Kyler Murray has the most to gain at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine

I have arrived in Indianapolis for the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, where every general manager and head coach in the NFL has descended upon to take in one of the biggest events in the pre-draft process.

Hundreds of players are set for a weeklong job interview by NFL teams where they will be medically checked, interviewed, and worked out. It’s a big process, and multiple players have a lot on the line when it comes to their draft stock and future in the league.

No player has more to gain this week than Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray.

The Heisman Trophy winner is one of the most exciting players in his draft class. He’s dangerous with the ball in his hands as a passer and a runner, and teams want to get a closer look at this intriguing prospect.

Murray is a smaller quarterback, standing only 5-foot-8, but he’s now bulked up to about 206 pounds, according to Peter King. NFL teams I’ve talked to are concerned about Murray’s lack of body armor but are interested in seeing how he looks and performs with the added weight.

Lincoln Riley, Murray’s college head coach with the Sooners, compared the quarterback to Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders in terms of body type and agility. That’s a lofty comparison, which many simply cannot believe because of Sanders unique ability as a runner.

Murray did make plays from the pocket in college, always a question mark for players of his size with scrambling ability. Almost 89 percent of his passes came from within the pocket, according to Pro Football Focus, and Murray only had five passes batted at the line of scrimmage in 2018.

If Murray measures in more than 200 pounds and runs his expected 4.4-second 40-yard dash, it should create an even larger fever for his services. He is seen as a first-round pick by most in the scouting community, and if he has a good week in Indy, then we could see him catapult up to the top of the draft board at No. 1 overall.

The small quarterback has big ability, a big arm, and a big future in the NFL. Even though he’s not going to throw this week at the Combine, Murray has the most to gain of any player in attendance here at Lucas Oil Stadium.

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