New Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. is still ascending

Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. sat in an office chair inside the Vikings equipment room, calling out then-Rams receiver DeSean Jackson's route like it was 2021.

"He has a tight split, so he's probably going across the field right here," Murphy said, pointing to the film clip in front of him. "Before the play snapped, I knew if he kept a vertical [approach], I'd have to get on my horse."

Murphy, the former Cardinals defender who signed to be the Vikings' top corner this season, could have taken a better angle to the moonshot pass from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford. But with athleticism and the hands of a 1,700-yard high school receiver, Murphy chased down Jackson and made a leaping…