The Pittsburgh Steelers had a meeting with Byron Murphy II, one of the most promising defensive lineman prospects in the pre-draft process, hailing from Texas. However, it turned out to be one of the strangest encounters for Murphy during his pre-draft journey.
Despite being drafted in the first round by the Seattle Seahawks, Murphy recounted the peculiar experience he had during his meeting with the Steelers. In a conversation with Brian Nemhauser on the Real Hawk Talk by Hawk Blogger Podcast, Murphy elaborated on the unsettling moment and shared what exactly it was about the Steelers’ approach that left him feeling perplexed.
“The weirdest thing I did, I was meeting with Pittsburgh. They made me face a wall. Made me do something with my hands and squat all the way down. And then made me do it again. I guess they were just trying to see how flexible [I] was. But I’m like, ‘Man, what is this?'”
During the podcast, Murphy appeared via video call, and keen-eyed viewers might have noticed a Steelers banner hanging in the background. He quickly clarified that it was his brother’s room, assuring everyone that he’s not a Steelers fan. Seahawks fans took to social media to share some humor regarding Murphy’s version of his meeting with Pittsburgh.
The Steelers were making my DT pop, lock, and drop it on his combine visit 💔 pic.twitter.com/zsJ63FKI3T
— ᴅᴏxx ⚡️ (@new_era72) May 1, 2024
Discussing the oddity of his meeting with the Steelers, Murphy shared a humorous anecdote. While it’s unusual in any context to be asked to face a wall and squat, such requests to test flexibility are fairly standard, especially when considering potential first-round picks. Nonetheless, Murphy found the approach peculiar and amusing, a detail he humorously recounted on the podcast.
Despite some pundits believing that the Steelers should shock everyone by selecting Murphy in the first round, he was never truly in their plans. The team had clear needs, prioritizing improvements to their offensive line, center position, and wide receiver corps in rounds one through three.
Ultimately, they selected Troy Fautanu in the first round, a choice that aligned with their objectives. However, had Murphy fallen to the Steelers, it could have introduced an interesting scenario. Yet, with Fautanu available, the possibility never materialized. Also, Murphy was picked a couple spots prior to the Steelers pick so they would have had to trade up to get him.
Steelers 2024 Draft Praised By Virtually Everyone
Entering the 2024 draft, the Steelers faced significant pressure to address glaring needs at center, offensive tackle, and wide receiver. With clear objectives in mind, they managed to secure all three positions with great value picks. These picks have caused many pundits to reveal that the Steelers had a super great draft.
While the notion of drafting a talent like Murphy was undoubtedly enticing, it ultimately didn’t align with the Steelers’ strategy, especially considering he wasn’t available anyway. Nonetheless, Murphy’s perspective on his meeting with the team adds an intriguing layer to the draft narrative.
Although the Steelers are currently being lauded for their draft selections, the true measure of success will only be apparent in hindsight, after a couple of years have passed. As the new prospects prepare to make their mark with their respective teams, both the Steelers and their fans are filled with excitement for the upcoming 2024 season.
As these newly drafted players settle in, it’ll be fascinating to hear if any more of them have funny or strange stories to share from their pre-draft meetings, adding further intrigue to their journeys into the NFL.
