Pair of ESPN writers feel ‘perfect fit’ for Kyler Murray is with Cardinals
Feb 11, 2019, 3:29 PM | Updated: Feb 12, 2019, 12:11 pm
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Army, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray made his intentions official Monday, choosing the NFL over MLB.
The Arizona Cardinals have been linked to Murray in the past, due to new head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s comments from October — when he was still at Texas Tech — on taking Murray No. 1 overall if he had the chance. So with Kingsbury getting the job in Arizona, the team with the No. 1 overall selection, the clip went viral.
The connection, though, goes beyond that according to two NFL writers.
ESPN.com asked a handful of their NFL writers some questions regarding Murray and both Matt Bowen and Mike Sando believe the perfect fit for Murray is in Arizona.
Bowen loves the stylistic match.
New coach Kliff Kingsbury can build his system around Josh Rosen. But if we are talking about a perfect fit, where Kingsbury can also utilize the creativity of his QB-designed runs/run-pass options to mesh with his traditional spread/Air Raid pass concepts? Then it’s Murray running the show. And that would cost the No. 1 overall pick.
Sando goes back to Kingsbury’s love of Murray as a quarterback.
Because Kingsbury has expressed such an affinity for him. Murray would also bring excitement to an organization that needs a spark.
Arizona, of course, just traded up in the 2018 NFL Draft to select former UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen. In his rookie season, Rosen threw for 2,278 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
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The 5-foot-10 Murray was the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. He initially planned on a baseball career, but a potential football career called after he threw for 42 touchdowns to seven interceptions as a junior this season at Oklahoma.
The Heisman Trophy winner has some skeptics in the NFL due to his size and build.
ESPN’s Todd McShay, in the 2.0 version of his mock draft before Murray’s announcement, had the Oklahoma product going 13th overall to the Miami Dolphins. Murray was the second quarterback off the board following Ohio State signal-caller Dwayne Haskins; McShay has Haskins going No. 6 to the New York Giants.
It is worth noting, though, that the six writers were asked if they would select Murray in the top-10 and they all said yes.
