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2019 NFL Draft: Top defensive players at each position

By Brooks Austin

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 04: Ed Oliver #10 of the Houston Cougars celebrates after a tackle in the first half against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 03: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies celebrates in the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal during their game at Husky Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – NOVEMBER 03: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies celebrates in the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal during their game at Husky Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Cornerback #1: Byron Murphy, Washington

Look, if there were one position group in the evaluation process that you should place the most value in the combine drills, it would be the cornerbacks. But you know what? Sometimes you gotta tell the system to go kick rocks because, in this class, you just can’t trust the system.

I mean hell, the only corner big time corner that ran well was Greedy Williams, and spoiler alert, you won’t see his name in here.

If I were to trust one player’s tape in this draft it would 100% be Byron Murphy. In fact, his 91.9 grade from Profootballfocus.com was the highest among the corners, not only in this draft class but the best grade in over a decade.

Did his tests at the combine have some scouts talking negatively? Probably, but only until he put on a show in the field drills. The fluidity in the hips of this athlete is unparalleled in this draft.

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