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Kyler Murray

David Johnson impressed by rookie quarterback

Probably best to not read too much in offseason workouts, but in Arizona they seem to like what they’re seeing out of Kyler Murray. David Johnson says that to him, the rookie quarterback looks like Russell Wilson.

“People are really underestimating his ability to throw,” Johnson said in an interview on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “Coming into the draft, just hearing about him, a lot of people were talking about his scrambling but no one was really talking about his throwing. He can throw dimes and he can throw the ball down the field, he’s been throwing it deep to Christian [Kirk] and those guys in the OTAs.”

Size, of course, is a concern. At about 205 pounds, he’ll need to be careful not to expose himself to too many big hits. He’ll need to make an effort to scramble like Wilson, stepping out of bounds and getting on the ground before defenders get to him.

But Murray put up some pretty slick passing numbers at Oklahoma. There have been 55 other quarterbacks selected in the first round in this century. None of those guys in their final season of college averaged more yards per pass attempt or more yards per completion.

I will be very interested to see what Murray looks like in the early exhibition games.

FIRST ROUND QUARTERBACKS (yards per attempt)
YearPlayerPctYardsTDIntPer att
2019Kyler Murray, Ariz.69%4,36142711.57
2018Baker Mayfield, Clev.71%4,62743611.45
2012Robert Griffin III, Wash.72%4,29337610.57
2011Cam Newton, Car.66%2,85430710.19
2015Marcus Mariota, Tenn.68%4,45442410.01
2005Jason Campbell, Wash.70%2,70020710.00
2014Johnny Manziel, Clev.70%4,11437139.59
2014Blake Bortles, Jac.68%3,5812599.37
2006Vince Young, Tenn.65%3,03626109.34
2005Alex Smith, S.F.68%2,9523249.31
2004Philip Rivers, NYG72%4,4913479.30
2014Teddy Bridgewater, Minn.71%3,9703149.30
2000Chad Pennington, NYJ67%4,00638129.25
2010Tim Tebow, Den.68%2,8952159.22
2007JaMarcus Russell, Oak.68%3,1292889.15
2019Dwayne Haskins, Wash.70%4,8315089.06
2004Ben Roethlisberger, Pitt.69%4,48637109.06
2002David Carr, Hou.65%4,2994279.03
2009Matthew Stafford, Det.61%3,45925109.03
2016Jared Goff, LAR64%4,71943138.92
2006Matt Leinart, Ariz.66%3,8152888.85
2013EJ Manuel, Buff.68%3,39723108.78
2009Mark Sanchez, NYJ66%3,20734108.76
2012Andrew Luck, Ind.71%3,51737108.71
2003Byron Leftwich, Jac.67%4,26830108.69
2018Sam Darnold, NYJ63%4,14326138.63
2017Patrick Mahomes, K.C.66%5,05241108.55
2016Paxton Lynch, Den.67%3,7762848.52
2018Lamar Jackson, Balt.59%3,66027108.51
2017Mitchell Trubisky, Chi.68%3,7483068.38
2012Brandon Weeden, Clev.72%4,72737138.38
2015Jameis Winston, T.B.65%3,90725188.37
2018Josh Rosen, Ariz.63%3,75626108.31
2008Joe Flacco, Balt.64%4,2632358.18
2004Eli Manning, S.D.62%3,60029108.16
2010Sam Bradford, St.L.57%562208.14
2005Aaron Rodgers, G.B.66%2,5662488.12
2003Carson Palmer, Cin.63%3,94233108.06
2016Carson Wentz, Phil.63%1,6511747.94
2017Deshaun Watson, Hou.67%4,59341177.93
2009Josh Freeman, T.B.59%2,9452087.71
2001Michael Vick, Atl.54%1,234867.66
2002Joey Harrington, Det.58%2,4152357.50
2007Brady Quinn, Clev.62%3,4263777.34
2004J.P. Losman, Buff.59%3,07733147.29
2012Ryan Tannehill, Mia.62%3,74429157.05
2008Matt Ryan, Atl.59%4,50731196.89
2011Christian Ponder, Minn.62%2,0442086.84
2011Jake Locker, Tenn.55%2,2651796.82
2019Daniel Jones, NYG60%2,6742296.82
2003Rex Grossman, Chi.57%3,40222176.76
2018Josh Allen, Buff.56%1,8121666.71
2011Blaine Gabbert, Jac.63%3,1861696.71
2003Kyle Boller, Balt.53%2,81528106.69
2006Jay Cutler, Den.59%3,0732196.65
2002Patrick Ramsey, Wash.57%2,93522136.54

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index