Las Vegas Raiders 2022 3-round Mock Draft: Addressing the defense

3-Round Las Vegas Raiders Mock Draft: Defense gets addressed

When your defense is in the state that the Raiders’ group finds itself in, taking a quarterback this early doesn’t make sense. Championships are won by defenses, and right now, everyone outside of Maxx Crosby is replaceable. A handful of exceptions would be cornerbacks Nate Hobbs and Rock Ya-Sin, but let’s face it, things don’t look good. The Raiders desperately need a pass rush; prized free agent acquisition Chandler Jones has been a dud.

Murphy will be one of the top three defensive prospects overall in April of next year, and he and Crosby together could be downright scary.

Much like Crosby, Murphy has remarkable explosiveness, especially in his first step. Just picture this duo bursting through blockers and wreaking havoc. According to Pro Football Focus, Murphy is one of the more well-rounded prospects in his position. In fact, he’s graded 70.8 in run defense, 79.1 in the pass-rushing department, and 70.4 when dropped into coverage.

At 6-foot-5 and nearly 275 pounds, Murphy has more than enough size to play the position at the next level. He possesses sufficient length with his frame and doesn’t lack in strength either, as he’s outclassed tackles throughout his college career.

With 14.5 sacks and 25.5 tackles for loss in the last two seasons, Murphy has the production to back up his draft status.

Murphy’s move set is notable, and when combined with his speed, it makes for a sight to behold. He can be seen consistently beating his man; sometimes he simply blazes right past blockers. You put him opposite Crosby, and these two will get after quarterbacks. Even more impressive is that Murphy is far from a one-trick pony.

He can line up in a variety of alignments and gaps if necessary. He can run through the tackle and guard, or you can have him counter and spin around slower blockers. Patrick Graham would have a field day with a Murphy-Crosby pair.