Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma

If the Packers are looking to add a talented prospect at the linebacker spot, Kenneth Murray out of Oklahoma is certainly an option. The ability for him to make an impact from day one will depend on what role the team that selects him in the NFL Draft has him play.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com identified that Murray can ‘fly around sideline to sideline rolling up tackles’ and that playing weak-side linebacker would maximize his strengths while mitigating his weaknesses.

Sleek, playmaking linebacker with chiseled frame and long arms. Murray’s game is predicated on speed with an ability to fly around from sideline to sideline rolling up tackles. While his twitchy burst allows him to make more plays than the average linebacker, he will overflow to ball-carriers at times. Recognition of play development and ability to take on blocks are both underdeveloped currently, but a move to weak-side linebacker would put him in position to minimize those concerns and maximize his playmaking talent. Murray has hit-or-miss qualities and is more splashy than consistent, but he’s immensely talented with the ability to imprint on games on all three downs.

During the 2019 season, Murray made 14 appearances and totaled 102 total tackles (17 for loss), four sacks, and four passes defensed. His production was more than enough to land him First-Team All-Big 12 honors, prompting him to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.

From an intangibles standpoint, Murray is quite impressive. He is 6’2″, 241 lbs, and has a 32 3/4″ wingspan with 9 1/2″ hands. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he ran a 4.52 40-yard dash, recorded 21 reps on the bench press, and was measured as having a 38.0″ vertical jump and 129.0″ broad jump.

For a team running a 3-4 defensive scheme, having a linebacker like Murray that can wreak havoc as a run stopper is important. His potential to be an impact player on all three-downs in that role makes him all the more intriguing as an option.