Money talks: Why Kyler Murray might choose football over baseball
Ever since Kyler Murray was taken ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics in the most recent MLB draft, it seemed like the two-sport talent was locked into playing baseball professionally.
But after an outstanding season as quarterback for Oklahoma that earned him the Heisman Trophy, Murray could be considering the NFL more than ever.
That might be the more lucrative option, too.
J.J. Cooper of Baseball America wrote that Murray has a shot to make more money in the NFL if things break his way. Because quarterbacks are usually the highest-paid football players and can play into their 30s and 40s, a long and fruitful NFL career for Murray would offset the fact that baseball players earn more money on average than football players.
Murray has publicly maintained his commitment to the A’s, but Sports Illustrated reported that the quarterback has submitted his name to the College Advisory Committee, which gives feedback to underclassmen who wish to enter the NFL draft.
That doesn’t lock Murray into the 2019 NFL Draft, but it does indicate that he may be considering football more than he’s letting on. Sure, there are certain health concerns that make baseball seem like the better option, but Murray may be more focused on how much money he can earn.