Is Kyler Murray the favourite to be the very first pick in this year's NFL Draft? That certainly seemed like it would be the case after the combine. If he is the number one pick, or even simply taken before all other QBs in the 2019 NFL Draft, it would be the second consecutive year that a Heisman-winning, undersized Oklahoma QB will have shot up the draft boards after the college season ended. That might seem absurd in itself. The combine, after all, isn't meant to mean that much.
Last year at least saw Baker Mayfield take part in the Senior Bowl week and he also threw the ball at the combine. While punters who enjoy gambling at sites like casinofever.ca may not be racing to bet on the Browns winning the Super Bowl, there's no arguing the merits of Mayfield's rookie performance. In the case of Murray, however, he's taken a different route to impressing scouts. He provided measurements that exceeded expectations, which drew comparisons to Seattle's Russell Wilson in terms of both height and weight, as well as average hand-size for a QB in the NFL.
Dual-threat
Murray's story is a unique one, taking into account the early uncertainty over whether he wished to play baseball or football. In fact, he's guaranteed to be the first man to be selected in the first draft of two professional sports.
As a whole, however, the Murray situation is typical of postseason, classical movement for some prospects. It isn't even difficult to understand. Some members of front offices, as well as coaches, have their minds fully engaged on the NFL season until January, at least. They aren't brought into the loop, in terms of college talent, until after the draft analysts and scouts have already become familiar with the top players. So while evaluations of players change after the season, it shouldn't really happen. But it has too.
Other candidates
Other QB prospects include Dwayne Haskins from Ohio State. Haskins played just the one season as starter but he did enjoy a hot ending to that season, including a Rose Bowl win over Washington. When he declared on January 7, he was favourite to be the first quarterback taken in April.
Drew Lock impressed during the pre-draft process. He was the Senior Bowl's most consistent QB and while he doesn't have the biggest hands in the class, they do reach the nine-inch threshold. It should be noted that his stock has barely moved either way since the combine.
While he has some way to go to become the next Tom Brady, Murray is this class's most talented passer and also seems to have surpassed Lock and Haskins when it comes to hype. In reassessing the 2019 QB class after the combine, it's clear that Murray is the number one.
