The Minnesota Vikings struck gold by grabbing Ivan Pace Jr. as part of their UDFA class last year and they may have done it again after signing UCLA edge rusher Gabriel Murphy once the 2024 NFL Draft concluded on Saturday afternoon.
Murphy collected 38 tackles (16 for loss) and eight sacks in 13 games for the Bruins last season but his analytical numbers should excite Vikings fans.
According to Pro Football Focus, Murphy ranked seventh in the nation with 61 pressures last season and his 87.6 pass-rushing grade ranked 28th among qualifiers and was just below Vikings first-round pick Dallas Turner (89.3).
While PFF grades aren’t a precursor for success, they played a role in Paces’ ascension one year ago. Pace was the top-rated college linebacker in overall grade and pass-rushing during his final season at Cincinnati but fell due to his size.
Murphy has similar concerns with length as his 30.5″ arms were in the sixth percentile of this year’s class and his 75″ wingspan was in the 19th percentile, according to MockDraftable.
But Murphy makes up for it with his athleticism. His 9.28 relative athletic score grades 133rd out of 1,738 defensive end prospects dating back to 1987 and his 39.5″ vertical jump was second only to Turner at the combine.
Gabriel Murphy is a DE prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.24 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 133 out of 1738 DE from 1987 to 2024.https://t.co/xUjBGOBIEe pic.twitter.com/2v7jBcfKhC
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 1, 2024
Murphy also compared favorably to Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who joined the team as a free-agent signing last March.
Vikings UDFA OLB Gabriel Murphy is a very similar athlete to OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, but with shorter arms https://t.co/q5tzfXmQNG pic.twitter.com/rnWxcBebU5
— Krauser (@Krauserrific) April 27, 2024
Murphy could use some discipline to his game (he had 23 penalties last season) but his technique and explosiveness make up for it, which is why The Athletic’s Dane Brugler gave him a fourth-round grade in his annual scouting guide “The Beast.”
“Murphy’s lack of length and desired size will be tougher to mask at the next level, but he was a pass-rushing nuisance in college because of his skilled hands and quick feet,” Brugler wrote. He has the juice to make an impact as a subpackage rusher who can also play on special teams.”
Arif Hasan of The Wide Left Substack also had Murphy as his top UDFA candidate available based on consensus rankings.
top UDFA candidates left by consensus:
111. ED Gabriel Murphy
117. DL Leonard Taylor III
143. S Beau Brade
159. LB Curtis Jacobs
169. OG Javion Cohen
171. ED Nelson Ceaser
180. DL Gabe Hall
189. CB Dwight McGlothern
193. TE Dallin Holkerhttps://t.co/d8L8FSR5CN pic.twitter.com/SxnMJNmNku— Arif Hasan, but NFL 🏈 (@ArifHasanNFL) April 27, 2024
Murphy is the latest addition in a revamped edge rushing group that lost Danielle Hunter but added Jonathan Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner over the past couple of weeks. With Pace and free-agent addition Blake Cashman also capable of rushing the passer, Murphy could become a subpackage player that gives Brian Flores plenty of options next season.
While that might not make him the second coming of Pace, it’s a solid addition that gives Vikings fans another name to watch during training camp.
