The Chargers traded up 14 spots with the Patriots to draft former Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray.
Los Angeles saw the high production throughout the past three seasons for the Sooners, and they were able to witness the great character that he possesses up close and personal when they interviewed him at the combine.
Rated highly by the media, Murray was arguably one of the best players at his position in this year’s class. But how did NFL evaluations feel about him?
The Athletic’s Bob McGinn reached out to three scouts to get a better idea what those in the league thought of him ahead of the draft.
The first scout had high praise for Murray, saying that he believes he was better than Bears’ Roquan Smith coming out of college and that he should have no issue making the Pro Bowl.
One of my favorite players. When you plug in the player and the person you love him even more. He does everything you want. He runs the defense. I thought he was better than Roquan Smith. I don’t think he’s quite as good as a Luke Kuechly. He’ll be a Pro Bowl-type player. He didn’t cover there. They didn’t ask him to, but I think he can. He’s an explosive athlete but he’s not a physical tackler. That’s one of the only knocks I have on him.
The second scout had nothing but good things to say, too, despite pointing out some of his weaknesses with his game.
He can run the show. Just a little bit lacking on instincts and angles. But he’s big, fast and a hell of a kid. He loves football. Great locker-room guy.
Here is what the third scout said:
He’s sideline-to-sideline. Inside, he tries to take on. He’s just not the strongest. He’s more of a slip-and-dip type, which is what you’re playing with now. As far as a modern-day linebacker, he has those traits. Covers well.
Overall, Murray is a quick-twitch athlete who possesses the speed and physicality against the run and pass with blitz ability, projecting as three-down starting linebacker for the Chargers.
Murray does need to dial up his instincts, clean up some overaggressive tendencies as he’s been caught over-pursuing ball carriers at times and develop a better feel in coverage. However, he has the talent and skillset to be a really good linebacker and locker room presence for the next decade.