Trio of Huskies selected in 2nd round of NFL draft

Published 1:30 am Friday, April 26, 2019

Washington’s Byron Murphy, Drew Sample and Taylor Rapp were all chosen in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday.

Murphy, one of the most dynamic cornerbacks in Husky history, became the second Washington player selected in the draft — offensive tackle Kaleb McGary was taken in the first round by the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday — when the Cardinals chose him with the first pick in the second round (No. 33 overall).

Murphy, from Scottsdale, Ariz., gets to stay home in Arizona, where he will reunite with former Washington teammates Budda Baker and Ezekiel Turner in the Cardinals’ secondary.

“Today, when I got the call, it kind of surprised me, but I was excited because I get to come home,” said Murphy. “I’m so emotional.”

Murphy is the sixth defensive back from UW drafted since 2013 — and that list doesn’t include Turner, who made the Arizona roster last year after signing as an undrafted free agent.

Murphy was an Associated Press second-team All-American in 2018 and a first-team all-Pac-12 selection. He was the MVP of the Pac-12 championship game after he returned an interception 66 yards for the only touchdown of the game, helping the Huskies to a 10-3 victory over Utah.

After a redshirt season in 2016, Murphy had two interceptions in his UW debut at Rutgers to open the 2017 season. He appeared in 20 games for the Huskies over the past two seasons, finishing his career with 74 tackles, seven interceptions, 27 pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He missed six games in 2017 because of a broken foot.

Murphy departed UW with two seasons of eligibility remaining. As a third-year sophomore, he was eligible to enter the 2019 draft.

Sample became the latest tight end from UW to enter the NFL, as he was taken in the second round (No. 52 overall pick) of the by the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 6-foot-5, 255-pound graduate of Newport High in Bellevue, Sample follows former UW tight end Will Dissly, who was drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2018 draft.

The Huskies have sent 20 tight ends to the NFL — and five in the past six years. Austin Seferian-Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2013, and Joshua Perkins (2016) and Darrell Daniels (2017) made NFL rosters as undrafted free agents.

Sample, a steady blocking tight end, had 25 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns as a senior in 2018.

“I definitely took pride in being able to be a focal point in that regard,” Sample said. “I took pride in opening holes for Myles (Gaskin) and our other running backs.”

The Los Angeles Rams selected Washington safety Taylor Rapp with the 61st overall pick.

The NFC champions moved back Thursday and two more times Friday, amassing two extra picks.

They finally used a pick on Rapp, who will join returning starter John Johnson and newcomer Eric Weddle in the secondary.

Rapp is the Rams’ highest-drafted defensive player since 2014. They hadn’t drafted a defensive player higher than 91st overall since they chose Aaron Donald a half-decade ago.

Rapp wasn’t surprised to hear from the Rams after making a pre-draft visit to their training complex.

“When I first got there, I could tell right away that it’s the perfect place for me,” said Rapp, a second-team AP All-America selection last season for the Pac-12 champion Huskies. “The culture is just so unique, and the way things are done around there is just so unique and so great. I just knew I would be a perfect fit.”