Vikings found their next undrafted free agent steal

Tyler Forness

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Vikings found their next undrafted free agent steal image

The 2024 NFL Draft has concluded and the Minnesota Vikings have their draft class. After entering with nine picks, the Vikings made seven picks after trading up twice in the first round.

Round Pick Selection
1 10 Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy
1 17 Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner
4 108 Oregon CB Khyree Jackson
6 177  Oklahoma OT Walter Rouse
6 203 Alabama K Will Reichard
7 230  Wake Forest C Michael Jurgens
7 232  Texas A&M Commerce DT Levi Drake Rodriguez

However, the NFL Draft doesn't end when Mr. Irrelavent gets announced at the 257th and final pick. The race to bring in undrafted free agents begins and for the second consecutive season, the Vikings arguably found the best of the bunch, both with similar profiles.

2024 NFL Draft: Vikings UDFA is next Ivan Pace Jr.

Last season, the Minnesota Vikings grabbed ILB Ivan Pace Jr. as a UDFA. He ranked 153rd on the consensus board and was the 10th-ranked linebacker in the 2023 class. He slid due to a really weird profile of being under 6' tall, 235 lb inside linebacker who was a pass-rushing specialist. He didn't just make the team, but Pace was a starter early on and made an impact in all phases of the game.

That sounds pretty similar to the profile of UCLA edge rusher Gabriel Murphy.

Standing 6021 and 249 lbs, Murphy is a fascinating player who started his career at North Texas before transferring to  UCLA. My scouting report on Murphy details his strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths

  • Murphy is an intelligent player and it stands out in the running game. He is incredibly patient when the offense is running the ball, waiting for the blocker to declare if he’s pulling and then taking advantage of his movement by penetrating with an explosive first step.
  • That quickness was utilized by UCLA frequently. They lined him up not just on the edge but as a standup defender in the box and frequently at 3T. This allowed the Bruins to maximize Murphy’s quickness, as he could torch guards off the ball.
  • Murphy knows how to win in a variety of ways. Anywhere from around the edge to getting skinny through the B gap and using a Euro step-type move, Murphy has a way to get into the backfield.

Weaknesses

  • Murphy gets into the backfield frequently but isn’t a great finisher. That part of his game will need to see improvements.
  • Size is a major concern for Murphy. He is 249 lbs but at only 6021 and with 30 6/8″ arms, there are some real concerns with his upside.
  • Athleticism is questionable on an overall scale. The Bruins used him over guards consistently but struggled at times against tackles. He looks to be stiff in his lower half and his burst against better athletes at tackle is suspect.

Overview

I gave Murphy a fourth-round grade. He was a very productive player with a good athletic profile. His only major downside is his size, especially 30 6/8" arm length.

How is Brian Flores going to use him at the next level? I think putting him in positions to get to the passer is the best pathway to success. 

Take a look at the above play. Murphy uses good hands to keep the left tackle from engaging him and he fights through a double team to make the sack. There is a lot of good with plays like this, including on this long highlight reel.

The best clip here that personifies his versatility is the third clip. Murphy is standing up in the A-gap and gets really quick penetration. That is how he was often used at UCLA. Without the arm length to consistently handle tackles on the outside, the best bet was UCLA using his quickness on the interior with shorter-armed interior players. 

Is that going to be a winning strategy at the next level? That's a complicated question to answer. However, if anyone can maximize him like Pace was in 2023, it's Flores and his ability to use players. Murphy is primed to be the next Pace and UDFA star on the Vikings defense and could fortify the Vikings pass rush even more than it already is.

Tyler Forness

Tyler Forness Photo

Tyler Forness was previously the managing editor of USA Today's Vikings Wire. His work has been featured on Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Voices of Wrestling, SB Nation, and NBC Sports Edge among others. He is an avid wrestling fan, craft beer connoisseur, and loves the run-n-shoot offense. You can find him on Twitter/X @TheRealForno.