INDIANAPOLIS — The frenzy surrounding Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray continued after he revealed Friday that he will meet with the Cardinals during the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Cardinals own the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and Murray’s measurables have significantly raised his draft stock. While Arizona already spent its 2018 first-round pick on Josh Rosen, a meeting with Murray indicated the team hasn’t closed the door on taking a quarterback again in 2019.
The 49ers have the No. 2 pick in this year's draft. So, if Murray heads to Arizona, Ohio State edge rusher Nick Bosa could conveniently fall into the laps of 49ers general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Rosen had a challenging rookie season, but it wasn't all his fault. The Cardinals' offensive line dealt with the injury bug, and veteran Larry Fitzgerald was the only receiver with over 500 yards for the season. He led the team with 69 catches for 734 yards.
Rosen completed 217 of his 393 passes for 2,278 yards and 11 touchdowns over 14 games. Murray would bring the added dimension of mobility to Arizona's offense, not to mention he already has a relationship with new coach Kliff Kingsbury.
“Coach Kingsbury, you know the type of offense he runs,” Murray said. “He recruited me out of high school. I have a great relationship with him. If I were to play under him, I think it’d be a great deal.”
Much was made out of a video that resurfaced of Kingsbury being very complimentary of Murray back when he still was the head coach at Texas Tech. Kingsbury famously said then that he’d take Murray with the first pick in the draft.
San Francisco 49ers
“Obviously generous words from him,” Murray said. “Like I said, that’s the relationship. He’s been very fond of me, and I respect that and I’ve never taken that for granted. He’s always someone I could go to if I needed anything. So, like I said it would be fun. It would be a great deal if I was picked No. 1."
Murray was equally complementary of the Cardinals coach. It also would be an easy adjustment into Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” offensive scheme.
“Obviously I’m very comfortable knowing how he operates the offense,” Murray said. “What we look for, and how to operate within it, as far as getting everything to the line of scrimmage, receivers, you know.”
[RELATED: OSU captain tells Arizona to take Bosa]
There's still a lot of time before this scenario plays out, and Murray confirmed he has several meetings scheduled with myriad teams. But for now, 49ers fans can keep their dream alive of the possibility of their team getting the top edge rusher in the draft. After all, Murray approves of going to Arizona and being coached by Kingsbury.
“I think me and him together would be nice,” the QB said.