Promising Vikings Rookie Finally Debuts
After linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. exploded onto the NFL scene as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Minnesota Vikings fans looked around after the 2024 NFL Draft and thought, “Who’s next?”
Promising Vikings Rookie Finally Debuts
The franchise has a budding reputation for discovering UDFA talent, and after the Pace Jr. masterclass, most labeled outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy as the “next Ivan Pace.”
The problem? Murphy spent much of the summer and the regular season (before Week 14) hobbled — until Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. The purple team flogged the Falcons, especially late, winning 42-21 in a game labeled by some as the “Kirk Cousins revenge game.”
Murphy played 28 defensive snaps, or 37% of the time, in his debut, an impressive mark because handing the man 10 or so snaps to ease him in would’ve been a fair outlook. To a degree, Minnesota ripped the band-aid off and allotted Murphy some trial by fire.
The newcomer logged a tackle, a quarterback hit, and a commendable 69.5 Pro Football Focus grade, which is more than satisfactory for one’s first NFL game.
Murphy has arrived.
In July, Bleacher Report nominated seven undrafted free agents with “under the radar” statuses, and Murphy got the nod. “Murphy brings an explosive first step and the quickness to work two-way goes effectively. Moreover, Murphy has solid flexibility around the arc and finds ways to keep his legs churning through contact so as to not get run around the back of the pocket,” BR’s Derrik Klassen explained.
“Movement skills like that would be useful anywhere but especially in a Brian Flores defense. The Vikings defense under Flores’ control last year was hectic.”
Murphy’s UDFA deal in the spring clocked in at $245,000 in guaranteed cash, more than Pace Jr.’s paycheck in 2023. Like Pace Jr. in 2023, Murphy was evidently neglected in the draft because of size and perceived strength. General managers believed he was too small for the EDGE spot or not strong enough for sustainability. Still, he was supposed to go off the draftboard sometime in the middle rounds but curiously tumbled into the undrafted pool.
Some fans were nervous a couple of weeks ago when Murphy was waived as a matter of roster maintenance. But he quickly returned to the practice squad and experienced the Week 14 elevation.
Murphy saw the snaps against Atlanta because veteran Patrick Jones II missed the contest due to injury. Therefore, folks will monitor Murphy’s role as Jones II battles back to the lineup.
But it’s so far, so good for the promising young EDGE.
There’s an Awkward Truth for the Vikings
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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