‘Now or nothing' for Bengals' Myles Murphy, which will it be? Depends on who you ask

New York Times

05-08-2025

CINCINNATI — Defensive coordinator Al Golden stood in front of a collection of microphones at the conclusion of mandatory minicamp in mid-June, and his tone reminded of a year-end banquet.
Nearly every player on the two-deep received a kind word or shout-out. Starters, backups, rookies, players returning from injury, you name it. Completing his first offseason since replacing Lou Anarumo, Golden spewed a fountain of hope and positivity.
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About 13 minutes in, it seemed odd that Myles Murphy hadn't been mentioned. After all, leading the 2023 first-round pick to the next level after two uneven seasons should be starred and underlined atop the new coordinator's priority list.
He's a 6-foot-5, 270-pound athletic specimen who, at 23, should be hitting an impactful level in his third year. A level capable of helping offset the attention bestowed upon sack king Trey Hendrickson, along with the hundreds of millions spent on the offensive side of the organization's balance sheet.
Instead, the mention of his name shifted the banquet tone like a record scratch.
'Yeah, I think it's time, right?' Golden said. 'It's time.'
Golden laid out details of the development plan, his view of the imposing physical skills and possibilities of a player the personnel department saw taking the baton from Hendrickson as a face of the young, defensive core.
'I'm really excited about him, but it is time,' Golden said. 'He knows that it's time to go. And we're really counting on him. We really are. We really are.'
Should they be? Because there's a bigger question beyond playing time, technique and athletic profile the Bengals need answered about Murphy: Does he have that dog in him?
You know the meme, the dog inside the ribs on a chest x-ray. A new-age symbol for the inner drive and competitive wiring necessary to battle in the NFL.
Given what's transpired to this point and Golden's urging, it is fair to wonder if Murphy has it.
And also, why the Bengals might have a secret weapon to combat the concern.
'It's my job to get whatever dog that he has in him out,' new defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery said. 'That's my job. I have to find ways to get him there consistently. So that's what we do. But he's got it. He's got what he needs to play at this level, it's just my job to get it out of him.'
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There's no running from the number. The oval pops off the season box score like a scarlet letter.
Zero sacks.
The analytics community will opine that sacks are overrated while pressure rates, win percentages and disruption offer more telling evaluations of edge rusher impact. Generally, they'd be right.
But for a player whose worth in the NFL is defined by affecting the quarterback, sacks will always matter most. Not only do they kill drives at a higher rate than any non-turnover in football, they lead the way in awards voting and serve as Exhibit A in contract negotiations.
Last year, one that was supposed to be a breakout second season for the 28th selection in the 2023 draft, Murphy managed zero sacks.
Sure, he suffered a sprained MCL in an August joint practice against the Colts, which sidelined him for the first month of the season. And yes, he was buried behind Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard on the depth chart, two veterans with implicit trust from Anarumo.
That's not what Murphy sees looking back on what went wrong.
He says he could have handled the injury better, largely by paying more attention to his diet. He hired a nutritionist this offseason and dramatically altered his approach.
Murphy admits that when he was on the field, the tape showed a player lacking belief.
'I looked hesitant,' Murphy said. 'Not too confident knowing the move is going to work. Even when I did have clean wins, it was hesitant.'
Murphy hasn't had much opportunity to shed hesitancy. Anarumo and former defensive line coach Marion Hobby did limit his opportunities. Murphy has played in 30 of 34 possible games since being drafted, but logged just 633 defensive snaps.
Fifty players were selected in the first two rounds of the 2023 draft and played at least 27 career games. Murphy ranks 48th in total snaps.
The Bengals drafted him to rush the passer, and, specifically compared to similar players, he's not been given a full opportunity to do that. From 2021 to 2023, 29 edges were selected between picks 11 and 64. Murphy ranks 24th in pass rush snaps over their first two seasons.
Meanwhile, he ranks in the middle of the pack in that group in pressure rate (9.6 percent). He's enjoyed flashes, specifically in the second half of his rookie year.
Again, Murphy balked at the chance of utilizing an available excuse.
'You have to be ready for your opportunity,' he said. 'You are going to get your opportunity, whether you get 50 plays a game or you get 10 snaps. You got to bloom where you are planted.'
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Make no mistake, though, in his highest-leverage opportunities, Murphy wilted.
Consider these numbers in the situations most conducive to making an impact. Here's where Murphy ranks against the first- and second-round edges in his draft class when on the field for third/fourth-and-long (5-plus).
That's 64 moments Murphy was drafted to win, and a bottom line there's no hiding from or rationalizing.
Murphy relied on the freakish traits that made him a first-round pick his entire life and now fully understands that will never be good enough here. It may have taken longer than anyone would have liked, but Murphy sounds like a player learning a hard lesson through self-reflection.
'High school and college, I've been able to out-athlete people,' Murphy said. 'Now I've noticed you have to be technical in your game 24/7. I wasn't taking that as serious as I should.'
Bengals' de facto GM Duke Tobin made a big bet on Murphy this offseason.
Free agency came and went without adding an edge rusher, despite a desperation for somebody — anybody — not named Hendrickson to chase down the quarterback. They selected Shemar Stewart in the first round and Joseph Ossai returned.
Tobin pointed out the lack of playing time when first asked to assess Murphy's season on the team website in February, stating he sees the traits: 'He'll get in the groove the more he plays.'
Time ticks fast in today's NFL. The days when even top picks get years of opportunity are long gone. Tobin plotted his offseason strategy around the expectation that Murphy will be given more playing time this year and come of age. If he doesn't, a new strategy will come next year.
'That's a big reason why I changed a lot of things that I do now,' Murphy said. 'I am going into the season like it is now or nothing. Why not? Try everything. Don't leave anything to questions.'
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Tobin saw a player physically capable of living up to his draft status, but needed to learn how to win at the top of his rush. In his mind, the rest was there; Murphy merely needs to figure out how to finish. That skill needed to be coached and given a real runway to succeed.
Can that knack be developed? Or is it a fatal flaw?
He turned this critical project over to Golden and Montgomery.
Golden saw a need to simplify the process for Murphy so his natural ability could do the work. He saw a player in his own head.
'We tried to quiet his mind down,' Golden said. 'Myles is a great talent, and for us to get his talent in the game, we just got to get him to play quiet, play fast and play with great effort. That's really the process that we're in right now and there's nobody better in the business than Jerry to do that.'
Montgomery has proof to back up Golden's bold claim. He was the defensive line coach for the Packers from 2018 to 2023 and spent last year with the Patriots. At both stops, he took a developmental top pick and helped them ascend to the next level.
In Green Bay, the Packers drafted Rashan Gary 12th in 2019. The scouting report on NFL Network spotlighted a player whose production failed to match the traits at Michigan. Yet, in Year 3, the traits won.
Taking the defensive line job under head coach Jerod Mayo last year in New England, Montgomery pulled off a similar trick with edge Keion White.
The 49th pick in the 2023 draft struggled in limited playing time as a rookie, but his first year with Montgomery saw a spike.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor had Montgomery on his radar because he noticed the energy of the Green Bay defensive line over the years and again last year in New England. When watching Montgomery militaristically grind through drills, lessons and speak directly about the task at hand, it's easy to see how he helped developmental players find their next level.
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'I am very demanding,' Montgomery said. 'I hold the guys to a standard. If it is not right, they hear about it. That's the reality I live every single day. That is my job to be honest with them and hold them accountable.'
Murphy and the coach he calls 'J-Mo' have a one-on-one talk every single day. No flaw goes unaccounted for, no shortcut accepted.
'He doesn't let anything slide,' Murphy said. 'If he does let something slide on the field, when we get to the film room — 'your toe is not turned toward the quarterback.' It's the little stuff like that that's effective. I just like his coaching dynamic as a whole.'
Then there's the concept of effort and drive, yes, Montgomery dragging out the dog in Murphy. Golden called it playing 'with great effort,' or to put it bluntly, no more taking plays off, no more quitting on rushes, no more skating by on talent.
'One play you see a great flash and the other play it's like maybe going through the motions,' Montgomery said. 'Every day I say, if you can put a whole game together of this and not half a game of that, now we are totally taking the next step. That is my goal for you. I am going to be on you. I am not going to let anything slide. We are going to run to the ball. We are going to be physical at the point of attack. We are going to be an active rusher, affecting the quarterback. We are not going to shut it down and stop. It's a process. And it's early.'
As Golden pointed out, it may be early, but it's also time.
The progress has gradually shown through 10 practices. Golden pointed out how 'rugged' Murphy was playing when lined up in the 'C' gap outside the tackle. He's flipped across sides of the formation for a defense emphasizing positional versatility.
Murphy says he feels the quiet taking over his game. He points out that he would watch a 30-minute highlight tape of Hendrickson's best plays and see two or three moves helping him dominate. The adjustment involves perfecting what he does best, not recreating his style.
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'When it is third-and-long, I'm not thinking, 'Which one of these eight moves am I going to do?'' Murphy said. 'How does this tackle set? OK, he sets deep. Then one of two moves. Boom. Quiet my mind now. I am just looking at the ball, getting off the ball. That's it.'
Every June in Las Vegas, a collection of the NFL's best pass rushers, led by Cam Jordan, Maxx Crosby and Von Miller, hold the Sack Summit. It's in the vein of Tight End U, which gained popularity in recent years.
The theme is teaching intricacies of the position to a gathering of young edge rushers and collegiate players. The messaging from the big three leading the weekend was the combination of technique and mentality for any developing player.
'It's just about consistency and showing up every day with the mindset to outdo everybody around you,' Crosby said. 'That's how you create a winning culture in a competitive environment. It's not selfish to go above and beyond to be the best version of yourself. And when you have a whole group of guys doing that, it's just a competition every day of who's going to put in the most work? Who's going to push themselves to that limit? That's what I try to do.'
Crosby might be the definition of a player where mentality outweighs any physical shortcomings. The former fourth-rounder out of Eastern Michigan rarely comes off the field. He's a four-time Pro Bowler who never missed a game until this season, grinding out 59.5 sacks and $35.5 million per year.
Can Murphy find those elements within himself? Can any player develop a new mindset or is that merely the way you are?
Ossai did. He points out that he battled confidence issues during his career, collecting 4.5 sacks in his first 40 games. Last year, he collected five in his final seven games and mentality changed.
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'If you have struggles early on, it can be (hard),' Ossai said. 'It's a constant grind of getting over that hump. Once you see one fall in, you gain that confidence a lot. It can happen. I can get to that quarterback. You got to keep going. Persistence.'
Murphy flashes a soft smile and kind demeanor. He enjoys working for his foundation, helping underprivileged kids in Cincinnati and his hometown of Atlanta. He shows genuine respect for those around him. He comes across as a good guy.
Nice win by Myles Murphy here. He's had a few nice reps against rookie Jalen Rivers. https://t.co/CsrYETw2by pic.twitter.com/cX3ATX8M73
— James Rapien (@JamesRapien) August 2, 2025
Sometimes, you need to be a little unhinged to be a great edge rusher. You need to tap into your version of the 'Blackout Trey' nickname bestowed upon Hendrickson to take the next step.
Murphy needs to flip the switch.
'Say f— it,' Murphy said. 'Get to the quarterback.'
He needs the technique. He needs the push from a demanding coach. He needs the opportunity.
More than anything, however, he needs confidence to know he can do it. He needs confidence to wipe away the stain of zero sacks.
Montgomery works every day to help him build it. He's trying to pull the dog out and find the mentality necessary to reach what the Bengals defense desperately needs.
'A coach can only bring so much of that,' Murphy said. 'It's up to the player.'
Murphy feels hope in this fresh start. He smiles with excitement while talking about the energy he feels when walking into the building every day. He says he's in a great space mentally and physically.
All that only goes so far. It's up to him. The test of his career begins in 34 days. The Bengals are counting on Murphy to go off. Or else, they'll move on.
It's time, right?
The Athletic's Tashan Reed contributed.