As ESPN spoke with over 50 executives, coaches, scouts and players of the best players in the game, a question was raised a few times spontaneously by offensive minds and highly respected staff:
What about Kyler?
This question was more of an interjection as I spoke out against some of the biggest names: Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers, Deshaun Watson and more.
Murray may not be a consensus top 10 quarterback in 2020, but he is coming. And quick.
“He’s got something going for him, man,” said a veteran NFL quarterback. “He has magic with him.
Murray highlights a 2019 quarterback draft class that has a chance to flourish in 2020.
Last season was a mixed one which saw Murray win offensive rookie of the year, but first-round picks Dwayne Haskins Jr. and Daniel Jones struggle with bad teams.
Gardner Minshew II has shown enough to earn a starting job with a rebuilt Jacksonville Jaguars, while Drew Lock is well stocked in Denver, and Jarrett Stidham has no promises in New England.
Here’s where NFL executives rank Year 2 quarterbacks entering 2020. We’re keeping Stidham out of the top five, with an asterisk, because he didn’t play any important snaps last year and the arrival of Cam Newton blurs his perspectives.
To choose: No. 1 | QBR 2019: 55.7 (15th)
Statistics to know from ESPN statistics and information: Murray had a 63.3 QBR in his pocket, which placed 10th in the NFL. Outside the pocket, Murray’s QBR fell to 25.2, a rating that placed 21st. His 38.1-point drop from inside to outside of the pocket was the sixth-biggest in the NFL last season.
How Murray compensates for his 5-foot-9 frame with the ability to throw from the pocket is partly Neo from “The Matrix” and partly shortstop by turning two.
“Kyler can still take a normal fall, then can instinctively slide sideways into the pocket to get into an open launch lane,” said an NFC personnel official. “It’s rare. It’s baseball in him.”
Murray’s ability to pitch without a script or out of the pocket has people inside the league planning big things for him.
Make no mistake: Murray is not a quarterback. Many expected Murray to take off more behind a questionable offensive line, but he’s averaged 4.9 run attempts per game over the past nine games, bolstering those future comps of Russell Wilson as a run-to QB. -throw. He ran over 70 yards once, in Week 5 against Cincinnati (10 rushes, 93 yards).
This is partly why an NFL coordinator said Murray would ultimately be harder to stop than Lamar Jackson.
“[Kyler] neutralizes a good defensive line, “said the coordinator.” Lamar, you know what you need to do to stop it. Not that it’s easy. He’s a runner. Kyler has this version. “
Kliff Kingsbury’s offense provides Murray with a full tree of routes to use, as well as heavy doses of game-action and several weapons. And several reviewers see DeAndre Hopkins as the perfect player for Murray, as he can work out of the slot or away and is good on second reaction games, ideal for a quarterback who starts the swing.
Murray has already proven correct, completing 64.39% of his passes – top among rookies, 15th in the NFL – for 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
Baker Mayfield is the latest quarterback to flourish as a rookie and dive into his second season.
“But Murray is different [from Baker] because the offense he’s playing in matches his skills, the spread, mostly in the pistol, and he’s played there – and he’s got Nuk, “the executive said, referring to Hopkins by his nickname.
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