The 2024 NFL Draft may be over, but there's still plenty of work to be done when it comes to finding hidden gems in the undrafted free agent signing period.
It looks like the Minnesota Vikings have done just that with UCLA pass rusher, Gabriel Murphy, as well. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Murphy is signing with the Vikings after going undrafted.
It's wild to think about, considering Murphy had a mid-round grade from many of the top experts in the game. In fact, The Athletic's Dane Brugler gave Davis a fourth-round grade, yet he completely fell out of the draft.
"Overall, Murphy’s lack of length and desired size will be tougher to mask at the next level, but he was a pass-rushing nuisance in college, because of his skilled hands and quick feet. He has the juice to make an impact as a subpackage rusher who can also play on special teams." - Dane Brugler, The Athletic
It's even more surprising when considering Murphy's overall athleticism. His RAS (relative athletic score) was one of the highest, at 9.23 out of 10, entering Day 3, which should've prompted teams to pull the trigger. Instead, he fell into the Vikings' lap after the draft.
It's not like a lack of production in 2023 held Murphy back, either. He finished the year with 16.0 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks - which is plenty of production that warrants a draft pick.
Granted, Murphy is a bit undersized and he lacks the desired length that comes with elite players at the position. He can also be pretty undisciplined and it's fair to question how much of his success came because of No. 15 overall pick, Laiatu Latu, playing opposite of him.
Either way, the Vikings may have found their post-draft hidden gem and if so, Murphy can turn a lot of heads in the foreseeable future.
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