Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Scouting Report (Scouting Reports)
Scouting Reports

Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Scouting Report

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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Gabriel Murphy, EDGE, UCLA

Size:

Height: 6’2”

Weight: 247 pounds

Arm Length: 30 1/2"

Hand Size: 9 1/4"

Accomplishments:

All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (2023)

“Gabriel Murphy is a polished edge rusher with plus athleticism and versatility for creative defensive coordinators.” 

Strengths:

  • Dip, rip, and bend around corners

  • Polished hand fighter

  • Quickness and suddenness 

  • Strong first step

  • Pass-rush alignment versatility

Concerns:

  • Short arms and wingspan

  • Block shedding

  • Speed-to-power conversion

  • Maintaining outside leverage vs. run

Film Analysis: 

The polished hand usage of Gabriel Murphy stood out immediately after turning on the tape. He has quick hands for well-timed punches. Murphy combines multiple pass-rush maneuvers to defeat his blocker. He deploys an effective club, cross-chops, two-hand swipe, and long-arm over technique. I was impressed with how he uses the blend of hand fighting, dip, and bend to corner tackles and get in the backfield quickly. A good first step impacts the OT’s gate (hips) opening. As a result, this creates a natural counter path on the inside track to get into the face of the QB quicker. Murphy does a good job reducing hitting surface area to slip the hands of blockers.

Murphy aligns all over the Bruins’ defense. He has taken snaps at edge, 0-tech, 3/4-techs, and off-ball backer. His athletic ability makes him a potential QB spy candidate against the talented dual-threat and scrambling QBs in the NFL. This alignment versatility will fit well with creative defensive coordinators who prioritize various fronts to confuse the OL and QB.

Murphy’s drawbacks start with his limited arm length and wingspan. He counters this issue with immense quickness with his maneuvers, but once OL gets latched or their punches land first, it’s an uphill battle for him. He is adequate at best shedding blocks. His functional strength is only sufficient and it leads to struggles versus power at the point of attack. Murphy tends to take the inside path when handling run duties aligned on the outside. He must show improvement with striking, stacking, and controlling outside leverage. This allows him to be a full-time three-down player at the next level, instead of a role-specific one.

In all, Murphy is a juiced-up and polished pass rusher, who projects as an eventual starter as a 3-4/odd front edge rusher. His quickness, hand-fighting skills, and pressure effectiveness make him a solid starter at the next level.

Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter

Written By: Damian Parson

Exposures: USC (2023), UCLA (2023), Oregon State (2023), Colorado (2023), Washington State (2023)

Gabriel Murphy NFL Draft Scouting Report



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