When the A's selected Kyler Murray with the ninth overall pick of this year's MLB Draft, they knew he was a good football player. But they might not have known he was this good.
In three games as Oklahoma's starting quarterback, Murray has emerged as a top Heisman Trophy candidate, leading the fifth-ranked Sooners to three straight blowout wins. The 21-year-old junior has thrown for eight touchdowns and run for two more, compiling a passer rating of 199.9, the sixth-best mark in the country.
Murray is undeniably electric with the football in his hands, both running and passing. He has been named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week two times in three weeks.
Kyler Murray is GOOD at this football thing pic.twitter.com/0ZYJTuRxrP— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) September 1, 2018
"Kyler Murray can't throw in the pocket"
WRONGpic.twitter.com/LrkLGxCpDE— Jack McGuire (@JackMacCFB) September 15, 2018
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Murray has also garnered national praise as football fans continue to fall in love with his talent. That begs the question: What if Kyler Murray decides he wants to keep playing football?
The A's and Murray agreed to a $4.66 million dollar contract, which allowed the multi-sport athlete to play one more season of football before committing to baseball full-time. Of course $4.66 million is a lot of money, but compare that to the 4-year, $33 million NFL contract former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield signed with the Cleveland Browns. Other top-10 quarterbacks from the 2018 draft will receive $30 million, $21 million, and $17 million respectively.
Mayfield won the Heisman Trophy last season with the Sooners and was drafted first overall by the Browns. All he did Thursday night was lead Cleveland to its first win in 635 days, going 17-of-23 for 201 yards in just over two quarters.
The knock on Murray from a football standpoint is his lack of size. He is listed at 5-foot-10, which is obviously very small for an NFL quarterback. But it's not completely unheard of. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is just 5-foot-11 and future Hall of Famer Drew Brees is barely six feet tall.
A's fans shouldn't be worried yet. Murray is still not projected on any significant NFL Draft boards, and the fact he hired Scott Boras as his agent shows he is committed to a baseball career.
But stay tuned. The longer he stays in the Heisman race, the more professional football -- or even a return to Oklahoma for his senior season -- could tempt him.
