Kyler Murray‘s time with the Arizona Cardinals is coming to an end after seven seasons. The 28-year-old will be released at the start of the NFL league year, which will make him a free agent for the first time of his career.
Murray is expected to plenty of draw interest on the open market. He will likely sign a veteran minimum contract, as any salary he makes will merely offset the $36.8 million in guarantees Arizona owes him for the 2026 NFL season.
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That said, on the off-chance Murray wants a complete change of pace, an opportunity exists for him to play baseball.
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
1. Las Vegas Raiders – Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
9. Kansas City Chiefs – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
11. Miami Dolphins – OT Spencer Fano, Utah
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
18. Minnesota Vikings – S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
25. Chicago Bears – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
26. Buffalo Bills – WR Malachi Fields, Notre Dame
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
27. San Francisco 49ers – Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
28. Houston Texans – Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
29. Kansas City Chiefs (from Los Angeles Rams) – Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection after Trent McDuffie trade
32. Seattle Seahawks – RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Before being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Murray was the ninth overall selection in the 2018 MLB Draft by the then-Oakland Athletics.
The Athletics still retain Murray’s baseball rights and general manager David Forst told MLB.com the door is “always open” for the veteran quarterback to switch sports if he so desires.
“Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career,” Forst said Wednesday. “That said, he and his baseball representatives know that we’re always open to him exploring a return to baseball with the A’s if that time ever comes.”
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Murray has not indicated whether he would consider switching sports. His representation did not immediately respond to USA TODAY Sports’ request for comment about the possibility.
Either way, here’s what to know about Murray’s baseball career and his initial decision to spurn MLB for the NFL.
KYLER MURRAY LANDING SPOTS: Five best free-agent fits for QB
Can Kyler Murray play baseball?
Yes, Murray would be eligible to play baseball if he so desires. He is not presently under contract with an NFL team, so he is free to follow whatever career path he chooses.
However, if Murray wants to make the jump from the NFL to MLB, he would only be eligible to play for the Athletics, barring a trade. The A’s selected him with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and retained his rights even after he reneged on his contract to play in the NFL.
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Murray’s original deal with the Athletics contained a $4.66 million signing bonus. He was paid $1.5 million of that up front and would have received an additional $3.16 million had he decided to play baseball.
After choosing to pursue the NFL, Murray was required to return $1.29 million of the original $1.5 million he received from the A’s.
Kyler Murray baseball stats
Murray was a touted MLB prospect and was lauded as a potential early selection in the 2015 MLB Draft. However, he opted out of the draft to pursue a career as a two-sport college athlete at Texas A&M.
Murray backed up Kyle Allen in his lone season at College Station before deciding to transfer to Oklahoma. He had to sit out the 2016 college baseball season as a result and didn’t get on the diamond until 2017, his first season with the Sooners.
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Murray posted just a .122/.317/.440 slash line across his first season at Oklahoma. The left fielder had just six hits across 49 at-bats, but he did show off a good eye, walking 13 times, to go along with blazing speed, as he stole 12 bases for the Sooners.
After spending the summer posting similar numbers across 16 games with the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Harwich Mariners, Murray enjoyed a breakout season for the Sooners. He manned center field and posted a .296/.398/.954 slash line with 10 homers, 47 RBI and 10 steals.
Kyler Murray baseball scouting report
Murray’s performance put him on the radar ahead of the 2018 MLB Draft. Some executives expressed optimism about him being a first- or second-round selection – provided he decided to play baseball.
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“He can fly, he can throw, he can steal bases, he has plus bat speed and he makes good contact,” an NL executive told MLB.com in 2018. “He’s not that raw at the plate. He’s got a line-drive stroke with some power. I think he’s got a chance to be a true five-tool guy; it’s just a matter of whether he’s going to play the game or not.”
Meanwhile, Murray’s college baseball coach, Skip Johnson, compared him to Andrew McCutchen and expressed confidence Murray would eventually choose baseball over football.
“I think he knows he’s going to be a baseball player vs. a football player long-term,” Johnson told MLB.com. “He talks about it. He knows where his game is and what he wants to do to get better in the game. He understands that; he’s not 6-foot-5.”
The Athletics were impressed enough with Murray’s performance to spend the draft’s ninth overall pick in on the athletic outfielder despite the uncertainty surrounding him. He signed a contract containing a $4.66 million signing bonus, but his selection also came with the stipulation he would be allowed to play one more season of college football and report to the A’s in the spring of 2019.
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Why Kyler Murray choose football over baseball
Murray returned to Oklahoma and serve as the team’s starting quarterback during his redshirt junior season. It marked the first time Murray had been a full-time college starter, as he spent the 2017 campaign backing up Baker Mayfield.
Murray thrived as Mayfield’s replacement. He won the Heisman Trophy while completing 69% of his passes for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns and seven interceptions and adding 1,001 yards and 12 rushing scores.
The Sooners made it to the College Football Playoff under his leadership but ultimately lost to eventual national champion Alabama in the Orange Bowl.
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Murray’s strong showing helped inspire confidence in him as a top 2019 NFL Draft prospect. Ultimately, he chose to pursue football over baseball and eventually became the draft’s No. 1 overall pick despite concerns about his 5-10, 207-pound frame.
“Football has been my love and passion my entire life,” Murray wrote in a statement announcing his decision.
Murray went on to win the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and has twice been a Pro Bowler during his seven-year career to date.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Kyler Murray play baseball? A’s GM keeps door open