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Why Trent Murphy Is Washington Redskins' Best Bet at Outside Linebacker

Notching a mere 2.5 sacks as a rookie is hardly the best audition to take over from a Pro Bowl outside linebacker. But Trent Murphy is still the Washington Redskins' best bet to replace Brian Orakpo at one edge of the team's 3-4 defense.

Even the arrival of Preston Smith, like Murphy a second-round pick, in this year's draft, doesn't change that. Murphy's the best bet to start because he's a technician who offers the right qualities to secure Washington's base defense.

The first of those qualities is greater size:

Bigger and Better

In pro football's land of the giants, even a 6'5", 258-pounder can add more pounds to his frame.