The Bengals landed a quality pass-rusher with the 28th overall pick in Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy.

As the No. 1 strong-side defensive end and No. 7 overall recruit in the class of 2020, Murphy chose Clemson over major schools such as Alabama and Georgia, the latter being where he grew up. He wasted little time making an impact, registering four sacks and a team-high 12 tackles for loss as a true freshman on an always stacked d-line for the Tigers. 

Murphy stayed the course for three years at Clemson to eventually become a first-round pick. There's plenty to get excited about when it comes to his background and attributes, but there's more to his profile than meets the eye. 

Myles Murphy

• Position: Defensive end
  
• Age: 21
• Height: 6' 5"
• Weight: 268
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.53
• 10-Yard Split: 1.59
• Vertical Jump: 31"
• Short Shuttle: 4.29
• Three-Cone: 7.21
• Bench Press: 25 

What he does well

Murphy's high ranking on the consensus big board is not surprising, as he does look the part for a traditional defensive end. He's got ideal size and uses it well. He wins with power and explosion, and finishes tackles. You'll find him chasing after plays and giving constant effort. 

What really stands out about Murphy is his explosiveness coupled with that motor. Here's what A to Z Sports' Tyler Browning says about his game:

Incredibly explosive off the snap, often beats TEs to their spot when they’re asked to down block, getting into the backfield. Can consistently wreak havoc in the backfield … High motor player, gives effort on every rep. Don’t have any questions here.

Where he can improve

The reason why Murphy didn't go as high as many expected is due to his production, and how he accumulated it. Murphy never finished with more than seven sacks in a season at Clemson, and his season-high for pressures was 42 back in 2021. He also doesn't have a lot of moves in his bag, which will make it tough for him to defeat better offensive tackles at the next level. 

The Athletic's Dane Brugler had this to say about some of Murphy's shortcomings:

Underdeveloped rush setup … doesn't show an array of moves or counters … finds himself too far upfield and not a natural hip flipper at the top of his rush … gets upright in the run game and can be moved by angle blocks.

Where he fits in

The Bengals are banking on Murphy continuing to develop his pass-rushing plan for when he'll be tasked to start in a year or two. He'll be asked to play multiple techniques along their multiple front, but his main focus will likely be spelling Trey Hendrickson at right defensive end, while occasionally sliding inside to 3-technique on obvious passing downs. 

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Murphy can push the pocket for now, and will hopefully play a more refined brand of pass rusher down the road as he matures into his role.