Commanders 7-round 2024 NFL mock draft: Filling needs edition

Commanders draft Byron Murphy II

• Defensive Tackle | Texas Longhorns
• No. 100 overall

I’m not sure why formidable defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is falling on most draft boards you see dotted across the media heading into the assessment stage. I think he is too good a value to pass up here, even though I had no intention of going with an interior defensive lineman this early.

Murphy provides great push from an interior position. I think he is still kind of inconsistent and he doesn’t have elite traits, but he can be a very disruptive force in the middle.

With Phidarian Mathis’ future very much in question after another anonymous campaign from the former second-round pick, it's a nice insurance policy to call upon. There also wouldn't be that much pressure on the Texas prospect to produce immediately thanks to the presence of the starting tandem of Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

Murphy could provide great support to Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne in the middle. But if the former ends up requesting a trade once the offseason arrives, the defensive tackle position becomes an even greater need for the Washington Commanders.

There are a lot of unknowns right now. But Murphy represents good value at this stage of the draft.

Others to consider: Matt Goncalves, Kiran Amegardjie, Tate Ratledge.