Last season, the Texas Longhorns were fortunate to have Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat, two of the best defensive tackles in college football, who caused havoc against opposing offensive lines. Both players have therefore been predicted to be first-round selections at some time, with Murphy placing as high as No. 5 in several mock drafts. Murphy will undoubtedly be a highly sought-after prospect, even though No. 5 could be a stretch.
This was confirmed by NFL.com’s most recent mock draft, in which expert Eric Edholm predicted Murphy would go in the first round’s top half.
Against the Denver Broncos this time, at No. 12. “I know many will pine for a quarterback, but I think the Broncos will be hard-pressed to land a worthy talent at the position in this lofty draft slot,” said Edholm. “Instead, they could pivot to upgrading the interior D-line with an explosive penetrator such as Murphy, even if this feels a tad high for him.” This season, Murphy added two offensive touchdowns to his career total of 68 stops, 15 tackles for loss, and eight sacks.
He had a key role in leading Texas’s 2023 rushing defense, which gave up the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (80.8). Murphy placing among the top 15 in the opening round would be a sight to behold for fans in Texas. Whatever his time away from the rink, Murphy will aim to make an impression right away as a rookie.
