After Kyler Murray hoisted the Heisman Trophy , many questioned whether he should choose to enter into the NFL Draft or follow through with his pledge to the Oakland Athletics to play professional baseball.
The A’s selected Murray ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft. He signed a $4.6 million contract before the Sooners football season started. To give some perspective, Murray’s head coach, Lincoln Riley made $4.8 million this season.
According to Murray’s agent, Scott Boras, the Heisman Trophy winner will not pursue the NFL and will transition to playing professional baseball for the Oakland A’s. Boras told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “Kyler has agreed and the A’s agreed to a baseball contract that gave him permission to play college football through the end of the collegiate season. After that, he is under contract to play baseball. That is not a determination to make. It’s already done.” Despite the hearsay regarding Murray’s NFL potential, Boras is confident that his client will uphold his contract with the A’s. Boras said, “All I know is that Kyler has tremendous opportunity to be a great baseball player. He knows that.”
If Murray does decide to pursue the NFL, there is a provision in the contract he signed with the A’s that lays out how he would forgo or repay his signing bonus. However, if Murray is selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, there wouldn’t be an issue having to repay his signing bonus from the A’s. If Kyler Murray is selected #1 overall in the NFL Draft, he would be guaranteed $33 million. If he is the last pick of the first round, he’ll be guaranteed around $10 million.
According to reports, Murray is projected as a second or third round NFL Draft selection. However, a NFL general manager told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Sooners 5’11”quarterback would be a late first-round selection.
Kyler Murray has a tough assignment ahead of him before he decides between the MLB or NFL. Murray and the Sooners are preparing for the College Football Playoff as they will play in the Orange Bowl on December 29thagainst Alabama.
Regardless of the Sooners fate, will Murray decide to play for the A’s, enter into the NFL Draft or follow in Bo Jackson’s footsteps next year?