Friday, April 26, 2019
No surprise: Murray is No. 1 pick; headed to Arizona
Associated Press
Nashville, Tenn.
A Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at the top, two more QBs along the way — and a whole lot of guys who like nothing better than putting passers on the ground.
That was the look for the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.
Arizona defied NFL custom and at least temporarily created a quarterback quandary by selecting Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray to start proceedings in a wet and wild selection show.
As thousands of fans withstood rain that began just about when Commissioner Roger Goodell spoke Murray’s name, the Cardinals spent a second straight high pick on a signal caller. Arizona moved up from 15th overall to 10th in 2018 to grab Josh Rosen.
NFL teams simply don’t do that, but with a new coach in college-trained Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals made the bold move. At least until they likely move Rosen elsewhere in a trade.
“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 was a first-round baseball pick by the Oakland A’s. He becomes the 22nd Heisman Trophy winner to go first overall and 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.
With quarterbacks so in demand, the Giants might have reached for Duke’s Daniel Jones at No. 6, and the Redskins did just the opposite to get Dwayne Haskins. They stayed put at No. 15 and the Ohio State star fell to them.
“I’m just going to work on getting my head in that playbook,” said Haskins. “I’m going to do all I can to get physically and mentally ready for the upcoming season and just motivate my guys that’s coming in with me in this rookie class.”
After Murray, though, defense became the order of the night. Of the first 20 picks, 12 were for that side of the ball, all of them pass-rushing threats.
Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa went second to San Francisco. The 49ers have used a first-round selection on four defensive linemen in the past five drafts.
“I see him as a three-down player,” general manager John Lynch said. “He’s got to come in and do it, but he plays the run well. His best strength is rushing the passer, but he can play all three downs and play in all situations.”
Bosa is the highest Ohio State draft pick since offensive tackle Orlando Pace went No. 1 to St. Louis in 1997. He missed all but three games last season with a core muscle injury, but already had exhibited the kind of playmaking that lifts players to loft status. Such as the second pick in the draft.
The Jets, widely speculated to trade the third pick, used it on Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Not even a starter until 2018, he won the Outland Trophy last season and is Alabama’s highest-drafted defensive player since linebacker Cornelius Bennett went No. 2 overall in 1987.
More defense with Clemson end Clelin Ferrell going to Oakland and LSU linebacker Devin White to Tampa Bay, both addressing huge needs.
Kentucky edge rusher Josh Allen followed to Jacksonville, then it was Iowa tight end T.J. Hockenson to Detroit and Houston DT Ed Oliver to Buffalo.
The Giants traded back into the first round with the Seattle Seahawks. They took Georgia’s DeAndre Baker at No. 30, the first corner taken.