The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information.
Here's our report on Gabriel Murphy.
Gabriel Murphy's 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS
- Height: 6'2"
- Weight: 247 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 4.68
- 10-yard split: 1.59
- Vertical jump: 39.5"
- Broad jump: 10'3"
Gabriel Murphy 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT
STRENGTHS
- Extensive experience playing multiple defensive line positions. Deployed as a moveable chess piece, depending on the front.
- Natural quickness and suddenness to his movement that was evident no matter where he lined up in the front.
- Showed outstanding off-the-ball quickness and lateral movement. Had offensive linemen lunging at air and falling to their knees.
- Showed higher level athleticism as an edge pass rusher with quick light feet and active, purposeful, explosive hands.
- Go-to move off the ball was arm over swim move which, combined with natural quickness, caused issues for offensive linemen.
- Club rip move and one arm stab as an edge rusher. Quick clean hand usage to play off contact and clear the edge.
- Showed lateral quickness and speed-to-power combination to beat guards and get to the quarterback. Puts guards in reactive mode.
- Consistently beat guards in the run game with a combination of quickness and short-area strength to control and displace.
- Made plays in the run game outside the box with lateral range and pursuit. Worked effectively down the line of scrimmage
- Overall, showed higher level elusive lateral quickness regardless of where he lined up in the defensive front.
WEAKNESSES
- Short arms will worry many NFL teams and scare off others. His size profile may limit his deployment
- Not a point-of-attack run defender who can control and displace offensive linemen or make plays in the run game. Lacks enough mass.
- Will strength be an overall issue at the next level, given his size and arm length? Can he play off contact effectively?
NFL TRANSITION
Murphy will be appealing to many teams as you project and transition him to the next level with his position versatility as a movable chess piece. His natural quickness and suddenness was evident no matter where he lined up in the defensive front and he was especially dynamic versus guards when he lined up inside at three-technique and 4i. The question is whether or not he can align inside in the NFL at less than 250 pounds.
His size profile and short arms will likely limit the number of teams that see him as a viable player in the NFL. But his athletic traits, pass rush ability and experience as a movable chess piece will get the more creative defensive coordinators excited in their sub defenses.
Murphy, at his size, would likely be seen as an OLB in a 5-2 base front. But it is more than likely that early in his career he would only play in sub-fronts and be used in multiple positions as a pass rusher, picker and looper in stunt games where his athleticism and lateral quickness would be maximized. There is no question he could be deployed as a standup Joker in the middle of the defense, in sub-fronts, and work against interior lineman where his quickness advantage really stood out on film.
Overall, Murphy is a sudden, explosive, relatively refined and polished player with strong pass-rush traits who can line up in multiple positions in the defensive front. That is always in demand in the NFL. While Murphy’s size and length limitations could negatively impact how some teams see him, his positive traits outweigh that. His position versatility in multiple front alignments, and his pass-rush traits will find him a place at the next level.
Other Notes
Murphy played three seasons at North Texas with 15 starts in 24 games before transferring to UCLA and playing his final two college seasons. Murphy started all 26 games in his two years at UCLA.
Murphy was the movable chess piece in the UCLA defensive front, lining up in multiple positions depending on personnel and alignment. He lined up inside on significant snaps in UCLA’s defensive front alignments and he had good success beating guards with his quickness. His sack versus USC showed the natural power Murphy has as a pass rusher, attacking the inside shoulder of the left tackle and working through the running back.
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