NFL Mock Draft: Ravens Take Texas Standout Byron Murphy II
The Baltimore Ravens had one of, if not the best defense in football this season under Mike Macdonald as the unit terrorized offenses all year.
Now with Macdonald taking his talents to Seattle, the Ravens defensive scheme will look a little different with Zach Orr as the new defensive coordinator, and with two studs in Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen set to hit free agency, more change could be on the way.
But in CBS Sports' latest mock draft, the Ravens add another beast along the defensive line in Texas standout Byron Murphy II.
"Players who can collapse the pocket and pressure the QB from the interior are a wonderful thing to have, and Murphy is capable of doing it," CBS Sports writes. Like Jer'Zhan Newton, there will be concerns about his size, but Murphy uses that size to his advantage by getting leverage. He possesses a great first step and often shoots the gap before his blocker can get his hands on him."
Jerome Miron, USA TODAY
In Murphy II, the Ravens are getting one of the best run-stoppers in the draft. Not only that, but he also hunts quarterbacks for fun, registering five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss which was a career-high.
Murphy II has outstanding athletic ability and slotting him along the Ravens defensive line adds another fast, quick, and dangerous player who can disrupt games in the blink of an eye.
While he is still considered a little raw, coming to Baltimore is the ideal place for him to hone his craft and perhaps in Orr's system, he could flourish.
Selecting Murphy II won't win any flashy awards in the eyes of fans, but it would be a smart pick for the Ravens, who are known for having superb defenses, and with the Texas standout coming to Baltimore, that could easily continue.
