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Kyler Murray, the Oklahoma football star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, is one of the most intriguing 2019 NFL Draft prospects. Murray, who already has a contract with the MLB’s Oakland Athletics, has been a topic of debate as a two-sport star. Will he ultimately focus on baseball or will he choose to pursue an NFL career?
For a while, it appeared that Murray seemed destined to head to the Major Leagues, but with recent developments — like Oregon’s Justin Herbert returning to school and Murray’s own Heisman campaign — things could be changing.
According to a report from the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s expect their prospect to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft before the underclassman deadline.
ESPN adds:
If Murray chooses the NFL over baseball, he would have to return his signing bonus, though the A’s would not get a compensation pick in the June draft.
The A’s were told recently that Murray would not be going back to Oklahoma, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The A’s still expect him to report to spring training in mid-February, and the plan is to keep him in major league camp until mid-March, when they leave for Japan to start their season, sources said.
For his part, Murray has an interest in both sports.
“I’d like to do both, if possible,” he told the media in New York City before winning the Heisman. “But I don’t know how possible that is.”
It will certainly be interesting to see what Murray ultimately decides, but regardless of his decision, his future is very bright. And if he does declare for the NFL Draft, there is a growing buzz that he could hear his name called in the first round in April.
