Oklahoma football had two players go off the board on the first day of the NFL draft.
Quarterback Kyler Murray went No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals, becoming the second-straight Sooner to go in that spot after Baker Mayfield was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
Marquise Brown was taken No. 22 overall by the Baltimore Ravens. The Sooners standout was the first receiver taken off the board.
Cody Ford, who was graded by many scouts and pundits to be a first-round talent, was not taken in the first round, but will likely go early on day two.
Here is our opinion on the two Sooners’ new landing spots as well as a few fun facts.
Kyler Murray
What we think: Look, any time a team gets to pick No. 1 overall there’s usually a darn good reason behind it so there are going to be more than a few growing pains involved in Murray’s development with his new team. However Kliff Kingsbury knows offense and he’ll do his best to put Murray in the best situation to succeed. One of the hallmarks of the Air Raid offense is getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands fast. Larry Fitzgerald will be a great veteran security blanket for Murray as he tries to learn the ropes. You also can’t forget that the Cardinals still have a bell cow running back in David Johnson. Johnson is one of the best in the league at catching the ball out of the backfield and was the team’s second-leading receiver last year behind Fitzgerald.
Murray has been a winner at every level, so there will be some humility that comes with playing for a struggling franchise early on, but there’s no reason this can’t work and work very well in the not-too distant future if the Cardinals get some offensive line help and maybe a couple more weapons for Murray.
Facts and figures: Murray’s selection ties Oklahoma with Notre Dame and USC for most No. 1 overall picks of all time. It also breaks a tie with Texas for the eighth-most first round draft picks of all time. Both schools entered draft night with 45 apiece.
Oh by the way, Murray’s Cardinals meet Baker Mayfield’s Browns on Dec. 15. Ever the competitor Mayfield made a date on social media.
See you in December @TheKylerMurray 😉
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) April 26, 2019
The Sooners have now produced three of the last 10 No. 1 overall picks — all quarterbacks. Oklahoma football is also the only school to produce three No. 1 overall quarterbacks. Both Stanford and Cal have two apiece.
Should Murray win the starting job it would the the second year in a row the Cardinals have started an Oklahoma quarterback on opening day after Sam Bradford began last year under center for Arizona. Murray will have a former teammate on the roster in Ricky Seals-Jones. Both played at Texas A&M Murray’s freshman year. Seals-Jones was recruited to A&M by Kliff Kingsbury.
Marquise Brown
What we think: There might not have been a better landing spot for Brown, who gets in with the reigning AFC North Champions. The Ravens have a young, developing quarterback in Lamar Jackson, a seasoned offensive line and a an aching need for a speedy wide receiver who can stretch the field.
Brown will be asked to play in the black-and-blue AFC North, but he proved through his college career that he’s tougher than his smaller frame might convey. Expect to see Brown find the field early and get better and better as the season progresses. He might even have a place on special teams as a kick or punt returner. This really is a great match for both parties and should lead to a productive rookie season and beyond.
Facts and figures: Alright this one is one of those “Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy, Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln” type coincidences. Marquise Brown is the first Sooners wide receiver to go in the first round in 14 years when Mark Clayton went No. 22 overall to the Baltimore Ravens.
Brown is the 27th Oklahoma receiver to be selected in the draft. He’s the 46th first-round draft pick the school has produced, tying the Sooners with Tennessee for No. 7 on the all-time list.
Brown joins former OU teammates Orlando Brown Jr. and Mark Andrews in Baltimore. The Ravens also have Sooner alum Tony Jefferson on the roster as the Ravens seem to be slowly becoming OU North.