So, what kind of evaluation should the Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray receive among NFL quarterbacks drafted in the first round since 2010?
CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin evaluated the 49 first-round quarterbacks in that time frame and assigned “grades” to them.
And Murray?
Right about what you thought. Right about what he deserves.
The evaluation
Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, received a “mixed result” grade by Benjamin, who defines the classification this way: “A quarterback who flashed but, for whatever reason, did not/is not panning out.”
Benjamin’s evaluation of Murray: “At various points along his journey, Murray has flashed the qualities of a home run, pairing a rocket arm with scurrying legs. His reliability and availability are always in question, however; there might not be a more mercurial talent at the position.”
His career stats are a mixed bag. He has missed games and thrown a high number of interceptions. The numbers: 1,864 completions in 2,780 attempts (67.1 percent), 115 touchdowns and 57 interceptions. He also has rushed for 3,020 yards in 503 attempts. Murray has played 82 games and missed 19 games.
In five fewer games, Philly’s Jalen Hurts has thrown only 39 interceptions.
Two other quarterbacks were drafted in Murray’s class and both were ranked as a “miss”. The Giants drafted Daniel Jones at No. 6 and he’s with his third team in less than a year. Washington drafted Dwayne Haskins at 15. Haskins only played two seasons.
The grades:
* Home run: A bona fide star with championship-caliber talent, production and/or potential
* Solid result: A good, maybe even great, quarterback who’s still got big hurdles to clear
* Mixed result: A quarterback who flashed but, for whatever reason, did not/is not panning out.
* Incomplete: A quarterback who’s yet to fully prove himself
* Miss: A clear flop as a short- or long-term starter
Under Murray, the Cardinals have been to the playoffs only once in his six years. In 2021, Arizona lost in the wild-card round to the Los Angeles Rams, 34-11.
Benjamin ranks six of the first-round quarterbacks as “home runs”. Three are first overall picks.
1. Joe Burrow, Bengals, 2020
1. Andrew Luck, Colts, 2012
7. Josh Allen, Bills, 2018
32. Lamar Jackson, Ravens, 2018
12. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, 2017
1. Cam Newton, Panthers, 2011
Here’s how the 49 first-rounders rank:
Home runs: 6 (12 percent)
Solid result: 3 (6 percent)
Mixed result: 8 (16 percent)
Incomplete: 7 (14 percent)
Miss: 25 (51 percent)
Seven other quarterbacks have been drafted No. 1 overall. Here are their grades:
2024 — Caleb Williams, Bears: Incomplete
2023 — Bryce Young, Panthers: Incomplete
2011 — Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, Mixed result
2018 — Baker Mayfield, Browns: Mixed result
2016 — Jared Goff, Rams: Mixed result
2015 — Jameis Winston, Buccaneers: Miss
2010 — Sam Bradford, Rams: Mixed result
So, Murray is about average among those drafted first overall. Six are “home runs”; two are “incomplete”; three are “mixed results”; and one is a “miss”.
The Cardinals didn’t draft Murray No. 1 overall for a “mixed result”. They need Murray to be more than he has shown. Arizona is coming off an 8-9 season and expect to make the playoffs in 2025, for starters.
And they expect Murray to lead them there.