Is the NFL the Right Decision for Kyler Murray?
Photo: ftw.usatoday.com
The Oakland Athletics have announced they fully expect first round draft pick and Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray to declare for the NFL draft before the deadline this coming Monday. The two-sport athlete was drafted 9th overall by the Athletics in last year’s MLB draft, but worked out a deal that allowed him to play one final year of football at the University of Oklahoma. Taking over the starting quarterback position, Murry exceeded expectations and had one of the best seasons in college football history and won the Heisman Trophy. Kyler has said he would like to play both sports, but also acknowledges the probability of doing that as an NFL quarterback is pretty much non-existent. With him having to ultimately choose one before Spring Training/NFL Combine time, what decision is best for Murray?
Photo: www.cbssports.com
First of all, I know that I cannot make the best decision for Kyler Murray. It is his life and he knows how to make the best decisions for himself. But just for fun, let’s put ourselves in Kyler’s shoes and weigh his options. First of all, let’s talk money. He signed a $4.6 million signing bonus to play baseball for the Athletics. Like all baseball players, he will have to work his way up through the minor leagues, with no guarantee of ever making it to the majors. He has tons of potential, but is still raw. However, the vast majority of top-10 draft picks do make it to the majors. Once proven in the majors, Murray will have the opportunity to sign a new contract and really cash in some money. Baseball contracts are known to very generous and Murray would have the opportunity to make more than he would if he went to the NFL.
If Kyler Murray decides to enter the NFL draft, he is pretty much a consensus first round pick. I even think he could sneak up the draft board and be drafted a lot higher than people think. New Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury has already said he would take Murray with the first overall pick, if it was completely up to him, and the Cardinals do possess that pick. If he were to be picked top five, he would be set to make around $30,000,000 right off the bat. If he is drafted late first round, he would make about $10,000,000. So in short, if he wants to make more money in the short run, he should choose the NFL. If he wants the opportunity to make far more money in the long run, he should choose the MLB.
Next, let’s discuss the physical wear and tear from both sports. Obviously football is the more physical sport and would provide much more of a beating to his body than baseball would. Baseball would give him the chance to have a longer career and a better life after his career with less body pain, etc. As a quarterback in the NFL, especially one that will make a career with his legs as well, he will suffer many hard hits that will no doubt be tough on his body. If he is concerned about his overall well-being, he should choose the MLB.
More important than anything when making this decision is his love for each sport. Does Kyler Murray love playing football or baseball more? This is a question that only Kyler can answer and one we cannot speculate. If you enjoy what you do for a living, you really can’t ask for much more. There’s no doubt that Kyler Murray has a love for baseball and football if he is still playing both of them at this point in his life, but ultimately he should choose the sport that he enjoys playing more. From my standpoint, I believe he has more potential to succeed in baseball than football. And that’s tough considering he had the type of season he just had in college football. He is only 5’9’’, which will already put him at a disadvantage as an NFL quarterback. The best case scenario for him is he could turn out to be the next Russell Wilson, who is two inches taller. I believe Murray could be a successful quarterback (not to Russell Wilson’s level), but see him making more of an impact in baseball, where his potential has been compared to Andrew McCutchen’s game. Whatever Kyler decides to do, I wish him the best and am excited to keep up with his athletic career.