Kyler Murray will run 40-yard dash at Pro Day
By Bryan Perez
Is Kyler Murray making the right decision running the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day?
Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray will run the 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, who shared the news Thursday on Twitter.
#Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray will run the 40 at his Pro Day, along with a regular passing workout, source said. He’s also expected to weigh-in again and get measured... for all the height truthers out there.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2019
Murray’s decision to run the 40-yard dash is surprising considering the amount of weight he added for the 2019 NFL combine. Murray weighed in at 5-10 and 207 pounds, a solid 20 pounds heavier than most analysts assumed he played at in 2018. It’s obvious Murray was on a mass-building workout program since the end of the college football season, and it worked.
But did it slow him down?
Part of the appeal with Murray as a prospect is that he’s an exceptional — borderline rare — athlete for the position. He’s been compared to Michael Vick as a dual-threat quarterback who’s equally capable of beating you with his arm as he is with his legs. His game tape suggests he’ll run in the low 4.4’s, but if the added weight on his frame pushes him into the 4.5-range, it could end up hurting his stock.
Now, don’t get confused here. If the Cardinals (or any team that trades up to select him at No. 1 overall) are sold on Murray with the top pick, it’s because they believe he can win with his right arm. And let’s face it, there aren’t many quarterbacks who can run a 4.5. So it’s not like that’s a slow number for a quarterback.
But why risk it? Lamar Jackson was in a similar situation during last year’s draft process. Teams were encouraged by his athletic ability and there was some chatter he’d undergo a position change to wide receiver as a pro. He elected to skip the 40-yard dash altogether and allowed his tape to speak for itself. The mystery surrounding his speed was actually a good thing, in my opinion, because it prevented teams from making any judgments about his game beyond what he displayed on film and he ended up becoming a first-round pick.
Murray should do the same.
Murray threw for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions during his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2018. He added 1,001 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the ground.