The 33rd Team: Cardinals’ Kyler Murray in Tier 1 of NFL players under 25
Jul 5, 2022, 1:30 PM
Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals throws a pass during the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on December 26, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 20-12. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The 33rd Team believes the Arizona Cardinals have one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL with Kyler Murray and ranked him seventh in the league’s top 25 players age 25 and under.
The list excluded players from the 2022 draft class, but saw eight players including Murray, labeled into “Tier 1: The Brightest Young Stars.”
Kyler Murray has been one of the most explosive quarterbacks in the NFL since entering the league in 2019. After finishing his rookie season with 3,722 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with 544 yards on the ground, Murray brought home the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. In 2020, Murray improved to 3,971 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. This past season, Murray took an even larger step. In 2021, Murray posted the third highest PFF-passing grade with 88.1, behind only Tom Brady and Joe Burrow. Not to mention, Murry boasted the highest big-time-throw percentage, generating a big-time-throw on a league-high 8.1% of his passes. There might be some trouble going on off the field in Arizona, but when Murray steps onto the gridiron, he is one of the league’s best.
Murray was the fourth-ranked quarterback behind Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert (No. 1), Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow (No. 2) and Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (No.3). They were the only four quarterbacks to make the list.
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The 33rd Team used 11 analysts to select from a pool of 75 players and ranked them off of potential value.
Murray ranked as high as fourth in voting but as low as 17. Of the top 15 on the list, only San Diego Charger safety Derwin James saw a bigger flux in his rankings, reaching as high as ninth and as low as 23.
Cardinals fans are familiar with Murray’s big-time-throw ability from plays such as the “Hail Murray” against the Buffalo Bills as well as his ability to extend plays in the pocket. Arizona will rely on his speed and unique abilities to improve on the passing grade, especially while DeAndre Hopkins is sidelined for the first six games of the season.
