Under Mike Macdonald, the Baltimore Ravens had one of, if not the finest defenses in football this season, terrorizing opposing offenses all year.
Now that Macdonald has left for Seattle, the Ravens’ defensive strategy may look a little different with Zach Orr as the new defensive coordinator, and with two studs in Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen ready to enter free agency, further change is likely.
However, in CBS Sports’ most recent mock draft, the Ravens add another beast to their defensive line in Texas standout Byron Murphy II.
“Players who can collapse the pocket and pressure the QB from the interior are a wonderful thing to have, and Murphy is capable of doing it,” a report from CBS Sports states. There will be concerns about Murphy’s size, as there were with Jer’Zhan Newton, but he uses it to his advantage by gaining leverage. He has a great first step and frequently shoots the gap before his blocker can get to him.
Murphy II is one of the best run-stoppers available in the draft. Not only that, but he stalks quarterbacks for joy, recording five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, both career highs.
Murphy II possesses exceptional athletic ability, and placing him along the Ravens defensive line adds another fast, quick, and dangerous player capable of disrupting games in the blink of an eye.
While he is still regarded raw, moving to Baltimore is an excellent opportunity for him to perfect his game, and he might thrive in Orr’s system.
Selecting Murphy II will not win any spectacular accolades in the eyes of fans, but it would be a wise decision for the Ravens, who are known for having excellent defenses, and with the Texas standout going to Baltimore, that trend could easily continue.
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