New England

Could Kyler Murray Entering NFL Draft Help Patriots Land QB of Future?

Every action has consequences. So, could Kyler Murray choosing football over baseball help the New England Patriots find the heir to Tom Brady's throne?

OK, let's back up. Murray, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners, is also a star outfielder who signed a contract with the Oakland Athletics in June.

But the A's expect Murray to declare for the 2019 NFL Draft, the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported Wednesday. The 21-year-old would have to return his $4.66 million signing bonus with Oakland if he chooses the NFL over baseball, so there's still a chance he pursues an MLB career. Right now, however, it appears Murray has his sights set on the NFL.

ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested Thursday morning that Murray could be a first-round pick. The Patriots need a successor to the 41-year-old Brady after trading away Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017. Would they consider taking Murray, a dynamic playmaker with a rocket arm, with their late first-round selection?

It's an interesting debate -- but there's another wrinkle here. There's a video making the rounds of then-Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury raving about Murray back in October and admitting he take the QB "with the first pick of the draft if I could."

Guess what Kingbury is now? The head coach of the Arizona Cardinals ... who have the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Of course, the Cardinals already have a young franchise quarterback in Josh Rosen, the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft? But what if Kingsbury really wants Murray?

We'll allow former NFL tight end Anthony Becht to connect the final dot.

We're obviously getting way ahead of ourselves. But even Schefter believes the Rosen trade scenario isn't "implausible."

And let's not forget New England reportedly expressed interest in Rosen ahead of the 2018 draft in their search for Brady's replacement.

Arizona likely would demand a high return for Rosen that would steer the Patriots clear. And it's also possible they stick with the UCLA product under center and let Murray go elsewhere -- if Murray even decides to play football.

Brady isn't getting any younger, though, so the 2019 draft is worth monitoring regardless.

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