NFL Betting: 5 Offensive Rookie of the Year Targets
Kyler Murray, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals
FanDuel Sportsbook Odds: +270
The first overall pick hasn't scooped the Offensive Rookie of the Year prize since way back in 2010, when Sam Bradford of the then-St. Louis Rams took the honors. But the table is set for Kyler Murray to be among the leading contenders for the trophy in 2019.
For a start, he has a head coach who famously has loved Murray since way back in the autumn, when Kliff Kingsbury was head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders and Murray was leading the Oklahoma Sooners. Kingsbury revealed in October that he "would take Murray with the first pick in the draft if he could." As fate would have it, he got the chance to do so...and he did.
Then there are the players whom the Arizona Cardinals have put in place around Murray, in their bid to kickstart their offense after a dismal 2018.
The Cardinals averaged -0.15 Adjusted Net Expected Points (NEP) per play last season, dead last in the NFL. With Larry Fitzgerald and Christian Kirk already out wide, Arizona drafted wide receivers Andy Isabella, who I believe will be a big time playmaker for them, and Hakeem Butler, as well as tight end Caleb Wilson. All three were productive college players in 2018.
While it would seem an easy task to improve on last year's offering, any significant improvement on the field is likely to be attributed to Kingsbury and -- by extension -- the guy running his new offense on the field.
There are, of course, question marks heading into Murray's rookie season, notably regarding his size (or lack thereof) plus just how successful an offense that couldn't prevent Kingsbury from being fired in college can be in the NFL.
But with all of the hype surrounding this fledgling dynamic duo, a semi-decent return in 2019 should be enough to keep Murray in the forefront of the voter's mind. After all, in 2010 Bradford "only" managed 3,512 yards, with 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions on a 7-9 Rams team.
The bar is not necessarily at its highest point when considering Murray for the top prize.
