Although the 2019 NFL season may have been disappointing, the Arizona Cardinals can at least take solace in the fact that they have managed to secure a franchise quarterback in Kyler Murray.
The Cardinals have invested plenty of capital in recent years to secure a bonafide franchise cornerstone under center from Sam Bradford's lucrative contract to taking Josh Rosen with the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
As a result, there was plenty of speculation regarding whether or not they would go through with Murray as their top pick. However, they ultimately opted to pull the trigger in April with the arrival of head coach Kliff Kingsbury leading to way. It is safe to say that they can start emphasizing shoring up the supporting cast around him.
Kyler Murray finished his rookie campaign throwing for 3,722 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions with an 87.4 passer rating en route to leading Arizona to a 5-10-1 record. He also flashed his versatility by rushing for 544 yards and four touchdowns on 93 carries, becoming just the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for 3,500-plus yards and run for 500-plus yards in a season — Cam Newton is the other.
Perhaps even more impressive is that Murray was able to do it behind a makeshift offensive line and a Cardinals defense that allowed the most yards in the league. It should also be noted that he played in the most competitive division in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks both representing the NFC West in the playoffs. At the same time, the Los Angeles Rams fell vastly short of expectations with a 9-7 record.
It would have been trying for most quarterbacks to find their footing while continuing to develop at a steady pace under such circumstances. Fortunately, the rookie pairing of Murray and coach Kingsbury ushered in the sense of optimism for this team moving forward.
Of course, it is for these reasons that Murray will be expected to make some tremendous strides to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump in the 2020 NFL season. Regardless, he has shown enough with his playmaking ability to ensure that the Cardinals will not need to invest any more resources under center for years to come.
Given the expectations that come with being the No. 1 overall pick along with the factors that plagued Arizona throughout the 2019 campaign, Murray still managed to make so with the weapons at his disposal. Kyler Murray will garner a solid A grade for his rookie season.