This is interesting. Myles Murphy helped his draft stock in a big way at his pro day workout, but this mock draft from USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz has the Clemson Tigers defensive end falling all the way to the New Orleans Saints at No. 29 overall. Here’s what Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote of the match in his first-round mock draft:
In the wake of Marcus Davenport’s departure, it would behoove the playoff-hungry Saints to find a dynamic threat opposite Cam Jordan – or someone who could eventually take over for the 33-year-old defensive cornerstone. Murphy would be the Saints’ second first-round edge rusher in three years, but Payton Turner has managed to tally just three sacks while playing in 13 games in two years.
He has a point — Turner is a critically important player for the Saints this season, but at the same time, he is not someone the team can lean on. He hasn’t been available or effective enough early in his career to take the defensive end position of their list of team needs. If a talented player like Murphy is available at the right spot, the Saints should hurry to pick him.
Right now Turner figures to back up Carl Granderson, who is slated to start on the other end of the line from Jordan (with veteran backup Tanoh Kpassagnon in the rotation behind Jordan). The Saints like to activate four or five defensive ends on game days and rotate them all into games to keep everyone fresh, so a high-profile pick like Murphy would fit right in. Either way, let’s hope the Saints can find someone who can help them right away in the first round this year.
