The Arizona Cardinals selected cornerback Byron Murphy with the 33rd overall pick in the 2019 draft and they believe they got a steal. They rated him as the top cornerback prospect in the draft and their No. 5 player overall.
They anticipate he will play early and right now is projected to be the team’s nickel cornerback. It is a role held previously by Budda Baker and Tyrann Mathieu.
With all the high hopes, he does not yet make the list of the league’s best nickel defenders.
Could he possibly make that list in a year after just one season?
That will depend on a lot of things.
First, the defensive scheme will have to be sound. The coverage in other parts of the secondary will have to be solid.
But if he is as good as the Cardinals believe, perhaps he can crack a similar list next offseason.
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