Can Kyler Murray Carry On The Legacy of the Undersized QB?

Two of the best 6-feet-and-under quarterbacks are getting their flowers this offseason. First-ballot Hall of Famer Drew Brees is getting his gold jacket before the season starts, and Super Bowl Champion Russell Wilson is saying goodbye to the game on his own terms and transitioning to broadcasting (just like Brees did). They aren't the only ones who have made names for themselves at that stature. So has Kyler Murray.

QB Battle

While Murray still has to battle it out with J.J. McCarthy for the QB1 spot, if he gets his career back on track under Kevin O'Connell, he still has a lot of good years left in the tank. Still only 28 years old, he's carrying the torch for the undersized QBs at the moment. With wheels even better than Wilson's, he can throw the deep ball, but not quite as accurately as the other two QBs mentioned.

Change of Scenery

It seems he's on his ninth life in the NFL after overstaying his welcome in Arizona. He's unfortunately been ravaged by injuries and inconsistent play for the last few seasons. In the last three seasons, he has had one year with 17 appearances sandwiched between 5 and 8-game campaigns.

Quick reminder: early in Brees's career, he famously had a near-career-ending shoulder injury, was let go in favor of rookie Phillip Rivers, and was seen as an underachiever coming out of Purdue until it clicked with Sean Payton and the Saints.

The Ultimate Weapon at WR

Justin Jefferson is on an all-time career run. Very reminiscent of DeAndre Hopkins in Houston when he would will himself onto the All-Pro teams with a rotating carousel of mediocre quarterback play. Having this cheat code at wideout with Jordan Addison on the other side should be enough to make many a quarterback look competent.

Competition is fierce in the NFC North, so when the season kicks off versus the Packers, whoever is chosen at Quarterback better buckle up. They will also have the opportunity to start without Micah Parsons chasing them as he rehabs his ACL. The Vikes must take advantage of a chance to gain some momentum while the Packers are wounded.

A Pro Bowler after his second and third seasons, Murray also once rushed for 819 yards in a season. His mobility could unlock a different element to the offense if he can scramble and find his top targets. Even during the Kirk Cousins era of consistent Quarterback play in Minnesota, they never had anyone who could move like Murray. Now the question is if he can move McCarthy out of the way.