NFL veteran cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. signed a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Murphy spent the 2022 season with the Arizona Cardinals and has been with the Cardinals for his entire rookie contract.
Sources: The #Vikings are working to finalize a deal for #AZCardinals CB Byron Murphy. A big-time defender lands in Minnesota.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2023
Byron Murphy, Minnesota Vikings, Agree to Contract
In 2022, Murphy had a tumultuous year. He played in just nine games due to a back injury that ultimately meant he finished the year on IR. In those nine games, Murphy managed 36 tackles, three tackles-for-loss, one quarterback hit, two fumble recoveries and one touchdown (on a fumble recovery). His touchdown came in the dramatic overtime win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2.
BYRON MURPHY SCOOP AND SCORE
THE CARDINALS FINISH THE COMEBACK
pic.twitter.com/f58KLnzM6x
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) September 19, 2022
Murphy did not register an interception in 2022 but was still effective in coverage. With a 66.7 PFF grade on the year, Murphy was very capable of coming up against opposing teams’ primary receivers in man coverage. The interception tally is only part of the story. Murphy established himself as more of a shutdown corner that can run with the best of them. In Week 2, Davante Adams managed just two catches for 12 yards (and a touchdown). The following week, Murphy blanketed Cooper Kupp such that Kupp only accounted for 44 yards on four receptions.
Murphy’s rookie year presented the first signs of his promise. Drafted out of Washington in 2019 in the second round, Murphy arrived in Arizona with a lot of promise. The Arizona native was a slot corner prospect who was sticky in man coverage as well as a willing (and strong) tackler. These were all traits that he brought to the NFL, starting all 16 games in his rookie year. 2021 was Murphy’s true breakout. With a thin cornerback room, Murphy was the team’s top cornerback and he lived up to the title. That year, he secured 49 tackles, four interceptions, 12 pass defenses and one forced fumble. His strong year meant that the Cardinals were reliant on him to lead the cornerbacks again in 2022.
Main Photo: Michael Chow – USA Today Sports
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