ESPN’s Rex Ryan compares Cardinals QB Kyler Murray to Mike Vick

Former New York Jets and Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan had nothing but good things to say about second-year Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray on Monday.

Ryan, speaking on ESPN’s morning show, “Get Up,” compared Murray to four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Mike Vick.

"I've seen this one other time … I think it's Michael Vick but he throws the ball better."

—Rex Ryan on Kyler Murray pic.twitter.com/Bggfcd09SK

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) September 21, 2020

Ryan discussed Murray’s unique skillset to colleague Dan Orlovsky and how the second-year quarterback has quickly become one of the NFL’s most exciting signal-callers.

“Remember in college, we were like, ‘this kid never gets tackled.’ And now he’s not even getting touched,” Ryan said. “So, to me, I’ve seen this one other time I think when thinking about all of these players.

“I think it’s Michael Vick, but he throws the ball better. And so, to me that was it. The way Vick burst onto the scene, that’s the way this kid is right now.”

His logic stemmed from Murray’s ability to avoid sacks and hits in general, along with the quarterback’s throwing abilities.

Ryan drew upon Murray’s experience as an MLB draft pick to bolster his claim, saying his background as an outfielder helps him avoid contact with opposing defenders.

“I’ve never seen a guy take less hits. As soon as he scrambles, don’t worry about it Cardinals fans,” Ryan said. “He does not get hit, he doesn’t get touched. When you look at him, he either slides on the ground as a great baseball player, he gets out of bounds or he sticks it into the end zone. You’re not touching him.”

Ryan was not the only panelist to heap praise on Murray, however, as Orlovsky made sure to include him as one of the league’s best gunslingers.

“You’re probably getting close to staying on one hand as far as he’s such a difficult guy to play against,” Orlovsky said. “And here’s the thing, he’s the fastest player on the field more often than not.”

Murray’s meteoric rise with the Cardinals stems from his solid showing in the team’s first two games, throwing for 516 yards and two touchdowns, to go with 158 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

The top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft will look to live up to such high standards against the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon.

Through the first two weeks of this season, the Lions are allowing the fifth-most yards per game at 425.5 and are also giving up 270.5 passing yards per contest.

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