Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for the 2019 season. However, in a list of the top 50 rookies by Gavino Borquez for sister site Touchdown Wire, Murray isn’t at the top.
In fact, he isn’t No. 2 on the list. He is ranked fourth behind Nick Bosa, Josh Jacobs and A.J. Brown.
Bosa was the winner of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
One could make a solid argument for him being ranked ahead of Murray. But the two rookie of the year winners should be the two top rookies.
Jacobs and Brown, both of whom had fine rookie campaigns, should not be ranked ahead of Murray. The voting for the award wasn’t even close. Murray received 26.5 votes from the Associated Press. Jacobs received 13. Brown 9.5.
Jacobs had over 1,100 rushing yards as a rookie. That is a very good season. Brown had 52 receptions for more than 1,000 yards. Again, a good season.
However, Murray’s season was special at quarterback. What he accomplished as a rookie with more than 3,500 passing yards and more than 500 rushing yards was done previously by only five players. Only Cam Newton did it as a rookie.
Murray plays the hardest position and met every expectation of being the No. 1 pick, in addition to proving wrong all the critics about concerns about his size, style of play and experience in college. He set the rookie record for passes without an interception. He set franchise rookie records and franchise records.
It is reasonable to say perhaps Bosa was the overall top rookie. But Murray shouldn’t be any lower than No. 2 on the list.
No other Cardinals rookie made the top 50, including Byron Murphy, who started every game at cornerback for Arizona.
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