In five days, Kyler Murray will become the first athlete to be drafted in the first round in both baseball and football. In all likelihood, he will be taken with the No. 1 overall pick.
Nobody this side of Charley Casserly is doubting Kyler Murray. He won the Heisman Trophy. He led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff. He was a legend in Texas high school football. He can throw, run and improvise at a level rarely seen before.
All of this made an NFL draft promo narrated by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott that much more puzzling. Prescott’s pre-draft message to Murray was essentially, “I know what it’s like to be doubted.”
That’s cool, I guess, Dak.
Athletes and teams love to bring up the “nobody believed in us” narrative, especially after a big win. But in Murray’s case, he hasn’t really been doubted that much at all. Sure, there were some early concerns about his size, but in the right system, Murray’s athleticism and passing ability should mitigate those questions. Still, for the likely top pick, that’s hardly “doubting” and more like a mild critique.
Why is Prescott — a No. 601 recruit and fourth-round pick — comparing his situation to Murray’s? The correlation really isn’t there. Prescott was doubted and exceeded expectations. Murray was thought to be great at every level and met or exceeded those lofty expectations.
But hey, watch the NFL draft on Thursday, and hear the little-known, often-doubted Kyler Murray get his named called with **checks notes** … the very first pick.
