NFL: Where Will QB Kyler Murray Be Drafted?
Kyler Murray is one of the most polarizing quarterbacks to enter the NFL draft since Tim Tebow. The dual-sport dynamo has exceeded expectations on the football field while earning Oklahoma their second straight Heisman Trophy winner.
He finished the season with 4,362 passing yards (along with 42 touchdowns) while running for 1,001 yards and 12 more scores. Murray formally entered into the 2019 NFL Draft and turned down the chance to play baseball with the Oakland Athletics for an opportunity to be the face of a franchise in the NFL.
Only time will tell if Kyler Murray goes down as one of the best picks in NFL draft history or one of the biggest busts ever. With the NFL draft coming up soon, let’s take a look at some of the potential landing spots for the Heisman Trophy-winning former Oklahoma Sooner.
Arizona Cardinals — No. 1 overall pick
This would flip the entire NFL draft board upside down, but it still has a good possibility of happening. New Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury stated last season that any team with the number one pick should select Murray, and his team does, in fact, have that pick.
The popular player all season long has been Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa, who can immediately help a defense that ranked 23rd in total QB rating. However, with Josh Rosen reportedly out of favor with the coaching staff and a potential draft bust, we could be looking at a major surprise for the second year in a row at the number one spot.
Jacksonville Jaguars — No. 7 overall pick
This could be where the dominoes start to fall for Kyler Murray to become a top-10 pick. The New York Giants have the No. 6 pick and are projected to select Dwayne Haskins out of Ohio State, either by trading up or snagging him at the sixth spot. Plus, we have seen teams get anxious for a QB and trade up out of fear that they will lose a player they covet.
The Jaguars look like they are going to move on from Blake Bortles, but selecting Murray won’t fit into the offensive schemes for the coaching staff. Coach Doug Marrone likes to run the ball first, second, and third. Former first-round pick Leonard Fournette is still an excellent downhill runner, and drafting Murray wouldn’t mesh well with his style of play.
The more realistic scenario is Jacksonville trading out of this spot and whoever lands here selecting Murray with the number seven pick.
Miami Dolphins – No. 13 overall pick
Miami may be one of the prime trade candidates Jacksonville can squeeze an extra first or second round pick out of during the first round of the NFL draft. Ryan Tannehill hasn’t been healthy enough to warrant a contract extension.
New Dolphins head coach Brian Flores comes over from New England, and he knows just how valuable a dynamic talent at the quarterback position is. The Dolphins passed for the third-fewest yards in the league last season, and selecting Kyler Murray would be an instant jolt to their offense.
Washington Redskins – No. 15 overall pick
Washington has a major dilemma on their hands. Does the team target a QB in free agency after Alex Smith’s terrible leg injury or draft the QB of the future? Or does it trade for a veteran and draft another position of need?
If Murray is available there is no way Jay Gruden passes him up. He is an excellent fit in the West Coast offense with his short and intermediate passing accuracy, and he finished his last college season with a 69% completion percentage. There are other positions of need for Washington, but no one with the talent level of Murray if he falls to them.
