Myles Murphy set to meet with Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals likely have plenty of players on their minds in the first round this year. They sit at pick No. 28 with quite a few names that they’d be more than happy to see fall to them.

A name they may be hoping falls past where his is projected is Clemson Tigers edge defender Myles Murphy.

NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport broke the news Monday evening, adding that Murphy has additional interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons.

At 6-foot-5 and nearly 270 pounds, Murphy had one heck of a showing at the NFL Scouting Combine and his pro day. He has easily worked himself into Round 1 of this year’s draft. He is exactly what defensive coordinators dream of when they think of a defensive end.

Murphy needs to refine his pass-rushing a bit to be more prolific as a sack artist, but he has all the ability to hold his own in the running game. He also will come into the NFL as an adequate pass rusher. He would fit in great with the Cincinnati defense.

The Bengals currently have Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard starting at their edge spots with Joseph Ossai as a rotational pass rusher. However, Murphy could be a long-term starter for cheap on a team that won’t have gobs of money to throw at their defense like these last few seasons.

Hendrickson is under contract until the 2024 season. Cincinnati could part ways with the veteran after this season for $15 million in cap space and only a $2.5 dead cap. This would only come to fruition if Cincinnati absolutely needed the space and Hendrickson had a major regression in 2023.

Murphy could be a potential replacement at that right defensive end spot down the line, but odds are small he will last till the 28th pick. If he does, the Bengals wouldn’t be wrong to take possibly the best player on their board.

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