Arizona Cardinals select Kyler Murray with 1st pick in 2019 NFL Draft
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (FOX 10/AP) - The Arizona Cardinals have selected Kyler Murray with the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
A year after the Cardinals traded up to the 10th spot to grab Josh Rosen, they went with Oklahoma's dynamic Heisman Trophy winner. The team apparently believes Murray is a better fit running the offense of new coach Kliff Kingsbury, who worked in the Big 12 that Murray dominated last season.
Murray becomes the 22nd Heisman Trophy winner to go first overall, and the second straight Sooners quarterback to pull it off: Baker Mayfield went to Cleveland in 2018.
The Heisman hardly is a harbinger of success in the pros. But there have been enough players since Jay Berwanger managed the feat in the initial draft in 1935 to go first that it is not an unusual occurrence.
Indeed, in this century four players, all QBs, did it: Tampa Bay's Jameis Winston in 2015, two years after taking the trophy; Carolina's Cam Newton in 2011; the Rams' Sam Bradford in 2010, also two years after he won the Heisman; and Carson Palmer in 2003.
The last non-quarterback to pull off the double was running back Bo Jackson in 1986, though he never reported to the Buccaneers.
With Murray's number one draft pick, Oklahoma now joins Auburn, Notre Dame, and Southern Cal as a college with the most number one overall draft pick, according to the Associated Press.
The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.