Byron Murphy, top-5 pick? One NFL draft expert thinks so
Under Steve Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns have undone a number of NFL draft related narratives that have beleaguered the program in recent years. Last year, Bijan Robinson became the first Longhorn offensive player to be selected in the first round of the draft since Vince Young all the way back in 2006. During this year’s draft, one publication currently projects another Longhorn to match a standard set by Young.
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CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso released a new mock draft on Thursday that had Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy going to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 5 overall. If that were to come to fruition, Murphy would be the first Longhorn picked in the top five of the draft since Young and the 16th top-five pick in the history of the program.
The Chargers, with a new general manager in Joe Horitz and new head coach in Jim Harbaugh, are looking to bolster the interior of their defense. Trapasso believes Murphy is the man for the job.
New GM Joe Hortiz identifies the interior of the Chargers defensive line one of the team’s most glaring weaknesses, and Murphy is an uber-athletic and powerful penetrator.
Murphy, one of the youngest prospects in the entire 2024 draft class, was the only Longhorn in Trapasso’s 32-pick mock. The 2023 Big 12 defensive lineman of the year, a first-team All-Big 12 selection, and a second-team All-American according to the Associated Press, Sporting News, CBS Sports, ESPN, FOX Sports, Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Athlon Sports and Pro Football Focus, Murphy tallied 29 tackles with 8.5 for loss and 5.0 sacks for the Big 12 champion Longhorns in 2023. He also scored two touchdowns during Texas’ 2023 campaign. One was a receiving touchdown versus Wyoming, the other was a rushing touchdown versus Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
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Alongside Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat, Murphy dominated opposing offensive lines during the 2023 season and helped the Longhorns finish third in the nation in rush defense. The DeSoto (Texas) product finished his three-year Texas career with 70 tackles with 15.0 for loss and 8.0 sacks.
Texas has sent a number of defensive tackles to the draft, with several picked in the first round. The earliest a Longhorn DT has been selected in the draft was at No. 4 overall, when the Dallas Cowboys picked Scott Appleton in the 1964 draft. Others selected in the first round include Larry Stephens, Casey Hampton, Marcus Tubbs, and Malcom Brown.
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The Longhorns could have as many as 10 prospects selected during April’s draft, and other publications have given Murphy and some of his burnt orange brethren first-round billing. No one, however, has risen to the level of a top-five pick like Murphy did in Trapasso’s most recent mock draft.
