Could Kyler Murray be in the mix to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? You bet.
News came out on Wednesday night via the San Francisco Chronicle saying that the Oakland A’s are expecting Murray to enter the NFL Draft and pursue a football career. Some scouts and teams reportedly see him as a first-round pick. But we need to up that talk.
How do we know? Just ask Kliff Kingsbury.
Back in October, Kingsbury’s Texas Tech Red Raiders were preparing to face Murray’s Oklahoma Sooners. In the week leading up to the game, Kingsbury was asked to talk about Murray and just raved about the eventual Heisman Trophy winner.
Kliff Kingsbury back on October 28, 2018:
"Kyler is a freak…..I would take him with the first pick of the draft if I could."
(via @EricKellyTV) pic.twitter.com/N9m99DkTNr
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 10, 2019
“Kyler is a freak,” Kingsbury said. “I’ve followed him since he was a sophomore in high school and just think the world of him and what he can do on the football field. I’ve never seen one better in high school, and he’s starting to show it now at the college level. I don’t have enough good things to say about him. He’s phenomenal. I’ve never seen him have a poor outing. Not one, which at quarterback is impossible to do. But he’s done it.”
“I’d take him with the first pick of the draft if I could. I know he’s signed up to play baseball, but he is a dominant football player. I would take him with the first pick.”
Well well well. Funny how things work. Kingsbury was fired by Texas Tech after three straight losing seasons, and he was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who just so happen to have the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft. Seems like Kingsbury will have his chance to put his money where his mouth is and take Murray.
The Cardinals may have taken Josh Rosen at quarterback last year, but if Kingsbury believes in Murray that much, they should take him all the way and just trade Rosen. You have to include Murray in the conversation to be the first overall pick now, no doubt.
