I AM LEAVING: Defensive tackle Byron Murphy II announced that he is leaving Texas Longhorns immediately….

Former NFL General Manager Likens Prospective First-Round Draft Pick to Great Aaron Donald

Regarding former Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, former NFL general manager Rick Spielman made a daring claim.

Murphy II, according to Spielman, is “as close as you can get in this year’s draft,” even though he isn’t exactly Los Angeles Rams legend Aaron Donald.

The St. Louis Rams selected Aaron Donald with the thirteenth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Like Donald did ten years ago, Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is anticipated to go in the middle of the first round.

Murphy II is the first defensive tackle selected in an ESPN mock draft, with the Cincinnati Bengals selecting him at No. 18 overall.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who recently lost veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox to retirement, are slated to choose Murphy II with the No. 22 overall pick in a mock draft by Pro Football Focus. Murphy II will be surpassed, according to Pro Football Focus, by former Illinois Fighting Illini defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton.

Murphy II is the first defense selected by the Atlanta Falcons as the No. 8 overall pick, according to an NFL.com mock draft. Murphy II is unlikely to make it to the second round of the draft, even though his position is not guaranteed among a select few picks.

Despite having his most effective year statistically in 2023, Murphy II’s value as an interior defensive lineman extends beyond the stat sheet.

For the third consecutive season, the 6-foot-1, 308-pound defensive tackle was able to contribute significantly as a Texas Longhorn, recording a career-high five sacks and 29 tackles.

Murphy II can make plays from the interior that most defensive tackles would not be able to make due to his exceptional athleticism for his size. His ability to step in and scrape like a 240-pound linebacker gives NFL teams reason to consider him as a significant prospect.

When Aaron Donald was chosen with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, few people could have predicted his level of dominance, but many were aware of his incredible athleticism in spite of his small stature.

In the end, Donald exceeded all expectations, if not most of them, and is expected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first vote.

Over his ten years in the NFL, Donald was selected to the Pro Bowl each year he was a player. H won three Defensive Player of the Year titles after winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.

Throughout his ten years in the NFL, Donald was selected to the first team of the All-Pro team eight times. He was a crucial component of the Rams’ 2021 Super Bowl victory, keeping Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow from completing a downfield ball when wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was streaking down the sideline with wide open lanes.