When the Arizona Cardinals selected quarterback Kyler Murray with the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, immediately there were exceedingly high expectations for him. Now that he has finished his rookie season, he didn’t disappoint. In fact, he managed to meet and exceed pretty much every expectation heaped upon him.
He completed 64.4 percent of his passes, going 349-for-542, for 3,722 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 544 yards and four touchdowns.
He set franchise rookie records, he set franchise records and he did things few others have achieved in the league.
Let’s take a look at some.
Cardinals rookie records
Murray set rookie records for wins, passing yards, touchdown passes, passing attempts, pass completions and completion percentage.
His five 300-yard games were also a franchise rookie record.
He was the first rookie quarterback to start 16 games.
Cardinals records and place in history
Murray set a franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback.
His 3,722 passing yards on the year was the eighth-highest single-season total in team history. Only four players have done better — Jake Plummer and Neil Lomax once, Kurt Warner twice and Carson Palmer three times.
His completion percentage was the fourth-highest in a season in team history. Only Kurt Warner has done better and did it three times.
His interception percentage of 2.2 is the sixth-lowest in team history (minimum 200 passing attempts).
NFL rookie records and achievements
Murray’s streak of 211 consecutive passes without an interception is a rookie record.
His five 300-yard games was surpassed by only one rookie — Andrew Luck in 2012.
He is only the second rookie ever to pass for over 3,500 yards and rush for more than 500.
He is third in league history in pass attempts by a rookie.
With room to improve and the belief in him by his coach and teammates, it appears Cardinals fans no longer have to worry about who the Cardinals’ quarterback of the future will be. Murray is the guy now and moving foward.
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Ep. 254
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Ep. 253:
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