What if the Arizona Cardinals picked Nick Bosa over Kyler Murray?

Before the 2019 NFL Draft, everyone knew the Arizona Cardinals were going to pick Kyler Murray.

Of course, that’s exactly what ended up happening. But what would have happened to the Arizona Cardinals had they opted to take the top defensive player in that draft, current San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa?

Did the Cardinals need a quarterback? Absolutley. Did taking a quarterback in consecutive drafts inside the top ten picks make any sense? Not at the time, but luckily for Steve Keim, it’s proved to be a pretty smart move.

Bosa was excited about the plan the Cardinals had in place, and this is what he had to say during his rookie year when asked if the Cardinals made the right decision drafting Murray:

"Bosa figured quarterback Kyler Murray was the likely No. 1 selection for Arizona. But he was not sure until he heard Murray’s family erupt in cheers in the green room at the draft in Nashville when the Cardinals made it official.“I’m impressed with how they’ve turned things around over there,” Bosa said of the Cardinals. “In the draft process, they sold me. I definitely saw the vision they had and how they were going to do it. I think they’re doing a really good job.–NBCSports Bay Area"

If the Arizona Cardinals did pick Nick Bosa over Kyler Murray, here’s what would’ve changed

Look, the Cardinals have made some bizarre past picks- especially in the first round. For example, take their 1978 first-round pick of Arkansas kicker and punter Steve Little. The Cardinals’ all-time leading scorer, Jim Bakken (also a kicker), was on the roster at the time.

Little would only last two years on the team. Then, he was cut after losing a competition in practice in front of the entire team, and that same night he was involved in a car accident that left him paralyzed—a cruel twist of fate.

Then there’s the selection of defensive lineman Eric Swann, a player who had never played a down of college football. Swann fared better than Little, but still, it was unheard of at the time.

That’s why the Cardinals could’ve totally picked Bosa and gotten away with it, as their history shows that they get odd in the first round.

Had Bosa been wearing Cardinal red right now, would Isaiah Simmons be the choice in 2020? Or would the Cardinals have taken Tristan Wirfs? Again, it opens Pandora’s box.

Bosa would’ve been paired with Chandler Jones, making for one heck of a tandem. But would the Cardinals have been better record-wise? Probably not.

But those who forget history are condemned to repeat it, so looking back on it, the Cardinals did make the right choice.