UDFA Signings

[Tugboat]

10 minutes ago, Ozzy said:

True it is crazy Murphy was not drafted after having such a good season.  And sure he is 6-2 but so what really, not like there has never been short successful pass rushers.  He almost had a 40" vertical and did 25 reps at 225 with a decent 4.68 40 time.  

 

Jonah Ellis was drafted as a 6-2 edge rusher, granted he was far more dominating as a edge rusher, he was a beast in more than a few big time games last year and has that great spin move and bloodline.  Murphy is no question the top UDFA get for the Vikings, he could be a good developmental player but will be hard to make the roster, Andre Carter from last years UDFA class could be much improved potentially.  

I think more so than being 6'2" for Gabe Murphy, it's the fact that he's got real short arms on top of that.  Like 30.5".  That's probably the real sticking point.  But it's still kind of silly to me that nobody even bothered to take a developmental flyer on the guy.  He's got tons of clear talent.  He's a far more natural and elusive rusher than Elliss.

Yan Ngakoue was pretty much exactly the same size coming out, and there are a lot of similarities in their game to think Murphy could be successful at the NFL level in a similar sort of role.  Including being more comfortable as a stand up rusher from the get go.  But Yan had a full extra 2" of arm length on Murphy.  Which i guess when you're already dealing with undersized pass rushers to begin with...apparently just gets a guy crossed right off a lot of teams draft boards altogether.

 

I think Murphy makes the Vikings.  There's probably room for him there.  But even if not...it's hard to imagine that was the only suitor on the table for him as an UDFA.  I'd think he's a guy who gets scooped if they were to try to say...sneak him to the PS.

[Tugboat]

17 minutes ago, Forge said:

Storm Duck, baby

[Ozzy]

8 minutes ago, Tugboat said:

I think more so than being 6'2" for Gabe Murphy, it's the fact that he's got real short arms on top of that.  Like 30.5".  That's probably the real sticking point.  But it's still kind of silly to me that nobody even bothered to take a developmental flyer on the guy.  He's got tons of clear talent.  He's a far more natural and elusive rusher than Elliss.

Yan Ngakoue was pretty much exactly the same size coming out, and there are a lot of similarities in their game to think Murphy could be successful at the NFL level in a similar sort of role.  Including being more comfortable as a stand up rusher from the get go.  But Yan had a full extra 2" of arm length on Murphy.  Which i guess when you're already dealing with undersized pass rushers to begin with...apparently just gets a guy crossed right off a lot of teams draft boards altogether.

 

I think Murphy makes the Vikings.  There's probably room for him there.  But even if not...it's hard to imagine that was the only suitor on the table for him as an UDFA.  I'd think he's a guy who gets scooped if they were to try to say...sneak him to the PS.

To me no way is Elliss not a better pass rusher and he had the better season.  Murphy played in 13 games last year and had 8 sacks.  Elliss played in 9 games last year and had 12 sacks, Ellis had 4 double sack games last year, Murphy had one double sack game.  If Elliss played a full season he could of had what 15-17 sacks.  Elliss also did not have a super star rusher opposite him like Murphy had with Latu.  Granted Elliss this is the first time he played at that level where Murphy has had productive pass rush seasons especially at North Texas.  But Elliss of course is the son of Luther Elliss and his brothers are pretty damn solid players as well, so that helped him.

 

And yes Murphy could make the Vikings roster, could beat out Pat Jones or they could just carry 6 edge guys but not like Greenard or Turner will not get a ton of playing time unless one gets hurt, and both are versatile enough to drop in coverage which helps and Van Ginkel can spell either one so playing time for any outside of those three will be hard to get, especially if they rotate down Metellus or Harrison Smith as a box LB/slot and put one of the edge guys as a down DL and do a 3/3/5 type defense. 

 

Gabriel Murphy no question was productive enough and active enough to have been drafted.    I would not have taken Murphy over Javontae Jean-Baptiste and he was a 7th rounder so there is that, but I would have taken Murphy over Solomon Byrd despite being shorter than Byrd.  

 

It is very possible Murphy was like you said too much of a tweener, and honestly only a 3/4 OLB team would take him because not sure he could play 4/3 DE but then again he probably could in pass rush situations no doubt about it.  

 

Guys like Austin Booker and Javon Solomon both do arguably have more upside than Murphy, same with Kamara maybe.  Then again I believe I had Murphy a 3rd rounder which was probably a bit high but specifically only in a 3/4 defense.  But heck Solomon is 6-1 but does have long arms for that height but was far more productive in terms of pure numbers than Murphy was.  

 

 

[tyler735]

I feel like Dallin Holker should have been drafted. Really happy the Saints got him. We needed to add another TE and he might just have the talent to make the roster.

[KhanYouDigIt]

Joshua Cephus to the Jags.

[Tugboat]

1 hour ago, Ozzy said:

To me no way is Elliss not a better pass rusher and he had the better season.  Murphy played in 13 games last year and had 8 sacks.  Elliss played in 9 games last year and had 12 sacks, Ellis had 4 double sack games last year, Murphy had one double sack game.  If Elliss played a full season he could of had what 15-17 sacks.  Elliss also did not have a super star rusher opposite him like Murphy had with Latu.  Granted Elliss this is the first time he played at that level where Murphy has had productive pass rush seasons especially at North Texas.  But Elliss of course is the son of Luther Elliss and his brothers are pretty damn solid players as well, so that helped him.

I just really don't care for Elliss as a pass rusher.  He's a more complete player...but he's not a natural pass rusher whatsoever.  Even the "production" argument, i don't really buy into so much.  He's far more of an "effort" and "persistence" sack guy.  Just keeps grinding until he eventually gets there.  But it's not a really threatening thing.  Whereas Murphy generates a high pressure rate, and he does it quick.  Whether he gets the sacks or not...that's where playing opposite Latu probably actually hurts him a bit.  It becomes a bit of a "race to the sack" because Latu also tends to either win pretty quick, or not at all.  And obviously soaked up a ton of the actual sacks and even opportunities to be that primary rusher.

 

The thing with Murphy is that he's got some of those twitchy and bendy traits that you just can't teach in a pass rusher, and he knows how to make himself extremely slippery.  He's small, with those short arms...but to my eyes at least, looks like a guy who understands his disadvantages and knows how to use the tools he does have to flip it into an advantage on quickness, deceptiveness, and leverage that can win against much bigger pass protectors.

 

1 hour ago, Ozzy said:

 

And yes Murphy could make the Vikings roster, could beat out Pat Jones or they could just carry 6 edge guys but not like Greenard or Turner will not get a ton of playing time unless one gets hurt, and both are versatile enough to drop in coverage which helps and Van Ginkel can spell either one so playing time for any outside of those three will be hard to get, especially if they rotate down Metellus or Harrison Smith as a box LB/slot and put one of the edge guys as a down DL and do a 3/3/5 type defense. 

It's probably not exactly the place i would've signed if i were Murphy, but i don't really see that big an obstacle to him making the roster.  They carried Carter last year, and Murphy has a ton of upside even if it's just as a sparing rotational designated rusher or blitzer if they work him in even.  Plus he's competent enough in other aspects.  He's got useful ST potential too.

Rare to see an UDFA get any real significant snaps anyway.  I think Murphy is a lot better than that, but if that's how the league views him...snaps were always going to be hard won wherever he goes.

 

1 hour ago, Ozzy said:

 

Gabriel Murphy no question was productive enough and active enough to have been drafted.    I would not have taken Murphy over Javontae Jean-Baptiste and he was a 7th rounder so there is that, but I would have taken Murphy over Solomon Byrd despite being shorter than Byrd.  

 

It is very possible Murphy was like you said too much of a tweener, and honestly only a 3/4 OLB team would take him because not sure he could play 4/3 DE but then again he probably could in pass rush situations no doubt about it.  

 

Guys like Austin Booker and Javon Solomon both do arguably have more upside than Murphy, same with Kamara maybe.  Then again I believe I had Murphy a 3rd rounder which was probably a bit high but specifically only in a 3/4 defense.  But heck Solomon is 6-1 but does have long arms for that height but was far more productive in terms of pure numbers than Murphy was.  

 

 

Booker definitely has more upside.  A lot of risk, but that one makes a lot of sense to me.

 

Javon Solomon though...that one is a bit surprising that he was drafted while Murphy wasn't.  I like Solomon and he was definitely very draftable.  But i think Murphy has more "upside" as a pure pass rusher.  The advantage Solomon has i guess, is that he plays a lot stronger than his similarly small size.  Murphy is more of an elusive "beat 'em clean" sort of pass rush specialist.  Solomon plays more like he thinks he's half a foot taller and 30lbs heavier than he actually is.  😆  But i can see how, for a lot 3-4 teams even...there's appeal in that if you're not gonna use the guy as the primary rusher.  If you just want a guy to mostly play contain, Solomon is clearly the better option.

[Tugboat]

56 minutes ago, KhanYouDigIt said:

Joshua Cephus to the Jags.

Interesting.  I like this one.  He's got some nice ball skills and awareness.  Seems rail thin and really topped out as an athlete...but i'll take a camp flyer on a guy like that.

Not sure how good his chances of sticking are though.  I count 5 "locks" at WR and then a messy competition if they even carry 6.  Especially with Keilan Robinson added in the draft as a RB who is part WR and will inevitably be practicing in a capacity that would allow him to jump out there in a pinch.

 

But Cephus would be a nice guy to stash.  And it's a quality camp body at least.

[NVRamsFan]

https://thedraftnetwork.com/2024/04/27/udfa-tracker-2024-nfl-draft

[Trentwannabe]

Updates Bills list:

RB Frank Gore Jr

WR Xavier Johnson Jr
WR Lawrence Keys

OT Mike Edwards
OG Keaton Bills
OL Gunner Britton 

DL Brandon Deen

CB Keni-H Lovely

P Jack Browning

Mini camp invites:

K Alex McNaulty Romaguera

QB Gunnar Watson

CB Alex Walcott
CB Sheridan Jones

LB Stephen Hillis 

[Ozzy]

Beanie Bishop Jr. was signed by the Steelers.

 

Impressive pickup, they do not really have a small slot guy like Bishop and he lead all of FBS I believe in passes deflected with an amazing 20, cannot recall a CB with that many all in one season.  Well traveled, been in college football for six years but this past year was by far his best season and the Steelers do not really have a small slot like him, maybe Josiah Scott or Darius Rush could play the slot but Bishop will be in that mix and fits it better arguably.

 

They do got a hell of a lot of tall athletic CBs in Porter Jr, Trice Jr and now Watts but Watts could transition to safety possibly.  

[LinderFournette]

7 hours ago, Tugboat said:

Interesting.  I like this one.  He's got some nice ball skills and awareness.  Seems rail thin and really topped out as an athlete...but i'll take a camp flyer on a guy like that.

Not sure how good his chances of sticking are though.  I count 5 "locks" at WR and then a messy competition if they even carry 6.  Especially with Keilan Robinson added in the draft as a RB who is part WR and will inevitably be practicing in a capacity that would allow him to jump out there in a pinch.

 

But Cephus would be a nice guy to stash.  And it's a quality camp body at least.

I prefer David white if we keeping 7 wrs lol.

[jebrick]

I love it that Houston signed both Jenke twins

Houston Texans

• Jadon Jenke, WR, South Dakota State
• Jaxon Jenke, WR, South Dakota State

[TVScout]

https://www.nfl.com/news/top-undrafted-rookie-free-agents-following-the-2024-nfl-draft