Cardinals GM Keim to Kyler Murray: ‘We need you to ignite this offense’

Top members of the Arizona Cardinals organization were seen talking to Kyler Murray during NFL Draft in a behind-the-scenes video.

BY MATT LAYMAN

Apr 25, 2019, 8:39 PM Updated: 10:33 pm

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War Room – The Call To Murray. #CardsDraft pic.twitter.com/m6cOxJFIBq

— #KardsGotKyler (@AZCardinals) April 26, 2019

Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim didn’t take a quarterback in the first round of the NFL Draft two years in a row just for the heck of it.

He did it, undoubtedly, because of his feelings about Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, and the prospect’s abilities as both a passer and a threat on the ground. And maybe things would’ve been different had Josh Rosen flourished in the Cardinals’ offense last season, whether that was his fault or not that the team went 3-13.

The Cardinals’ 3,865 yards last season as an offense were far-and-away the fewest in the NFL. Rosen completed 55.2% of his passes for 2,278 yards, playing in 14 games under two different offensive coordinators and a one-and-done head coach.

So, a change was made.

Talking to his newly-minted first overall pick as the selection was being announced, Keim told Murray on Thursday, “We need you to ignite this offense.”

Head coach Kliff Kingsbury and team president Michael Bidwill also spoke to Murray on the phone, as shown in a behind-the-scenes video tweeted by the Cardinals.

“You ready to go? It’s time, man,” Kingsbury told Murray. “Hey, the talk is over. Now, they’ve got to deal with you.”