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The Cincinnati Bengals saw a very friendly board develop in front of them in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft and used the No. 28 pick on Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy.
Murphy, 6’5″ and 268 pounds, had been consistently productive as a pass-rusher at Clemson for three straight years.
The length and strength of Murphy will provide an immediate boost to the Bengals’ pass-rushing rotation and reinforces depth for when veterans start to leave over the next few years.
Cincinnati had adequately addressed most of the major roster needs in free agency with mid-level signings at spots like cornerback, tight end and offensive tackle — with Orlando Brown Jr. the big splash. A roster that had already nearly made two consecutive Super Bowls positioned the Bengals to take the best player available on their board.
That was Murphy, a now-and-later big impact for a defense that needed help.
Murphy is the first defensive lineman drafted by the Bengals since the early 2000s when they selected Justin Smith.
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