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Oklahoma football: Kyler Murray’s potential NFL landing spots

By Christopher Dukes

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter of the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners runs for a touchdown against the Texas Longhorns in the fourth quarter of the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Kyler Murray
NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 29: Quarterback Kyler Murray /

Pick No. 4 Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders

Why it could happen? How much fun would it be to see John Gruden mentor one of the most dynamic athletes to enter the NFL quarterback ranks in quite some time? Gruden and the Raiders would certainly be an interesting fit for the Sooners’ second-straight Heisman quarterback. The Raiders could very well find themselves in the quarterback market after a 4-12 season and some erratic behavior from current triggerman Derek Carr, which included a sideline spat with Gruden and a challenge of physical combat to an ESPN reporter.

It could be kind of funny to see a guy who turned Oakland down go to a football franchise that appears ready to do the same thing. Should the Raiders play in Oakland next year (something very much still up in the air) it would be interesting to see how the Raider faithful would treat the guy who already spurned the bay area once quarterback a lame duck franchise bound for Vegas in 2020.

The case against it: The Raiders just paid Carr a handsome sum of money – 19.9 million – for the 2019 season. They also have a glaring hole on the defense where standout Khalil Mack used to be before he was traded last season. The 2019 draft class appears to be teeming with defensive line and pass rush talent (Ohio State’s Nick Bosa, Kentucky’s Josh Allen, Alabama’s Quinnen Williams and Michigan’s Rashan Gary among several others).

Pick No. 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay quarterbacks threw a combined 24 interceptions last season. Those turnovers played a huge role in the Bucs missing out on the playoffs. Despite some offensive problems, Tampa Bay is loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball with elite-level receivers Mike Evans and O.J. Howard. Plug in a talented quarterback like Murray and this team could be ready to take off to the next level. Add in offensive-minded head coach Bruce Arians and you have a recipe for early success for a quarterback of Murray’s caliber in Tampa Bay.

For Oklahoma fans it would also be an opportunity to root for Murray alongside former Sooner great Gerald McCoy, who has become an all-pro caliber defensive tackle for the Buccaneers.

The case against it: The Bucs also need a ton of help on defense, particularly in the secondary where they struggled to defend the pass last year. The Bucs are also slated to pay Jameies Winston more than $20 million next season. Arians is stating publicly that he believes Winston can be the long-term franchise quarterback in Tampa Bay.

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