With The First Pick
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Byron Murphy is the favorite to be 1st player selected in 2nd round

By Bryan Perez

SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies returns an interception for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Byron Murphy #1 of the Washington Huskies returns an interception for a touchdown against the Utah Utes during the Pac 12 Championship game at Levi's Stadium on November 30, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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One of the biggest surprises from the first round of the 2019 NFL draft was the lack of cornerbacks selected in the top 32.

Former Washington cornerback Byron Murphy was expected to be a first-round pick when the 2019 NFL draft got started Thursday night, but as is the case for many rookie hopefuls, he didn’t hear his name called. He’s now one of the best available players at the start of Day 2.

It doesn’t appear he’ll be waiting long to find out his new home.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Murphy is the favorite to be the first player selected in the second round.

“Washington CB Byron Murphy is the heavy favorite to go at the opening pick of the second round if Arizona holds on to the pick tonight,” Schefter tweeted.

His tweet was a reply to a message his colleague Chris Mortenson passed along a few hours earlier.

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“As I shut my eyes for a few hours sleep, I’m thinking Washington CB Byron Murphy was disappointed Thursday night but is going to be a very happy young man when the NFL Draft kicks off Day 2 Friday night on primetime TV.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport followed Schefter’s tweet with one of his own, saying fireworks are expected at the top of the second round as teams try their hardest to trade up with Arizona to land one of the top offensive tackles still on the board. Players like Oklahoma’s Cody Ford, Kansas State’s Dalton Risner, Florida’s Jawaan Taylor and Ole Miss’ Greg Little are all still ripe for the taking.

As for Murphy? He’s likely a victim of the overall valuation of the cornerback position this year. Only one corner was selected in the first round (DeAndre Baker, Giants) after as many as three or four were consistently predicted in the top 32 in almost every mock draft.

Schefter shared Browns GM John Dorsey’s thoughts on the cornerback class, which could help clarify why guys like Murphy and LSU’s Greedy Williams have slipped.

“If you talk to a lot of people around the league,” Dorsey said, “if you talked about the cornerbacks and how they had the cornerbacks rated, I bet you would have 20 different stackings at the cornerback position this year.”

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