Allen's Kyler Murray Selected First Overall In NFL Draft By Arizona Cardinals
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (CBSDFW.COM/AP) - North Texas product Kyler Murray has been selected the number one overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals.
Murray is the second Landry Award winner in three years to be the top pick in the draft. Myles Garrett is the other one.
The quarterback's decision to stick with football not play baseball created a new option for an Arizona team with a new coach in Kliff Kingsbury and a new offensive system.
A year after the Cardinals traded up to the 10th spot to grab Josh Rosen, they went with Oklahoma's dynamic Heisman Trophy winner.
The team apparently believes Murray is a better fit running the offense of new coach Kliff Kingsbury, who worked in the Big 12 that Murray dominated last season.
Murray is the second straight Sooners quarterback taken atop the draft, following another Heisman recipient, Baker Mayfield, who went to Cleveland last year.
Mayfield had a superb rookie season, and the Cardinals can only hope Murray has a similar impact in the desert.
"I feel we can be very dangerous," Murray said. "He's one of the best in the world at calling plays. I can't wait to get up there with him. It's been a long time coming and I hope he feels the same."
Resplendent in a pink suit — nothing close to the Cardinals red he will be wearing in Arizona — Murray hugged several of his fellow draft prospects before doing the same with Commissioner Roger Goodell.
Murray, a first-round baseball pick by the Oakland A's, becomes the 22nd Heisman Trophy winner to go first overall. He also is the second straight Sooners quarterback to pull it off: Baker Mayfield went to Cleveland in 2018.
"BACK TO BACK!!!!! CONGRATS K1!!!! Well deserved my brotha!!!" Mayfield tweeted.
As for bypassing baseball, Murray has no qualms about the decision.
"I love playing multiple sports. I grew up playing multiple sports," he said. "I just think there's no reason to limit yourself to one sport. I love to compete, so it wasn't a big deal for me."
Kingsbury ran an offense at Texas Tech that put up prodigious numbers and had two quarterbacks — Case Keenum and Patrick Mahomes — who led the nation in passing.
With a strong arm and superb running ability, Murray has the tools to slide right into Kingsbury's offense.
Allen High School Alumni, Fans Celebrate Kyler Murray Going #1 In NFL Draft
At a draft watch party in Allen, CBS 11's Erin Jones tweeted, "From 2012 - 2014 #KylerMurray was #Allen HS's starting quarterback - leading the team to three 6-A division one state championships. Finishing his high school career 43-0. These fans in #Allen couldn't be more proud."
(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
