2019 NFL Draft Profile: Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray

#2 Quarterback by Football Addicts

Born: May 3rd, 1997 (21 years old)
Height: 5’10
Weight: 205 Lbs
Position: Quarterback
University: Oklahoma

About Kyler

Growing up in Coppell, Texas, the legend of Kyler Murray started young for me. I was able to watch him shred defenses for 4 years, as he was just one grade above me in high school. He has been this way forever. By the time he left Allen, he had become one of the best, if not the best, Texas high school football players ever. After a 43-0, 3 state championship run and racking up over 14,500 total offensive yards in high school, Murray had captured the nation of football. He earned a 5 star ranking, and was every recruiting sites #1 overall recruit in 2015 class. Kyler Murray, coming fresh off the Manziel-mania, committed to the Aggies and followed in his father’s footsteps in College Station.

After enrolling at Texas A&M, he was set to compete with another 5 star quarterback, Kyle Allen. Allen originally won the battle, but after two start losses, Murray would go on to take the reigns for the Aggies. In his first start he would throw for 223 yards and rush for 156 more yards, and a touchdown in each category. This made him and Cam newton as the only players in the SEC over the past 20 years to pass and rush for 100 yards and a touchdown. After an up and down season with the Aggies, he announced he would be transferring to Oklahoma, where he would have to sit out for the entire 2016 season as a redshirt. Murray also wanted to continue playing baseball, as he was a top draft pick in that sport as well, but A&M wouldn’t allow it.

By the time it was his turn to be the starter for the Sooners, Murray had already become a Top 10 pick in the MLB draft, being selected 9th by the Oakland Athletics. 8 months later he would go on and win the Heisman after a record breaking offensive season. Kyler threw for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions, rushed for just over 1,000 yards, and had 12 more touchdowns on the ground. The Sooners would go on to win the Big-12 championship again, but Alabama would stop the Murray hype train in the Orange Bowl.

Murray has had a wild ride in college but it’s all gonna come to an end on the 25th. Some franchise will draft him, and they will get an instant spark on their offense. Build around him correctly, and you could have a potential offensive bomb as your quarterback for years to come.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

Obviously Murray is one of the fastest players in college football, and has a quickness that is almost indescribable. He also throws on of the prettiest balls in college football. His outfielder really shows with his throwing ability as he easily can chunk the ball 50 yards, and is very accurate throwing on the run as well. He never is rattled, and stays focused at all times. It is hard to get in a quarterback’s head without being able to touch him, and he was only sacked 18 times in his college career.

Weaknesses

Even at 5’10, 207 Lbs, Murray is still considered very small at the quarterback position. Some analysts say he hasn’t been tested enough to be a true franchise quarterback, and while it is true he hasn’t been tested much, I don’t see it hindering him in the long run. I wouldn’t be surprised if Murray does have a learning curve in the NFL.   

NFL Draft Projection/ NFL Comp

NFL Draft Projection

I never really believed in Murray’s hype to Arizona. I see him more in the 5-10 range, but I would love to see him in Tampa Bay at 5. Jameis Winston is not the answer for the Bucs, and if anyone could make Murray “NFL ready” its Bruce Arians. Pair him up with the giant targets they have in Tampa, not to mention the former Aggie Mike Evans, and suddenly things sound a lot easier for Murray.

NFL Comparison

There is really only one person you can compare Murray to in the NFL, and that is Russell Wilson. Murray isn’t as big as Wilson, but their ability to break away from defenses, and stay clean on their feet are very similar. They both have high level baseball backgrounds, and you can see it in their ability to launch deep passes. With that being said, no one has been like Kyler Murray, and that’s what makes him what he is.