The Tennessee Titans added to their defensive line in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by selecting NC State defensive lineman, Larrell Murchison.
A high-character guy, Murchison has flashed skills as both a pass-rusher and run-stuffer. In 2019, the 6-foot-2, 297-pound lineman finished with seven sacks and 12 tackles for loss.
The good
The most common positive about Murchison you’ll hear is about his motor. This is a high-effort player who plays through the whistle on every down. His effort definitely helps him overcome some of his negatives.
He’s also a plus interior pass-rusher, as Murchison consistently penetrates gaps well on the inside and has an impressive spin move. His hand usage is also already well-developed and he has good lateral mobility.
The bad
Murchison is a bit undersized for an interior lineman, and his strength can be described as average at best, both issues that could present a problem against bigger, stronger NFL offensive linemen. He projects as a rotational defensive lineman at the next level and not a full-time starter.
The fit
The Titans needed to address the defensive line after the departures of Jurrell Casey and Austin Johnson this offseason, and general manager Jon Robinson did that with the pick of Murchison.
Murchison is actually be a pretty ideal fit at end on the Titans’ line with his pass-rush ability, and there’s a chance he makes an impact on a Tennessee defensive line that had trouble getting to the quarterback last season.
He likely won’t be the long-term starter the Titans really needed, but he could be a solid rotational lineman for years to come. That’s really all you can ask for out of a fifth-round pick.
Grade: B
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