The Arizona Cardinals have been searching for someone to form a dynamic cornerback duo with Patrick Peterson for plenty of years. In hopes he could be the cornerback they've been longing for, Arizona selected Byron Murphy with the 33rd overall pick out of Washington in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Throughout the draft process, Murphy was regarded as one of the best cornerbacks available in the draft. When he was taken by the Cardinals, he was expected to make an immediate impact on the defense.
Unfortunately, a couple of months after taking Murphy, Peterson was suspended by the NFL for six games for violating the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy. Therefore, Murphy was thrust into the No. 1 cornerback role earlier than expected.
Without Peterson, Murphy combined for 34 tackles, a tackle for loss, and five deflections in the first six games of the season. Once Peterson rejoined the defense, the first-year corner tallied 44 tackles, five deflections, and an interception in his final 10 starts of the season.
Altogether, Murphy had a somewhat productive rookie campaign with the Cardinals. Provided his numbers and play on the field, what letter grade does Murphy deserve for his 2019 season in Arizona?
Byron Murphy's grade for the 2019 season: C+
First and foremost, Murphy proved in his first season that he belongs in the NFL. Furthermore, he can be a starter for the Cardinals for years to come on a defense that needs help in the secondary.
Again, the rookie cornerback totaled 78 tackles, 10 deflections, and an interception in 2019. In addition, he was able to start in all 16 games for the Cardinals during the season.
There were plenty of positives for Murphy in his first year in the desert. Just as he did in college, Murphy showed an ability to play the ball well when it was in the air.
At the same time, Murphy faltered in other areas of his game as a cornerback. Over the course of the season, Murphy surrendered 70 receptions on 103 targets in 2019 per Pro Football Focus. The rookie out of Washington tied for the second-most receptions allowed and the fourth-most targets among cornerbacks in 2019.
As a young defensive back, Murphy was picked on by opposing quarterbacks. That was especially true when Peterson returned to the defense in Week 7.
With that being said, the Cardinals could be interested in moving Murphy to the slot in 2020. Maybe the move to slot cornerback will allow Murphy to reach his potential in Arizona.
Considering where he was taken in the draft, it's tough to say Murphy had a successful rookie season. As a result, Murphy deserves a C+ grade for his performance in 2019. However, it wouldn't come as a surprise if Murphy is much-improved in his sophomore season.
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