The 2023 NFL Draft is less than two weeks away and there’s a wide divergence of opinion when it comes to who the Green Bay Packers will pick with their first round, 15th overall pick this year. Media experts and pundits have been offering up their opinions and mock drafts have been plentiful.
One area of need on the team is the pass rush and added depth at their edge rusher position. Here are two likely draft candidates for edge rusher:
Myles Murphy, Clemson
Murphy is big and strong and well regarded as an edge rusher. He could very well be an impact player this year, but will probably hit his full stride in the NFL within two seasons. Skilled and controlled, he plays with a degree of maturity and is considered a well-rounded player with just minimal need for fine tuning.
“There aren’t many prospects that have Myles Murphy’s combination of size, power and athleticism,” writes Bleacher Report NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder. “At 6’5″ and 275 pounds, he moves well enough that Clemson felt comfortable dropping him into coverage on occasion, and he has plenty of strength to hold up at the point of attack.
Murphy might not be a great fit for a team looking for a standup outside linebacker type of pass-rusher, but the Georgia native is somewhat scheme-versatile for any club looking for a more traditional, hand-in-the-ground defensive end.”
Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
This sophomore is strong and agile with good pass rush assets. Although not yet a finished project, he has the projectable traits of a high-end NFL starter.
“Lukas Van Ness is a good pro prospect, with ideal size and elite power for the position,” analyzed NFLDraftBuzz.com. “In his final year at Iowa, he played at an elite level as he logged 9 sacks and huge 31 total hurries on the edge. He however is a little raw and while having outstanding power is inexperienced and only has a limited array of pass-rushing moves and so may struggle to adapt to the pro game.
Van Ness may be over-drafted due to his power and production, although currently, we regard him as a day-two selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.”
