The Vikings had the steal of the after-draft last year when they signed Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. to a UDFA contract. Pace went on to start for the Minnesota defense and was impressed. Pace Jr. was a tackling machine and is viewed as someone who could help lead the Minnesota defense for years.
Surely Minnesota couldn’t get another Pace Jr., could it? It sounds possible. The Vikings signed UCLA Edge rusher Gabriel Murphy to an UDFA contract as soon as the 2024 NFL Draft concluded. Murphy was projected as a mid-to-late pick, but due to being just a touch undersized, Murphy fell out of the draft.
Per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, he expects Murhpy to really impress during training camp.
“The safe bet is UCLA edge rusher Gabriel Murphy. The lack of full-speed, 11-on-11 work this spring kept him from making a major impact. The picture might change when he puts on the pads, similar to Ivan Pace Jr. last year. The other two players I’ll be watching closely are cornerback Dwight McGlothern Jr., who played for defensive backs coach Daronte Jones at LSU, and Marshall edge rusher Owen Porter, who could vie for a special teams role.
Murphy had a career-high eight sacks last year on the UCLA defense. If he gets his chance, his skill set should really shine in a Brian Flores-led defensive scheme.