Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen has gone from first-round pick last year to potentially being shopped around the NFL a year later. A report emerged from Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst on Sunday that Kliff Kingsbury told multiple people at the NFL Scouting Combine that the Cardinals selecting Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is a "done deal."
"Adding fuel to the Murray fire, Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury was telling people last night that it's a 'done deal' the Cardinals will select the Oklahoma Sooners quarterback with the first pick of the draft," wrote Pauline. "Whether or not Kingsbury has the final say on the choice remains to be seen, but stay tuned."
Such a move would benefit the San Francisco 49ers, who own the No. 2 overall pick and aren't in the market for a quarterback. The team would have the draft prospect of its choosing if the Cardinals select Murray.
It is important to note that smokescreens fill draft season so who knows what the reality is? You can't always believe what is being said by NFL teams when it comes to the draft. Rich Eisen of NFL Network has heard the opposite about Rosen and the Cardinals.
"From what I've been hearing, the Cardinals are standing pat [with Josh Rosen]," Eisen said on air during the defensive back workouts on Monday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Pauline, who is in Indianapolis and has a good track record with draft news, expanded on his report during Draft Analyst's latest podcast.
"I can say that [Kingsbury] said it in front of a bunch of decision makers, including some general managers," Pauline said. "There are people out there who believe it's a false report but no. Kliff Kingsbury did make the statement. It goes hand-in-hand with what Kliff Kingsbury feels about Kyler Murray now.
"Is it a done deal? As I said in the article, I don't know that it's Kliff Kingsbury's decision to make. It may be something that he wants. It's something that he's pushing for.
"Before the Combine, I would have never believed this was going to happen, but as I said to somebody on Twitter, there's too much smoke for there not to be any fire."
Murray met with the Cardinals over the weekend. That at least puts the quarterback in play to be the Cardinals' top selection. Pauline was asked if he believes Kingsbury's comments might be a strategy to drum up interest in the No. 1 overall pick.
"I did hear from somebody yesterday that the rumor was that the Oakland Raiders were going to package a bunch of picks to try to move up to get Kyler Murray," Pauline said. "Could that be the case? Yes. But Kingsbury's prior comments on Kyler Murray are well known, so his affection for Murray is already out there. Could it be some gamesmanship? I'm sure, but I think that would come more from the general manager who is ultimately making the decision."
