The San Francisco 49ers could easily take a cornerback in the 2019 NFL Draft. But is Washington’s Byron Murphy the correct answer on day two? Niner Noise takes a look.
At some point sooner than later, the San Francisco 49ers are going to have to think about taking another shot at a long-term cornerback option.
For starters, No. 1 corner Richard Sherman just turned 31 years old and likely isn’t a long-term option after his three-year free-agent deal from 2018 comes to a close. Younger corners Ahkello Witherspoon and Tarvarius Moore also largely struggled over the course of last season. And on a one-year deal, oft-injured cornerback Jason Verrett is essentially on only a “prove it” deal in 2019.
These are essentially stopgap options with the small hope both Witherspoon and Moore develop into quality starters.
That said, asking for that to happen is a chance the Niners may not be willing to take, meaning grabbing a cornerback in the 2019 NFL Draft is a strong possibility.
If that happens, is Washington’s Byron Murphy a legitimate option?
| Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Tack | Def | Def | Def | Def | Def | Fumb | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FF |
| *2017 | Washington | Pac-12 | FR | DB | 6 | 13 | 3 | 16 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| *2018 | Washington | Pac-12 | SO | DB | 14 | 37 | 21 | 58 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 4 | 78 | 19.5 | 1 | 13 | 1 |
| Career | Washington | 50 | 24 | 74 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 6 | 95 | 15.8 | 1 | 20 | 2 |
Provided by CFB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/2/2019.
Murphy does have a lot of upside, including those four interceptions his 2018 season at Washington.
That said, does he translate to what the Niners need at the position? Let’s take a look.
Byron Murphy’s Strengths
Note the six interceptions over the past two seasons. That alone showcases the ballhawking abilities Murphy displays.
Note, the 49ers had only two interceptions all last year, and none came from their cornerbacks.
Despite being only 5-foot-11, Murphy plays bigger than his size would indicate. He’s aggressive, often fighting for the ball and challenging even the biggest receivers, who would usually overmatch him.
In addition to his physicality, Murphy possesses some of the best smarts of any defensive back in this year’s NFL Draft. Rarely will you see him out of position or failing to recognize an opposing receiver’s tendencies.
Byron Murphy’s Weaknesses
Well, there’s the height issue. Murphy might have gotten away with that to a point in the collegiate ranks. But things will be much more difficult at the pro level, especially with the route trees getting far more complex.
On top of that, Murphy doesn’t possess the best speed. He ran a 4.55 40-yard time at the NFL Scouting Combine, and most defensive backs strive to get below the 4.50 mark here.
So, with the lack of height already working against him, Murphy could have a lot of problems with recovery and straight-line speed with more elusive, fast wideouts.
Potential Fit with the 49ers
Murphy made Niner Noise’s list of players to avoid in Round 2 of the NFL Draft. This isn’t to say he’ll never be a quality player. But for what the Niners are seeking, it would be a reach if they were to target him with their second-round pick, No. 36 overall.
San Francisco has long-term question marks all across the cornerback position, but less so at nickel back, where D.J. Reed could challenge K’Waun Williams for a starting job this season.
What the 49ers need is a boundary corner, and there’s a good chance Murphy will struggle to hold down such a position at the pro level. Sure, there is plenty of value having a top-quality nickel cornerback. But considering the long-term needs outside, Murphy seems to be something of an excess pick.
Combine the issues with both speed and size, it might be wiser for San Francisco to simply pass here.
The 2019 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. ET.