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Dave Birkett and Bob McManaman share thoughts, predictions on Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals, coming Sept. 27, 2020, in Glendale, Ariz. Filmed Sept. 22.
Detroit Free Press
Kyler Murray has been very impressive during his first two games of the his second in the NFL.
How impressive?
His performances in wins against the San Francisco 49ers and Washington have elevated him to the upper echelon of not just quarterbacks, but all NFL players, according to one ESPN personality.
On First Take on Wednesday, ESPN’s Max Kellerman said the Cardinals quarterback is now one of the Top 10 players in the NFL.
Kellerman explained his reasoning:
“The whole Top 10 is populated by quarterbacks,” he said in a discussion with Stephen A. Smith on the show. “It’s by so much the most important that if you’re one of the elite quarterbacks you are in the Top 10 … Looking at this year so far, Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, and based on their resumes as well, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, Cam (Newton), Josh Allen, the way he has played so far. Kyler Murray, he is in that group. Who else would you put in that group right now? So yes, if it was some player who had been mediocre his whole career and had two good games that is one thing, but when you are the No. 1 overall pick, was excellent as a rookie and then you do what Kyler has done in your second season when everyone is expecting you to ball out. A lot of people said ‘Kyler might be in the MVP hunt’ and he is, yeah, I’ve got to say, I think he is a Top 10 player. “
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Murray was 26-of-40 for 230 yards and a touchdown, with an interception in Arizona’s 24-20 Week 1 victory over the 49ers. He rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.
In the Cardinals’ 30-15 Week 2 victory over Washington, he was 26-of-38 for 286 yards, with another touchdown and interception through the air. He ran eight times for 67 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith wasn’t ready to elevate Murray as much as Kellerman has.
“I’m not going to go that far and the reason I am not going to go that far without even scouring NFL rosters is that if I can’t even call you top four or five at your own position I damn sure ain’t going to call you Top 10 in the National Football League …,” he said on First Take. “We’ve got Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson, not necessarily in that order. But you’ve got four quarterbacks that you clearly would not put him above at this particular juncture. No, again, the dude is special. I think he has tremendous talent. I think he has a tremendous upside. …
“I’m saying, you have an opportunity, we’ll see what you’ve got., but to give him Top 10 status overall in the NFL, we’ve got to throw Aaron Donald into that equation along with various others, it could be a Khalil Mack, it could be somebody else. We’ve got to look at various other teams, or various player throughout the NFL before we adopt a mentality Top 10 overall.”
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While he may or may not be Top 10 overall in the NFL yet, there is no dismissing the impact Murray is having on the Cardinals.
NFL oddsmakers have noticed, elevating the quarterback in their odds for the MVP award this season. Murray is now in the Top 5 of many lists for the honor.
Several sites have Murray quickly rising in their latest NFL quarterback power rankings.
Fansided ranked him No. 8 in the NFL at the position right now.
Matt Verderame wrote: “The Cardinals are 2-0, and Murray is at the forefront of the renaissance. So far, the former No. 1 overall pick has faced two excellent defensive fronts and picked them apart, using his arm and legs (158 rushing yards) to win both games. The YPA and interception totals aren’t ideal, but the strides are large and evident.”
Pro Football Network also listed Murray at No. 8.
Shane G. Tyler wrote: There’s a perfectly good explanation for Kyler Murray’s eight position jump in our QB power rankings after two weeks. To start the season, only ten quarterbacks in their second year have topped 4,000 passing yards. That’s significant because Murray is already on pace to become the 11th player to do it. Plus, he’s on pace to rush for 1,264 yards. Both yard totals would be better than what Lamar Jackson did last season.”
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CBS Sports had him up to No. 5.
Cody Benjamin wrote: “The passing numbers aren’t eye-popping, but everything else is. Murray’s deep-ball touch is a sight to behold, and his legs are even more impressive. It’s not an overstatement to call him as dangerous as Lamar Jackson on the ground right now. Who has a defensive scheme to completely neuter his athleticism? He’s got the Cardinals rolling.”
NBC Sports also had him listed as the league’s fifth-best QB right now.
Dylan Mickanen wrote: “Murray’s teammates have begun campaigning for him to win MVP and it’s easy to see why he’s in the conversation. His elite accuracy and rushing ability makes him almost impossible to defend, having passed for 516 yards and two touchdowns while running for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Arizona appears to be one of the most lethal offenses in the league and that all starts with Murray’s ability to make plays.”
Another NBC Sports writer, DJ Bean, had Murray ranked No. 4.
He wrote: “Murray began the season ranked middle-of-the-pack (No. 14) with it pretty much guaranteed he’d skyrocket into at least the top 10. Since the games started being played, he’s been top-five thanks in part to leading all quarterbacks in rushing yards. This is a great dual-threat quarterback.”
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Is Murray already a Top 10 NFL player?
The answer is subjective and of course, up for debate.
That there is already a debate about it two games into the quarterback’s second season is a very good sign for the Arizona Cardinals.
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