Defensive end Myles Murphy. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals draft 'freakish' edge-rusher with pick No. 28

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 4/28/23

It only took the Bengals about a minute to turn in their first-round draft selection on night one, adding another quarterback hunter to their defense.

With pick No. 28 in the 2023 NFL Draft, Cincinnati drafted Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy. He becomes the first defensive lineman the Bengals have drafted in the first round since 2001.

Clemson DE Myles Murphy is the first defensive lineman the Bengals have drafted in the first round since 2001.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 28, 2023

Murphy, who is 21, totaled 115 tackles, 17.5 sacks and five forced fumbles from 2020-22.

"Murphy is too freaky to pass up. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is this year's version of Travon Walker," Pro Football Focus writes. If that's true, Cincinnati may have gotten a steal at the end of round one.

The Clemson product now joins edge rushers Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson, who combined for 14.5 sacks in 2022, in an already talented room.

"You can never have enough D-lineman and we feel like we got a really good one that's going to add to the mix for us and really compliment the guys we have," head coach Zac Taylor told reporters.

Zac Taylor on why the Bengals took Myles Murphy: pic.twitter.com/81wy2I26zc
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) April 28, 2023

Many believed the Bengals would go offense in the first round, but with pick Nos. 60 and 92 still to come on day two, Cincinnati has plenty of time to add to QB Joe Burrow's arsenal by the end of the weekend.

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