Report: A's first-round pick Kyler Murray expected to enter NFL draft

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The chances are increasing that Kyler Murray never plays a game for the Oakland Athletics.

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Susan Slusser cited multiple sources in reporting Wednesday that the A’s expect Murray to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft on Sunday.

Murray, whom the A's selected with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, won the Heisman Trophy after a spectacular season playing quarterback for the University of Oklahoma.

It recently was reported that Murray would not play both baseball and football in 2019, and while declaring for the NFL draft wouldn’t guarantee anything, it would seem to indicate that Murray is seriously considering opting to go pro in football rather than baseball.

Murray has been invited to the A's big-league camp, which begins Feb. 15. The NFL Scouting Combine begins Feb. 26, at which time he likely would need to make a decision.

According to the report, "one source told The Chronicle that Murray, a likely first-round NFL pick, is leaning toward football."

If Murray does choose to pursue an NFL career over one in baseball, he would be forced to return his signing bonus, but the A's would receive no additional compensation in the upcoming June draft. However, the A's still would retain Murray's rights, should he change his mind at a later date.

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Nothing is certain yet, but if you were hoping to see Murray starring for the A's, it might have to wait for his NFL career first.

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