer beware

Back in September, I put a third-round grade on him, “What’s Not to Love About Clemson’s Myles Murphy?”

In that article, I talked about how a team out there will fall in love with his highlight tape and pro day.

This all comes down to finding and acquiring prospects who can move the meter, and Murphy is not one of those prospects.

Prospects with high motors and low motors are infectious.

He’s another undependable name on the payroll that a team can’t win with.

#98 Myles Murphy 6-foot-5, 275 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Third-Round (I would not select him)

Bust Probability: High

Projected by 96.9% (up from 94.5% on September 19) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of December 21, 2022 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: NC State, Wake Forest and Syracuse (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 37 tackles (21 solo, 16 assists), 2 passes defended, 7 sacks, 1 forced fumble and (42 pressures cbssports.com)

2022 stats: 40 tackles (22 solo, 18 assists), 2 passes defended, 6.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and (8 pressures fansided.com and wltx.com)

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report:

Strong and athletic build with long arms and strength, but he is a lazy prospect with a sputtering motor. Can be slow off the snap at times. Tends to line up with hands down in the dirt in a four-point stance. Uses hands well, but chooses to get hung out to dry on the perimeter often. Showed he does have what it takes to bend the edge. Bullrush looked stronger this season. Just doesn’t do either too often. Limited pass rush moves. Flashed head fake and spin. Natural rigidity prevents him from making quick adjustments in the pocket and while defending the run. Takes a raincheck against the run and looks disinterested on a majority of reps. Able to drop into coverage and looks good doing it in short-range man and zone. Football doesn’t look that important to him.

Final words

Murphy is a hard pass for me.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.