Assessing Washington Redskins first-round options: CB Byron Murphy
By Ian Cummings
Scouting Murphy
When you look for a cornerback, generally, you want an able cover man. The priority with cornerbacks is defending the pass by taking away receiving options, and there’s perhaps no cornerback in the 2019 NFL Draft who does this better than Byron Murphy. Earlier in the season, I proclaimed Greedy Williams as the No. 1 cornerback in the draft. Murphy has since changed my opinion.
From 2017 to 2018, Murphy improved his knowledge of the game and his on-field awareness, and it showed on tape. From the albeit limited sample I watched, Murphy was absolutely dominant. In Washington’s conference championship matchup versus Utah, Murphy was targeted five times. He allowed no completions and logged two interceptions. In fact, over the course of a three-game sample from 2018, he did not allow a single completion.
So how does Murphy perform so well in coverage? It’s a culmination of things, but the root word that Murphy can be associated with is “quickness”. Murphy has outstanding lateral quickness, and incredibly loose hips. His ability to move his hips quickly allows him to avoid backpedaling in coverage, instead keeping his head around as he runs with a receiver.
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Often, cornerbacks can fall into a bad habit, where they backpedal at the start of the rep, only to fall behind when they finally flip their hips to follow their man. Murphy, however, flips his hips at the start of his reps, using his flexibility to shadow his receiver, and his hip quickness to flip when he needs to. This gives Murphy maximum mobility and recovery potential. It also makes it easier for Murphy to shift from man to man with ease, if he finds himself between two route stems.
Murphy’s physical quickness hones and collaborates with his mental quickness to create a surefire defensive weapon. Murphy’s footwork, in terms of pace and precision, is elite, and when he sees a receiver breaking in or out, his closing speed is lethal. He did have some minor trouble with comeback routes in the tape, but even there, he provides little leeway. Murphy is like a blanket in man coverage, making the most of the opportunities that come his way.
While we’re on the subject of opportunities, let’s talk about Murphy’s ball skills. In just two years as a starter for the Washington Huskies, Murphy logged six interceptions and 20 pass deflections. Murphy always knows where the ball is, and has the coordination and length to make a play on it whenever it comes his way.
There are some minor concerns with Murphy. At 6-foot-0, 175, he’s undersized for the NFL, and he can be easily controlled in run defense, and versus screens. In a three-game sample, teams frequently schemed screens to Murphy’s side of the field, as Murphy’s slender frame had trouble breaking free from blocks. Don’t let Murphy’s size fool you, however. While it gets the best of him occasionally, it doesn’t take away from his willingness to tackle. He can straight-up lay the wood.
Murphy checks plenty of boxes as a future starting NFL cornerback, but the most important one is easily his ability to move. It sounds simple, but being able to move effortlessly, and turn one’s hips at a moment’s notice, without sacrificing space, is an invaluable trait in the NFL. And Murphy has it. His movement is incredibly fluid and abrupt. If he can even add ten pounds, he’ll be a nightmare for opposing receivers for years to come. His floor? Solid starter. Ceiling? Perennial All-Pro.
Tape Watched:
Byron Murphy vs. Arizona State (2018)
Byron Murphy vs. Utah – PAC 12 Conference Championship (2018)
Byron Murphy vs. Utah – Regular Season (2018)
Other Resources Used:
2019 NFL Draft Player Profile: Byron Murphy – The Draft Network