NFL COMBINE: Top five QBs | RBs | WR/TEs | OL | DT | DE | LB | CB
With the NFL Combine in the books and pro days around the country in full swing, the NFL Draft first-round picture is starting to take shape. Since the season has ended, several players have seen their stock rise and fall, including several now projected to go in the first round that weren’t even in the conversation just a few months ago.
In a week-long series at Rivals.com, we take a look at some of the unconventional prospects that are likely to go in the first round and what their rise has taught us about identifying similar prospects during the rankings process in the future. First up is former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray.
Rankings history: During his time as a recruit, Murray was consistently ranked in the Rivals100 at Rivals.com but never could quite get over the five-star hump. After an up-and-down week at the Under Armour Game in 2015, Murray finished as the No. 71 overall player in the 2015 class.
Quarterbacks ranked ahead of him: Deondre Francois, Blake Barnett, Travis Waller, Brandon Wimbush.
What we said then: “Murray is a short quarterback, we all know that. But with the success of guys like Johnny Manziel and Russell Wilson recently, should that matter? It doesn't matter as much, that's for sure and Murray could be a five-star talent we are being too critical of because he doesn't fit in the 'QB size' box.”
What we know now: After a shaky start to his career at Texas A&M and an eventual transfer to Oklahoma, Murray patiently waited his turn behind Baker Mayfield before winning the starting job for the 2018 season. Once given the reins, he picked up right where Mayfield left off, leading the Sooners to the College Football Playoff while winning the Heisman Trophy. Any concerns about Murray’s size were an afterthought, as batted passes weren’t an issue and neither way durability.
WHAT MURRAY TAUGHT US
“Murray isn’t the first shorter quarterback to have success in college but we’ve come a long way from the days of Wilson being ranked as a two-star that we expected to move to wide receiver.
"Was Murray underranked? Yes, in hindsight especially as a Heisman winner and possible first-rounder (and possible No 1 pick overall), but we still had him ranked fairly high. Murray has taught us that size is no longer an issue at the NFL level at quarterback even more so than Wilson and others and also that transfers can leave their original school and find success elsewhere even if they have to be patient at their second stop. Will we have a five-star quarterback under 5-foot-11 soon? It could happen.” -- Farrell
