The drama of the 2019 NFL Draft was short-lived, as the Arizona Cardinals selected Kyler Murray with their top pick. It may not have come as a surprise to most draft analysts, but it now adds an interesting wrinkle to the NFC West.
Think for one moment if you will. The Seattle Seahawks have Russell Wilson. The NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams have Jared Goff. In San Francisco, the 49ers will finally have Jimmy Garoppolo.
In Glendale, the Arizona Cardinals have the Heisman Trophy winner, and the top pick in both the NFL and MLB drafts, respectively.
Tell me, how does the NFC West NOT have the best and most dynamic group of quarterbacks in the National Football League.
Potentially, Murray brings some serious swag to the West. Added to a division boasting, potentially, the best and most innovative head coach in Sean McVay, and football west of the Rocky Mountains will be ”must see” TV.
The Cardinals have a ton of work to do, as they finished 3-13 in 2018. A monster leap forward is not expected. But make no mistake, Murray will be a factor sooner rather than later.
The burden, if you want to call it that, now falls to rookie head coach Kliff Kingsbury. It will be Kingsbury who nneds to fulfill the prophecy he tossed out about his new rookie quarterback. Trust that Kingsbury will face the larger share of criticism if Murray doesn't live up to the hype. If he does, the division will be an absolute dogfight.
Heading into 2019, the West will again go through Los Angeles. With the Rams the heavy favorite to win another division title and Seattle still a threat, look for the Niners and Cards to fight for a finish other than out of the cellar. It won't be easy, especially with an unknown dynamic like Murray who will want to show he's more than just a baseball player.
Many wonder if the Cardinals overreached with the Heisman winner. You have to imagine there is a chip quickly emerging on the rookies’ shoulder about that. The same can be said for first-year coach and biggest fan, Kingsbury.
An overreach or not, the NFC West will be the most exciting and dynamic division to watch. Expect Kyler Murray to make sure of that.
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