After selecting Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals have followed that up by selecting Washington cornerback Byron Murphy with the 33rd overall pick.
Murphy projects best as a nickelback at the next level. The five-foot-eleven, 190-pounder doesn’t have eye-popping length or Combine testing numbers, but his tape is that of a long-term starter at the next level. He is an incredibly instinctive cornerback who can diagnose plays and jump routes at a very high level. His ball skills are among the best in the class, as made evident by his six interceptions and 20 pass deflections in the past two seasons.
Arizona has Patrick Peterson lined up on the outside, but his status on the roster in the long run is uncertain. Plus, they don’t have a reliable nickel corner on the team at the moment. With this selection, the Cardinals pick up a potential cornerstone for their defense.
