INDIANAPOLIS -- The Arizona Cardinals need help along their defensive front, and the 2024 NFL Draft could be of great assistance.
Free agency will ultimately tell where the Cardinals could allocate their resources and efforts, and even if a big-name defensive player lands on the line of scrimmage, Arizona could use an early pick to continue beefing up the trenches.
Insert: Texas Longhorns DL Byron Murphy II, who is expected to go fairly early in the draft thanks to his versatility and burst despite being considered undersized for his position.
Part of Murphy's interview during his availability at the 2024 NFL Combine:
Murphy - considered to be the top defensive tackle prospect in the draft - says he has met with the Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons specifically, though Murphy stated he's met with "most" NFL teams.
Murphy was listed on our defensive prospect combine watchlist:
"Now with a chance to cement his status as one of the draft's best interior defensive linemen, it'll be up to Murphy Jr. to display his raw, physical talent. The one everyone will pay attention to is the bench press for obvious reasons, but you'll want to pay attention to his shuttle drills where he can display his cutting ability as well as the pure strength he has to knock down the dummies.
"A good Combine will all but secure Murphy Jr. into the first round and turn him into a target for the Cardinals with their second first-round pick."
Full lists for both sides of the ball:
More must-reads: