Oklahoma superstar and Oakland Athletics first-round draft pick Kyler Murray made headlines on Monday, January 14th when he decided to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft. Murray announced his choice via Twitter.
The Oakland Athletics expected Murray to declare for the draft, as the San Francisco Chronicle first reported two weeks ago. Even with the knowledge of the situation, Oakland attempted to sway Murray away from his decision.
According to The Mercury News, prior to the deadline for college underclassmen to declare for the draft, set for Monday the 14th, Athletics' officials led by vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane flew to Dallas to meet with Murray.
The Athletics, per ESPN's Jeff Passan, offered Murray more money and a 40-man roster spot. The arrangement would grant Murray an extra fourth minor league option instead of the conventional three a player gets before being eligible for waivers. Murray would be out of options by 2022.
Murray is smartly leveraging himself to gain the most money out of his dual opportunity. Oakland drafted Murray ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and now has the chance to become the first player to ever be selected in the first round in both the MLB and NFL Drafts.
The Athletic predicts Murray to be taken 15th overall by the Washington Redskins with CBS Sports anticipating the New York Giants at the sixth pick as Murray's NFL home.
With an outstanding college football and baseball career, including the 2018 Heisman Trophy, Murray has the biggest decision of his life ahead of him.
Does Murray continue the baseball path and fulfill his contract with the Oakland Athletics or does he bolt for the NFL to make a quick buck?
Why not both.
Murray dominated the gridiron at Oklahoma leading the Sooners to the CFB Playoffs and one game shy of the BCS Championship game. Starting just one complete season, Murray completed 67.4 percent of his passes while throwing for 4,361 yards-proving the "he cannot throw" narrative incorrect.
Murray outperformed all but one quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft class-his predecessor and number one overall pick Baker Mayfield. Murray bested all but Mayfield in passing yards and came close to outrunning Lamar Jackson. Murray also has the highest quarterback rating of any player last season, according to ESPN.
One genetic flaw is Murray's height-topping out at 5'10". One of the same knocks on current Cleveland Browns' quarterback Baker Mayfield, Murray is four inches shorter. Despite his height, history proves quarterbacks under 6'2" succeed near the NFL average, according to Cleveland.com.
Murray dominated college football with his 54 touchdowns and his success translated to the baseball diamond.
Murray hit for an average of .296 while slugging 10 home runs and 47 rbi's. Still a raw baseball talent, Murray will need three to four years in the minor leagues before getting a full-time call-up unless he makes a significant jump while in the minors.
In the waiting years, Murray should play football. If Murray was to accept Oakland's new offer and be allowed to be stashed on the 40-man roster until 2022, Murray could play four years in the NFL before making the switch or playing both.
If Murray is taken at the speculative sixth overall, his signing bonus would range from $15M-$20M not including his total salary, which would also come close to those figures. Each drafted rookie signs a four-year contract with an option for a fifth. Murray could play in the NFL until 2022, make close to or upwards of $24 million and return to baseball prior to the waiver deadline.
Even if Murray slipped into the second or third round, Murray would still make somewhere between $4 to $7 million with up to a $3.5 million signing bonus.
The only trepidation of drafting Murray is his commitment. Is Murray just hedging his bets to siphon more money out of Oakland or his truly interested in playing in both leagues?
If serious about playing in the NFL and MLB, Murray could be the first athlete since Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders to do so simultaneously.
It is worth noting in an interview with ESPN's SportsCenter, Sanders addressed Murray's unique situation.
"Life won't allow him to," Sanders said. "This game won't allow him to at his position (quarterback). If I was in his shoes, I'm picking up the baseball bat, and I'm not looking back."
The life a dual-athlete is a rigorous life, but Murray's makeup and the specific situation regarding his contract with the Athletics could make him the next success story.
The perfect outcome for Murray is playing through a rookie deal in the NFL, securing a quick $24 million and hopping back to the MLB at the age of 25, where the average salary resides at $4 million per year. Murray could then play the next 10 years in professional baseball while retiring at the age of 35 having totaled a career net worth around $64 million not including endorsement deals.
*preview photo credited to USA Today's FTW
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