The reigning Heisman Trophy winner says he wants to play in the NFL. On Monday, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray announced that he has entered the 2019 NFL Draft, which likely means forgoing an opportunity to play professional baseball and join the Oakland A’s. 
In theory, Murray can still alter his plans and join up with the A’s, who may be willing to rework his contract in order to match his potential earning power in the NFL. But, if Murray can convince teams that he is absolutely serious about playing football, he may be able to put himself in the first-round mix, which would result in a hefty four-year guarantee.
Right now, NFL scouts estimate that he’ll be a second- or third-round pick, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. But, given his tremendous athleticism and upside, it’s not hard to see him as a Day 1 selection.
Most evaluators have also told Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter) that Murray projects as a Friday pick, meaning Round 2 or 3. However, QBs tend to inch up the board as the draft draws near, which is why we’ve had 13 first-round QBs taken in the last four years versus just two second-round signal callers in the second round.
In his first season as a starter, Murray threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and ran for another 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Sooners. Oklahoma reached the College Football Playoff semifinals with Murray at the helm but fell to Alabama 45-34.
An easier route for him to play at the highest level of either sport. If he stayed with baseball he may never had made the major leagues. This ensures him of playing at the highest level. I can’t blame him.
Not smart. Guy is a top 10 pick by the A’s where the Av salary of a bench player is close to $4mil and he wants to go to a sport where the av career length is 3-4yrs and who’s contracts aren’t worth the paper their written on?
Historically bad decision here… on second thought, with those kinda smarts maybe he should be a football player.
Avg salary 4mil?? You know it takes 3-4 years to even make millions AFTER you reach the Major Leagues, UNLESS you come out putting up numbers and qualify as a Super 2 in arbitration. Definitely not as easy as you make it seem.
The financial side of either sport could be an advantage or a disadvantage; it really just depends. If he becomes a franchise QB, he’ll make $20-25 million or more per season when he signs an extension, which is more than all but a small percentage of MLB players make each season. Even average quarterbacks get paid a ton, so if he manages to last in the league then it could be quite lucrative.
There’s also the chance that he gets injured and doesn’t make it past his first NFL contract, just like there’s the chance of him flaming out in the minors and never being a major leaguer — in which case he’d be left with his signing bonus and just about enough money for an appetizer at Applebee’s.
My point is that he could make a fortune or go broke no matter which sport he ends up picking. In part because of that, money shouldn’t be a factor in which sport he picks; it should be the one his heart is more into.
Lamar Jackson the 32nd pick in the draft last year got a 5M signing bonus 10M for the total he’s gonna go higher than that thus making more money right away. Not to mention minor leaguers often don’t make the majors for 2-3 seasons and get paid little. That’s if he even makes the majors which isn’t a given.
He’s playing QB the most protected position in the game, and makes the most money. Look what teams have given Glennon, Osweiler, Bradford, Keenum not very good QBs but have made a lot of money.
I think it’s a scam to get more money from A’s. I wouldn’t put it past that snake of an agent Boras
Boras just does what the player asks of him. If the player says, “Get as much money as humanly possible,” that’s what he does. Boras also does a great job of deflecting blame off of the players by taking all the blame himself. Nobody ever says ‘wow what a greedy player.’ People always blame Boras.
Yeah, I doubt it. This whole situation makes Boras look bad since he spent the entire time reassuring people Kyler would HONOR HIS COMMITMENT
I’m interested to see his real height/weight at the combine.
Hope he tears his achilles at the combine. – A’s fan
Do us all a favor, grow tf up and go back and cry at mlbtraderumors. Wishing an injury against a player is incredibly classless, I wouldn’t want to play for that sorry excuse for a team in that sorry excuse for a stadium either.
Sorry Dad, I’ll get right on that after I do the dishes.
i literally LOL’ed!
Let’s look at the facts. He’s small (5-10), slight build, is fast, has a good arm had 1 great year of college football.
Now translate what he does to the NFL game. He’s smaller and slighter than 95% of the players in the NFL (that includes kickers and punters). He’s fast, but so are the majority of players on defense. At 5’10” he’ll have to throw around lineman on both sides of the ball who are 6’3 – 6’6.
A couple of good hits by linebackers or DL who outweigh him by 100lbs will make him regret playing football.
As a team I wouldn’t use a high pick on him with the threat of him going to play baseball at anytime, or using you as a bargening chip against the A’s.
Do you have any IQ? Oklahoma’s o line is in the 6’3-6’6 range didn’t have any problems throwing over them. Do you think everyone is small in college? I promise you he got hit by guys that weigh 280-300 pounds plus and was fine. Congrats on literally being the dumbest person on here my guy
At least he uses periods to end his sentences. Just sayin’
College football =\= NFL. You can be a great college QB and be piss poor in the NFL. Happens all the time. Or are we pretending Manziel and Tebow never existed?
I agree with you, even a QB hungry team like my NY Giants should think twice. I don’t like the uncertainty of him not playing. Would set your franchise back years. What if he doesn’t like the team that picks him? Off to the MLB? Despite his talent level I think he slips to the second round for this very reason.
I know if I was an owner, I wouldn’t want him. You really want someone that can’t keep their word as the face of your franchise?
Yawn…..
Yes let’s see him get knocked on his backside by JJ Watt or Von Miller. He won’t remember what day it is or sport he is playing. What a douche
“The game has changed” “But the player(s) are the same!” – MacGruber
I hope he can convince someone to take him in the top 15 of the first round because that’ll make it one less team taking a player my team needs…
He will join Mayfield in Cleveland….but will play for the Cavaliers.
Murray will be lucky to get drafted in the 3nd round. The NFL is a passing league and ar 5’10” it is hard to see over the 6’5″ OL guys. He is looking to get 5 million plus instead of 4.6 million. It is ALL about money and never working again.
The guys is crazy small. Right after his Heismann win Murray was blown out by and exposed by the Alabama defense. Really he has no business in the NFL. Should grow up and try to become a first rate baseball player.