Minnesota Vikings Showing Interest in Pass-Rusher with 21.5 Sacks

Murphy is coming off one of the most dominant seasons of his collegiate career, logging a career-high eight sacks while producing 38 total tackles and breaking up two passes.

As Garafolo points out, Murphy is expected to be a potential day-three prospect but could add significant value along Minnesota’s front seven, especially after losing Danielle Hunter in free agency.

Last season, the Vikings finished ranked 18th in the NFL in pass-rush win rate, according to ESPN, at 40 percent, while adding just 43 sacks, the 19th most in the league. It wouldn’t be the least bit surprising to see Minnesota look to bolster the pass rush during the NFL Draft.

Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Scouting Report

At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Muprhy is a high-motor player.

Across his five seasons at UCLA, Murphy produced 21.5 sacks with 149 total tackles, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and six pass breakups.

“He’s short-armed,” NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein writes of Murphy. “Which will worry teams on the pro level, but his hands are so sudden and polished that it tends to ease concerns. He works his hands and feet in perfect harmony to elude blockers like a shifty runner eluding tacklers.

“Murphy could struggle to survive against run blockers who square him up, but he typically finds a way to slither out of sustain attempts on the collegiate level”

Why Minnesota Vikings Could Target Murphy

Minnesota is banking on the offseason additions of Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman at linebacker to help soften the blow from losing Hunter, but, Murphy could be an ideal rotational pass-rusher who could contribute quality snaps immediately.

Pro Football Focus points out that Murphy added 40 quarterback pressures during the 2023 campaign while garnering an elite 87.6 pass-rush grade from the outlet along with an 18.4 pass-rush win rate, which is in the upper echelon of edge rushers in this year’s draft class.