Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was one of four quarterbacks taken with the number one overall pick between 2018 and 2021.
As it stands, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is the only former number one overall pick between 2018 and 2021 yet to win a playoff game. And following the Jacksonville Jaguars loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, he should also strive to take notes on what the man drafted two seasons after him is doing.
I’m unsure if you saw it, but during the video following the Jaguars loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence took time to shake hands with and congratulate most of his teammates as they jogged back through the tunnel on their way to the locker room. To me, Lawrence showed the ability of a leader that we have yet to see from Murray.
Arizona Cardinals QB should strive to be like Lawrence, Joe Burrow
Joe Burrow is another name that comes to mind. Since 2010, and perhaps even well into the 2000s, no quarterback taken at number one overall has had more poise and confidence than Burrow.
Burrow’s leadership abilities also emerged in Year 2 of what’s going to be a long, successful, NFL career. Once more, we’re going to see Burrow battle it out with Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game, and since Burrow has gotten the best of Mahomes in three straight games, it wouldn’t surprise me if his Bengals once more found themselves in the Super Bowl.
Poise is something Murray has shown during his four-year career, but it’s been inconsistent. We’ve seen the shoulders slump more times than I can count, and I can count to well over a million in three different languages. We’ve also seen the hands on the hips, the spats, the testy facial expressions, etc.
And no playoff wins in four seasons. In five combined seasons between Burrow and Lawrence, the duo are 6-2. In Lawrence’s first playoff game, he led an epic comeback against the Los Angeles Chargers; Murray, well, did the exact opposite.
Maybe the new head coach will bring out the best in Murray just as Doug Pederson brought out the best in Lawrence. Murray’s injury and the arrival of a new coach is one reason why he deserves a mulligan. But if he wants to maximize his chances, he might want to take some notes on those drafted number one overall in 2020 and 2021.
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