Everyone and their mother seem to agree Atlanta is targeting Houston DL Ed Oliver with their first-round pick in this year’s NFL draft. Most mocks are projecting Atlanta will take him at No. 14 or even trade up into the top 10 to make sure they get him.
This week, we have a new narrative to celebrate. In Doug Farrar’s first mock draft of 2019, he has the Falcons picking Washington cornerback Byron Murphy at No. 14 overall instead. Here’s what Farrar had to say about the Huskies corner.
“The Falcons’ defense fell apart last season due to a number of injuries, but the cornerbacks who played weren’t exactly lights-out. . . Murphy, who was dominant in one of the NCAA’s best defenses, allowed less than half the passes thrown to his area to be caught, and he’s also a top-notch run defender. He’d be a perfect fit in Quinn’s defense, which requires cornerbacks to play multiple roles and cover a ton of ground.”
On the surface, Murphy makes a good fit for Atlanta’s secondary. There has been a strong pipeline of Washington cornerbacks into the NFL in recent years, in particular to Seattle and Atlanta. While Desmond Trufant had a tough season in 2018, he’s still one of the better cornerbacks in the league and he will likely bounce back next year.
Pairing Trufant with another long-term starter to upgrade over Robert Alford is an enticing prospect. While Isaiah Oliver showed some promise as a rookie, he’s still unpolished and has much to learn.
Murphy checks in at 5-foot-11 and 182 pounds with the requisite long arms and swagger every pro corner needs. Here’s a look at his college tape.
Murphy vs. Ohio State
Murphy vs. Penn State
Murphy vs. Utah
Murphy played in 20 games at Washington, posting a total of 20 pass breakups, six interceptions and seven tackles for a loss.
