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The 2019 NFL Draft is almost here as it opens on April 25 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Arizona Cardinals have the first pick in the draft and people are wondering who they will take with that pick. While the team has made no indications on who they will take, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray is the odds on favorite to go No. 1
Murray is currently listed as a -400 favorite to be the top pick, according to OddsShark.com.
The Oklahoma quarterback has been the favorite to be the top pick since he entered his name in the 2019 NFL Draft. New Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury said that he would take Murray with the first pick in the NFL Draft when he was the head coach at Texas Tech. While his statement was said before he knew he would become an NFL head coach, Kingsbury is now in a position to take Murray with the first pick.
The Cardinals traded up for quarterback Josh Rosen in the 2018 NFL Draft, but he may not be on the team next season. Multiple teams have inquired about trading for the UCLA product, but Rosen’s future in the NFL is still to be determined. Kingsbury’s system requires an athletic quarterback capable of making plays outside the pocket, making Murray a better scheme fit than Rosen.
Regardless of position, Murray is one of the most elusive players in the draft with his elite speed and athleticism. The Oklahoma quarterback has the arm strength and accuracy to succeed in the NFL as he can effortlessly throw the ball down the field. He might not have Rosen’s accuracy, but Murray’s superior arm strength and athleticism could make the Cardinals pull the trigger.
Kingsbury has never been in an NFL Draft room, making the Cardinals a complete wildcard with the first overall pick. They could take the Heisman Trophy winner with the first pick, or put the draft in complete chaos by taking Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa.
