The Cardinals have selected Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall selection of the 2019 NFL draft.
Murray, who won the 2018 Heisman Trophy as the NCAA’s best football player, had long been the favorite to go to Arizona at No. 1, but reports in recent weeks — and even recent hours — had suggested other players such as Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams or Ohio State edge defender Nick Bosa could be in contention for the pick. But the Cardinals opted to go with Murray in a franchise-altering move.
Arizona, of course, used a top-10 selection on a quarterback just one year ago, moving up in the first round in order to acquire UCLA’s Josh Rosen. Rosen went on to post one of the worst rookie quarterback seasons of all time, but a porous offensive line, questionable coaching, and a lack of offensive weapons were at least partly to blame. He now appears to be trade bait, although the Cardinals may be in no rush to move him if they don’t find the right deal.
Murray becoming the NFL’s first overall pick would have been unthinkable as recently as the winter, as he’d already been drafted ninth overall by MLB’s Oakland Athletics. After hemming and hawing about his future, Murray in February fully committed to football, and returned the majority of his baseball signing bonus with the hope he’d recoup those lost funds via the NFL. Murray’s first NFL contract should have a total value north of $35MM and will be fully guaranteed.
At 5’10”, Murray becomes the shortest signal-caller drafted in the first round in more than 60 years, but his height was no obstacle during his lone season as the Sooners’ starter. Last year, Murray completed 69% of his passes for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, and added another 1,001 yards and 12 scores on the ground.
After adding Murray, the Cardinals now face the tall task of building up their roster around their rookie passer. Offensive line, pass-catcher, and defensive line are just a few areas general manager Steve Keim and new head coach Kliff Kingsbury could target over the remainder of the draft.
Enjoy Bosa twice a year. Such incompetence taking a 1st round QB two straight years
My thoughts exactly, this midget is gonna get smashed.
Agreed, hopefully he does well. In this league everyone is good and fast.
If they think Rosen was a bad pick, why stop yourself from taking another QB? Get it done and move on. Better to take QBs two years in a row, than stick with the wrong one for the sake of it.
Agreed. New Gm, New Coach, New QB. Hopefully it works out for them.
He is going to be a bust, he is shorter than Doug Flutie and he is going from the best offense Iine in college to the worst line in the NFL.
I would of drafted DK. I’m basing this solely on the commercial they play of him. I’m not sure that he’s a real player?
Shoot…Seems like a bad idea at 5’10 and a lousy line. score one for Rosen though …he won’t go anywhere with a worse line.
Lol at everyone saying he’s going to be a bust just because he’s short and the Cardinals had/have a bad line.. like they can’t improve that.. height for a Qb is vastly overrated.. ask Brees and Wilson.. neither of those guys have near as much athleticism as Murray either. If he busts it will be because of all the hits he takes early in his career before they can build a line around him.. not because he’s short…
well here is peak incompetence. yes, enjoy Bosa twice a year and getting garbage for your former 1st round QB fools.
It’s probably even money that the Cardinals will be using the first overall pick next season on a QB too.
They reached