NFL Player Profile: Kyler Murray

NFL Player Profile: Kyler Murray

You could make the argument that Kyler Murray is not just the face of the franchise at the present, but one of the top two most high profile Arizona Cardinals of all-time (behind wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald). Now, he is being paid like it. The first overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft signed a five-year deal worth $230.5 million through to the 2028 NFL season. 

2021 NFL season

In 14 games this past year, Murray completed 333 passes in 481 attempts for 3787 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. On the ground, he had 88 rushes for 423 yards and five touchdowns.

Murray missed three weeks during the regular season because of an ankle injury. The Cardinals finished second in the NFC West with a record of 11 wins and six losses. In the postseason, Murray struggled in his NFL playoff debut, in a 34-11 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. He had a quarterback rating of only 40.9 in the 23-point loss.

Leading up to the NFL

Murray played one year at Texas A&M in 2015, and then two years at Oklahoma in 2017 and 2018. He did not play college football in 2016, because of the NCAA transfer rules. In his final year of college, Murray won the Heisman Trophy in 2018. While with the Sooners that year, he completed 260 passes in 377 attempts for 4361 yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Prior to his college football career, Murray had a sensational high school football career at Allen High School, where he won the Mr. Texas Football Award twice.

NFL Career

Despite being sacked a NFL-high 48 times in 2019, Murray still won the Associated Press Rookie of the Year. He completed 349 passes in 542 attempts for 3722 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Murray also had 93 rushes for 544 yards and four touchdowns.

In 2020, Murray was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first of two straight years. He completed 375 passes in 558 attempts with 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Murray also had 133 rushes for 819 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Already after only three seasons, Murray has set numerous Cardinals franchise records. They include most pass completions by a rookie (349), most passing yards by a rookie (3722), most touchdown passes by a rookie (20), most passing  yards per game by a rookie (232.6), most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback (544), most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback (four), most career rushing yards by a quarterback (1786), most career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (20).

2022 Arizona Cardinals

For the first part of the 2022 NFL season, do not be surprised if Murray’s numbers take a drop as Arizona’s top receiver DeAndre Hopkins, has been suspended six games for violating the National Football League performance-enhancing drug policy. Murray is also suffering from coronavirus at the moment. Luckily for the Cardinals, it is during a time when it is not very significant as the regular season is a month away.

Arizona will be competing against two formidable foes in the NFC West. Not only are they in the same division as the Rams, but the San Francisco 49ers, who reached the 2022 NFC Championship.