Before he was the first overall pick of the Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft, Kyler Murray was the ninth overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Oakland A’s. Then he went on to win the Heisman Trophy, causing him to rocket up NFL draft boards. Even after winning the Heisman Murray initially was reported to be pursuing baseball over football, but obviously that changed when it became clear just how high he’d be drafted. We haven’t heard a ton about his baseball passions since, but he made it clear he isn’t over the game in interviews this past week. “I would love to” play baseball again one day Murray said on The Pat McAfee Show, via Jeremy Cluff of the Arizona Republic. “I think it’s still there because I’ve been doing it my whole life. It wasn’t like I have to turn this off to be elite at football.”
When asked if he could see himself playing football and baseball at the same time one day soon, Murray said “I hope so. I hope so. I mean, I would love to. I think that would be good for everybody … I think it is tough because I play quarterback.” He also added that walking away from Oakland was “definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make.” The Cardinals likely aren’t as enthused about the possibility, and it’s specifically in his contract that he’s not allowed to play baseball. Maybe when it comes time for Murray to get a contract extension from Arizona, he’ll look to negotiate a clause that allows him to try his hand at baseball? It’s certainly fun to think about, and I think every fan would be hoping he can become the next Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders.
Here’s more from around the league as we officially turn our attention toward the offseason:
- David Njoku had a rocky season with the Browns, even as the team had their most success in decades. The drafting of Harrison Bryant and signing of Austin Hooper reduced his role on offense, and Njoku demanded to be traded this past summer, then changed his mind on that demand, then apparently changed his mind once again and wanted to be traded in October. Obviously Cleveland didn’t want to deal him, and it looked like everything had more or less been worked out, but Njoku fanned the flames again this past week. “That’s a good question,” Njoku said recently on the Jim Rome Show when asked if he’s in the right spot, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. “I’m not going to answer that right now. I have no comment towards that at this moment,” Njoku said cryptically. The 29th overall pick of the 2017 draft added that everything would work itself out in the “near future.” Thanks to his fifth-year option the tight end is under contract for 2021 at a hair over $6MM, although that’s not guaranteed. If they choose to keep him at that number, it sounds like another trade request could be in the cards.
- Reserve/futures deals are non-guaranteed pacts to keep unheralded players a part of a team’s offseason 90-man roster, so they usually don’t come with any bonuses or guaranteed money. When they do, that makes them a lot more notable, and Field Yates of ESPN.com recently tweeted out this cycle’s biggest. Cornerback Grant Haley got $35.7K from the Saints, safety Marqui Christian and cornerback Xavier Crawford got $35K and $31.3K respectively from the Bears, long snapper Dan Godsil got $27.4K from the Bengals, and tight end Tyree Jackson got $25.2K from the Eagles while punter Arryn Siposs got $25K from Philly. All these guys would seem to have a better than normal chance of cracking next year’s 53. Haley saw a lot of run his first two years in the league with the Giants, and was up and down from New Orleans’ practice squad in 2020. If Cincy is giving a reserve/futures long snapper $25K, you’ve gotta figure they think there’s a good chance he’s their guy next year. Jackson is a notable name since he’s the former University of Buffalo star quarterback who has since transitioned to tight end.
- Speaking of relatively minor contracts, Yates also tweeted the details for the recent extensions for Raiders quarterback Nathan Peterman and 49ers long snapper Taybor Pepper. Peterman got a guaranteed $1MM base salary on his one-year deal, a $25K workout bonus, and a max value of $2.775MM with incentives. Pepper got two-years, $2.08MM with an $80K signing bonus and $220K of his $920K salary for 2021 guaranteed. It’s pretty eyebrow-raising to see Peterman get his $1MM guaranteed considering he’s thrown all of five passes the past two seasons, but Jon Gruden clearly loves the guy. This would suggest he’s got a good shot to hold the clipboard for Derek Carr, or whoever is the Raiders’ starter next year.
Is this Murray’s shot at trying to get out? Easy enough to say ‘I won’t sign an extension if I can’t play baseball…’
Sounds like he is positioning himself for a massive contract.
I’m sorry but he would start in single A ball.
Also Bo wore his body down and ended his career quickly. I fill sorry him and I donated 400.00 to his go fund me. Money gone. He was renting a room in someone’s house in Orlando
I think you got taken – – as of December, Bo had a net worth of $25 million and living in Illinois with his wife.
Wow lol
Murray strikes me as one of those guys who is playing football for the wrong reason(s). Thus I don’t think you should expect much out of him long-term, as once he gets paid the big bucks he will have reached his only real goal. He’ll probably be one of those guys that retires early due to injury (similar to Andrew Luck).
I hate to say it because it’s just so speculative, but he does seem to have a sort of spoiled attitude towards it. Very speculative of course, but I can’t help feeling that it’s true.
The second best recent NFL QB at bringing racists out from under their rocks.
If somebody doubts Kyler Murray, they’re a racist?
I wonder if the fact that teams went virtual this offseason & for some weeks game planning would help Murray in the future be able to play both.
Obv Sunday’s wouldn’t be able to play baseball but what if he’s playing baseball most of the week & studying football game plan/attending meetings, then playing game day.
Just a thought but I do feel like the virtual aspects we’ve recently witnessed could potentially help Murray pull it off.
I wasn’t sold on him out of college, but after watching his first season, his arm is a rope and his decision making is improving. I think playing baseball has only helped him in being a QB. most notably footwork and arm slot. small sample size, but look at Wilson, Mahomes, both are able to make a lot of throws that other fundamental QBs would have a hard time doing