Oakland Athletics Kyler Murray expected to enter NFL Draft

Oakland Athletics draft pick Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the NFL Draft this weekend.

The Oakland Athletics knew they were taking a risk when they selected Kyler Murray with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. There was no questioning his raw potential, even if he is still a work in progress. His developing pitch recognition and ability to make contact, along with his excellent speed and power potential, were certainly enticing to many teams. The A’s were not immune, tabbing Murray with the ninth overall selection.

Yet, with that pick, there was a great deal of risk. Murray was a two sport star at Oklahoma, who was determined to finish out his football career with the Sooners. The A’s were agreeable, but included language in the contract to protect themselves, as well as a clause to get back the money paid out as a signing bonus.

That decision to return to the gridiron for one more year proved to be fruitful for Murray. He won the Heisman Trophy, leading Oklahoma to the college football playoffs. Even though the Sooners came up short, Murray threw for 4361 yards and 42 touchdowns last season, while adding another 1001 yards and 12 scores on the ground. The junior quarterback established himself as one of the better prospects at the position in the college ranks.

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Given his performance last year, it is understandable that Murray would want to see how he stacks up when it comes to the NFL. Despite his commitment to Oakland, Murray is expected to enter the NFL Draft, with an announcement of his intentions potentially coming as soon as this weekend.

Obviously, there is considerable risk involved for Murray. He has a guaranteed $4.66 million that he received from the A’s, money which would need to be paid back. However, Lamar Jackson, the 32nd selection in the draft, was able to secure a signing bonus for more than Murray received. Meanwhile, the 57th pick in the draft, defensive tackle P.J. Hall, received a contract worth a total of just over $4.7 million, surpassing Murray’s bonus. That is the target.

There will be a number of factors that the young outfielder/quarterback will need to weigh. The NFL comes with more injury risk, be it from concussions or torn ligaments. Given Murray’s style, a quarterback who is just as likely to take off with the ball as he is to pass, that potential for injury is only magnified.

However, if he opts for baseball, Murray will have to wait a while for his payday. He will need to spend time in the minors honing his craft, as he is an unpolished prospect. Then, even if he reaches the majors, Murray will likely make close to the league minimum for three years before reaching arbitration. The NFL, if he proves successful, is a faster way to get that payout.

Regardless of which he chooses, Murray is likely to leave one sport behind. The days of players like Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders are over, with teams demanding such a focus on training and learning. That learning curve, especially as an NFL quarterback, is prohibitive to being able to play both sports.

Oakland Athletics draft pick Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the NFL Draft. At this point, his future, as it comes to both football and baseball, is up in the air, and may be decided on draft day.