Where Will Kyler Murray Go?

Projecting where Oklahoma Quarterback Kyler Murray will land in the NFL Draft

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Sean McMahon

There were many speculations on if Kyler Murray, the now former Oklahoma Sooners QB, would choose football over baseball. Two sports that he has completely excelled in throughout his college career. Before his Junior season at Oklahoma, Murray was chosen in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Oakland Athletics. Not only that, but Murray signed a contract which gave him up to six million dollars. So, that seemed like the obvious choice for him to pick baseball over football. Kyler would end up having a historic Heisman winning season as the QB of the Sooners looking like he filled the role that Baker Mayfield was in a season before. This brought up the conversation of Football or Baseball and which one is the best decision for Kyler long term. Many people had different opinions about the whole thing, but only one man can make that decision and that is Kyler Murray. With all that being said Kyler chose football and will pursue a career as an NFL QB.

Now the whole thing is what team will take the risk on Kyler Murray and draft him in the first round. The reason most people believe it is a risk to draft him is because of his height. Usually as an NFL team you want your franchise QB to be 6’2 and over. That is because you want them to be able to see over the offensive line that is blocking for them to make the right read. There have recently been some exceptions to that with Baker Mayfield coming into the NFL last year being only six foot and turning a whole franchise around. At least he was six foot, Murray was thought to be 5’9. Which is just too small to be an NFL QB to some people. At the NFL combine measurement this week, Murray was measured at 5’10 which is actually really good for his draft stock. Despite that measurement, NFL teams some still believe he is too small to contribute to an NFL franchise as the QB of the future. Even though Kyler is the most talented QB in this draft by far. There are other prospects like Dwayne Haskins who has a big arm and is very accurate, but Kyler is all that and more

At Oklahoma, Murray had the best season of any QB that is in his draft class with him. Throwing for 42 TDs while rushing for another 12. He completed an amazing near 70% of his passes in his Heisman campaign season last year. Kyler would throw for over 4300 yards and rush for an added on 1000 yards rushing. So, clearly in college being “too small” was not an issue with him. Not only did he have crazy success, but some of the little things like not having many to any of his throws batted down at the line.

Kyler is elusive, quick, accurate, and smart. All traits that scream NFL franchise QB and that is what I think he will be. I believe that the Arizona Cardinals will draft Kyler Murray with the number overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. They can get a great package if they trade him and many NFL teams would take the shot on him. The reason I say the Cardinals is all because of new head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury was hired as the Arizona Cardinals head coach a few months ago after being fired as the Texas Tech head coach. Last season before a Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma matchup, Kingsbury praised Kyler by saying if he had the number one overall pick that he would choose Kyler. Now, obviously at the time he was still a college head coach and had no chance to choose Kyler as his NFL QB. After being fired from Texas Tech, Kingsbury would be hired as the offensive coordinator at USC. That is when the Cardinals offered him to fill the vacant head coaching spot and he did. Coincidentally the Cardinals hold the number one pick in the draft.

Kingsbury has been hesitant to say who they are choosing first overall and has mentioned they think that they have their guy at QB already, but many NFL scouts and insiders believe that they will draft Kyler Murray. It is a great fit not just because a year ago Kingsbury saying he’d draft Kyler number one, but he would fit perfectly with Kingsbury’s offense. He is a former college coach so the offense would be similar to the offense that Kyler ran at Oklahoma. Mostly in the NFL, offenses run most of their plays under the center which makes it tougher for smaller QBs to see the field, but when a team is in the shotgun it gives a small QB a chance to see the whole field and make the right play. Kingsbury will run shotgun a lot more frequently than that average NFL team. Especially if it means that Kyler would succeed if he ends up being the QB. Kyler would thrive under Kingsbury because of that and will be able to see the field and anticipate how to defense will react and make the right throw in the right area. He will be able to escape from the pocket and use that groundbreaking speed. I think that the Arizona Cardinals are the best fit for Kyler Murray and Kyler Murray is the perfect QB for the Arizona Cardinals and Kliff Kingsbury and that is why I think that is where he will land,