Is John Lynch hoodwinking us with his Kyler Murray comments?
INDIANAPOLIS — At some point, John Lynch ran out of compliments for Kyler Murray.
Fun. Special. Electric.
“Apparently, he can do everything,” Lynch said Thursday. “You talk to baseball people who say he is a can’t-miss prospect there. Talented guy. I had a chance to meet him at the Super Bowl, and he’s also a very engaging personality.”
Murray has been the talk of the NFL Combine here in Indianapolis, expectedly. About two weeks ago, the former Oklahoma quarterback declared he would pursue the NFL after the Oakland Athletics drafted him No. 9 overall in the 2018 MLB draft. Any Heisman Trophy-winner who chooses to to pursue another spot is a big deal. Add that twist, with the nature of Murray’s NFL prospects, as an undersized (he measured at 5-foot-10, 1/8 inch, 207 pounds Thursday), blazing fast quarterback, and his current situation is unprecedented.
“I just know he’s special,” Lynch said. “He’s one of those guys – you have your profiles and all that, but can a guy play? The guy can play.”
The 49ers aren’t interested in acquiring Murray. With Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Mullens, and C.J. Beathard, they have three young quarterbacks who have started NFL games for stretches at a time. Garoppolo signed a then-record-breaking deal for five years, $137.5 million before the 2018 season.
“We obviously aren’t in the market for a quarterback, but I keep throwing (Murray’s) darn film on because it’s so fun to watch,” Lynch said. “He’s an electric player.”
Should Lynch’s effusive praise should be considered on the surface level? Well, complimenting a polarizing player, who could very well be selected with the first overall pick when this is all said and done, seems to be a crafty draft strategy. It certainly doesn’t hurt.
There are several scenarios in which Murray could impact the 49ers, who pick No. 2 overall in April’s draft.
- Quarterback-needy teams are likely to contact the 49ers about trading their pick. They could stockpile more assets if they choose to go that route.
- Quarterback-needy teams are likely to contact the Arizona Cardinals, which pick No. 1. If the Cardinals trade out of that spot, the 49ers would have their choice of any non-quarterback prospect. They could select either Nick Bosa or Josh Allen, the consensus top edge prospects in the class. This would make sense, considering San Francisco’s pass-rush woes throughout recent years. Bosa has consistently been projected to the Cardinals, which are also looking for edge-rush help.
- The Cardinals could draft Murray. This seems ridiculous because they drafted quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round last year. But he was subpar as a rookie — partly explaining why they have the No. 1 pick — and newly appointed head coach Kliff Kingsbury has a well-documented affinity for Murray.
Lynch, of course, is mindful of these scenarios, which would give the 49ers options. In 2017, the 49ers traded their No. 2 pick to the Chicago Bears, who selected former North Carolina quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Every year, teams fall in love with quarterbacks more and more as the draft nears. Many times, it seems teams are drafting the position, not the player.
With Murray reportedly choosing not to participate in various physical exercises at the Combine, leaving his draft stock seemingly unchanged until his Pro Day, Lynch seems to be doing what he can to encourage other teams to take Murray. It doesn’t hurt, especially if it gives the 49ers a better chance at selecting their top prospect or acquiring additional assets.
“I don’t get a chance to watch a lot of college football during the season,” Lynch said. ” I haven’t seen Kyler Murray much, but that kid is electric. He is fun to watch. That Heisman is for real.”