Many wondered how Kyler Murray’s return would impact the woeful Arizona Cardinals.
Well, we might have received our answer.
Murray returned to the field in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons and led the Cardinals on a 11-play, 70 yard drive en route to a last-second victory.
Murray showed flashes of his upside and potential. He did not look like a dual-threat quarterback playing in his first game after suffering an ACL injury Dec. 12, especially on what proved to be Arizona’s game-winning drive.
Facing third-and-10 from the Arizona 42-yard line, Murray traveled 68.9 yards on a scramble that resulted in a 13-yard gain, per Next Gen Stats. He reached a top speed of 20.17 miles per hour, which was the fastest speed he’s reached since Week 16 in 2021, prior to the ACL tear that halted his 2022 campaign.
That single play had a monumental impact in Arizona winning its Week 10 game and snapping its six-game losing streak — a 22.6% increase in win probability, to be exact.
It wasn’t the only display, though. Murray also had a 6-yard touchdown run in the second quarter where he faked a handoff and kept it himself for an easy score.
Murray told reporters after Arizona’s 25-23 victory that he hasn’t had a read like that since his second NFL season, and essentially laughed at the Falcons’ defense for treating him like his “legs didn’t work,” per The Athletic.
Arizona’s 230 passing yards in Week 10 were its second-most this season. Murray went 19-for-32 through the air for 249 passing yards along with six rushes for 33 yards.
All told, the Week 10 snapshot hinted how much better Murray could make the 2023 Cardinals, who went 1-7 in their first eight games with Josh Dobbs starting before a loss by Week 9 quarterback Clayton Tune. Are the Cardinals going to reach the playoffs? Well, no. They’re no longer even listed on the FanDuel Sportsbook betting board.
But there’s reason to believe wins against the 5-4 Houston Texans, 3-6 Los Angeles Rams, 6-3 Pittsburgh Steelers and 3-7 Chicago Bears now are far more attainable for Arizona.
Enter the New England Patriots, who currently have the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft ahead of “Monday Night Football” between the Denver Broncos and Buffalo Bills. Of note, the Cardinals currently own the No. 4 overall pick.
Murray’s performance comes as a positive development for New England both because of the NFL draft, but also because of the impact it might have on Murray’s future in Arizona. First, and as we’ve discussed before, should Murray help the Cardinals win more games, that obviously benefits the Patriots’ draft prospects.
Additionally, if Murray continues to showcase signs of a franchise quarterback this season, perhaps Arizona decides to retain Murray and use its own top pick on a different talent. Murray signed a five-year, $230 million contract last July, after all.
That arguably would benefit Robert Kraft’s organization just as much.
What’s not up for debate, however, is that Murray’s Week 10 performance was a good sign for the Patriots and others vying for a top pick in the NFL draft.
