*Kyler Murray – Noteworthy
At some point during the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, it was widely assumed the Arizona Cardinals would select Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray No. 1 overall. On Saturday, NFL Network’s Kim Jones said it was “almost universally” believed Murray would be the first player off the board in Nashville, opening the door for the 49ers to draft Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa. NFL draft analyst Tony Pauline wrote on Sunday that Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury was telling teams it was a “done deal” Arizona would draft a player he once said should be the top pick.
On Tuesday, Kingsbury said that it is not. “I would have to adamantly deny that,” Kingsbury said on the Kingsbury Chronicle podcast. It’s worth noting that, just last week, Kingsbury was more forceful arguing for the Cardinals to keep 2018 first-round pick Josh Rosen than Arizona general manager Steve Keim was. “We’re big on adapting our offense to our quarterback and our personnel, Kingsbury told reporters at the combine. “We’ve had all types in this system, so I don’t think that is very relevant. He’s a tremendous talent. I feel like he got better as the season went on last year. Showed a lot of mental toughness and competitiveness.” – NBCSports.com
*Kyler Murray – Noteworthy
For Josh Pettijohn, Kyler Murray’s best ball is over the middle. For Grant Finney, it’s his deep post. And for Jalen Guyton, it’s his out-route. Any throw. Anytime. Anywhere. According to those who have played alongside Murray, and specifically those who have caught his passes, he can make every NFL throw. And Wednesday, at Oklahoma’s pro day, three of Murray’s former wide receivers say that will be on full display. Pettijohn, Finney and Guyton will watch Murray’s pro day from home. It wasn’t too long ago they were some of Murray’s top weapons at Allen (Texas) High School. Of course, they all say from the first time they saw him throw they knew he could be an NFL quarterback. And of course, that was re-enforced when Murray went 43-0 as a starter in high school, 12-2 as a starter in college and won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma.
Still, Murray has his doubters, and they’ll be watching his every move Wednesday, which has quickly turned into one of the most anticipated pro days in recent NFL history. But for Pettijohn, Finney, Guyton and the dozens of other receivers who have caught a pass from Murray, they know why he’s worth the No. 1 overall pick. “He’s always had a remarkable ball,” Guyton said. “He’s always been able to stretch the field from both sides of the hash. He’s always been able to hit guys over the middle. He’s always been able to throw to the opposite side of the field. He’s always been able to throw a beautiful deep ball. “He really can do it all.” – The Oklahoma Daily
*Kyler Murray – Noteworthy
Oklahoma quarterback prospect Kyler Murray’s height measurement at the NFL Draft Combine two weeks ago no doubt helped his draft stock. It forced evaluators to eschew using his height as a red flag, a reason not to consider him a top pick. Murray’s weight, 207 pounds, also helped his cause as detractors going into the Feb. 28 combine worried about his thin build and ability to take hits from the quarterback position. But skeptics wondered if those numbers would hold up – and if Murray could show off his speed – when Oklahoma’s pro day came around.
The weight nearly did. Murray, a potential top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, scaled in at 205 pounds Wednesday in Norman, Okla. But the height measurement’s legitimacy? Well, we won’t know. Murray didn’t get measured on Wednesday and skipped agility drills such as the broad jump, vertical and 40-yard dash. NFL Network’s James Palmer confirmed Murray will not run the 40-yard dash to show off his speed that made him one of the most dynamic players in the country this past season. The quarterback went through throwing drills on Wednesday. – Arizona Sports
*Kyler Murray – Noteworthy
Kyler Murray is apparently still 5-10 1/8, and sadly we might never know just how fast he runs the 40-yard dash. But the quarterback might have answered a few more questions for roughly 80 NFL coaches, scouts and front office personnel with a crisp passing workout at Oklahoma’s pro day. The Heisman Trophy winner was seen by many as a big winner at the NFL scouting combine last month – despite not working out – when he was taller than some had expected. The simple measurement, coming after speculation he might not even be 5-9, fueled buzz that the electric playmaker might go No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. But in part because Murray didn’t participate in drills in Indianapolis, Wednesday’s event on the Oklahoma campus was highly anticipated.
Murray weighed in at 205 pounds, two pounds lighter than at the combine. He declined to have his height recorded and did not participate in speed or agility testing, either – though one Oklahoma assistant estimated he would’ve been timed in the 4.3-second range for the 40. He completed 61 of 67 passes, including a couple of drops, while throwing a variety of routes. During a portion of the scripted workout, which was coordinated by former NFL quarterback and coach Jim Zorn, who’s been working with Murray in recent weeks, Murray simulated taking snaps from under center. Afterward, an NFL assistant coach described the workout to USA TODAY Sports as “impressive,” saying Murray showed superior accuracy and arm strength. It’s among the things Murray wanted to prove. – AZCentral
*Marquise Brown – Noteworthy
Former OU wide receiver Marquise Brown told reporters Wednesday at OU Pro Day that he plans to attend the NFL Draft in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 25. Brown was a first-team All-American his junior year while catching 75 passes for 1,318 and 10 touchdowns. – The Oklahoma Daily
*Kyler Murray – Noteworthy
Dynamic. Impressive. Versatile. Exceptional. Those are the four words eight anonymous scouts, GMs, coaches and league executives at OU’s pro day Wednesday chose to describe Kyler Murray. “By far he should go No. 1,” one anonymous league executive told The Daily Wednesday. “Why not?” When asked to give one word to characterize the former OU quarterback, four said dynamic, two said impressive, one said versatile and another said exceptional. And Murray was all four on Wednesday, putting on a show in front of more than 60 NFL personnel, including the likes of New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur and Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, among others. He didn’t re-measure his height or run the 40-yard dash despite everyone wanting him to. Instead, the Heisman Trophy winner showed off his cannon for an arm in a 36-minute throwing session and held his calm, business-like personality through a nearly six-hour day. He did what he set out to do: Impress. – The Oklahoma Daily
*Marquise Brown – Noteworthy
Even more eyes would have been on Oklahoma’s pro day if wide receiver Marquise Brown hadn’t been wearing a medical boot on his left foot. The injury that hobbled him late last season still is healing after surgery in January. Still, Brown said Wednesday at OU’s pro day in Norman that he doesn’t believe that will hurt his NFL draft stock much. “They like my film, so for me they just want me to be healthy, make sure I know football and being the strongest, the healthiest that I can be,” Brown said about his interviews with NFL teams. Brown’s timetable to be fully healed is around June or July. That means he’s entering the NFL draft and won’t have one combine metric.
OU coach Lincoln Riley said he doesn’t see that as a problem. NFL teams liked Brown’s willingness to play in the Orange Bowl with the injury. The All-American receiver’s production speaks for itself, Riley said. “I think the feedback from scouts, GMs and coaches and all that on Marquise is him trying to gut it out is a positive because a lot of guys would have ducked out of that,” Riley said. “A lot of guys don’t place the value on the team like this kid does. “It’s not going to hurt him a bit. Everybody knows what kind of player he is. Turn on the tape, and he’s the most dynamic receiver in this draft and a tremendous Sooner for us.” – Tulsa World