Just a few weeks ago, Myles Murphy was being lumped in with the long list of defensive draft picks that hadn’t quite panned out under Duke Tobin’s watch. But fast forward to now, and it’s clear something has clicked - and clicked in a big way.
Since Week 9, Murphy has been a force in the run game. According to Pro Football Focus, he's ranked fifth in total run stops and fourth in run stop percentage. That’s not just solid - that’s elite territory for a third-year defensive end still carving out his identity in the league.
And it doesn’t stop there. Murphy has racked up the fourth-most tackles during that stretch without missing a single one.
That kind of consistency is rare, especially for a young edge defender still developing his instincts. Add in two batted passes - tied for third-most in that span - and you’ve got a player who’s not just showing flashes, but stacking impact plays week after week.
Now, let’s be real: he’s still a work in progress as a pass rusher. Murphy ranks 24th in pass rush win rate and 19th in overall productivity.
That’s middle of the pack - not bad, not great. But here’s the thing: he’s only 23 years old.
And when you combine his age with his elite athletic profile, you start to see why the Bengals were so high on him in the first place.
This isn’t just a hot streak - it’s the kind of development arc that gives real hope to a defense trying to find its footing. The Bengals have been looking for young playmakers to step up, and Murphy is doing just that. If he continues to build on this run-stopping dominance and adds more juice to his pass rush, he won’t just be part of the future - he’ll be a cornerstone of it.
For a Bengals team that’s still fighting to keep its season alive, Murphy’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time.