A second look at the edge rushers

Analysis: No change here for me. Some were getting down on Murphy because he didn’t work out at the NFL Scouting Combine and then Clemson’s pro day because of a hamstring issue. But he ran a 4.51 40 at his own pro day, also posting a 7.20 three-cone drill and 4.35 short shuttle while weighing in at 271 pounds. All five players listed here should go in the first round.

This is a deep and talented group. Consider that 11 players posted a 40-yard dash of less than 4.60 seconds at the Combine, led by Smith’s 4.39 at 238 pounds. … That group also included Tennessee’s Byron Young, who ran a 4.43 at 6-2, 250 pounds. He also posted a 38-inch vertical jump and 11-0 broad jump. Young had 23.5 tackles for a loss and 12 combined sacks in 23 games the past two seasons. … At 6-3, 255 pounds, Derek Hall of Auburn posted a 4.55-second 40-yard dash. He spends a lot of time behind the line of scrimmage, posting 15.5 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss in 25 games the past two seasons. … Nick Herbig of Wisconsin is the brother of new Steelers guard Nate Herbig. Nick Herbig (6-2, 240 pounds) played outside in the Badgers’ 3-4 defense, but he’s athletic enough in coverage that he could be considered an off-ball linebacker by some. He had 30 tackles for a loss and 20 sacks in 24 games the past two seasons. … At 6-5, 285 pounds, Keion White of Georgia Tech could be considered a defensive end by teams that run a 3-4. He’s a good-sized, athletic big man. … Will McDonald of Iowa State just missed making the top five and probably would have if he had put together a better senior season. After recording 23 sacks in 2020 and 2021, McDonald saw his production slip to 5 sacks in 2022.