Murray Has More Dynamic Potential

The Cardinals and 49ers did not often ask their quarterbacks with throwing the ball deep downfield. For Kyler Murray, it appeared to be more the result of trying to keep it simple for the rookie while Jimmy Garoppolo is filling a role he’s going to have during his time in San Francisco.

There is only so much a quarterback can do (especially a rookie) when a supporting cast is underwhelming. Murray struggled in the red-zone and the Cardinals were unable to succeed on deep throws consistently, both of which are areas DeAndre Hopkins will help.

The foundation of NFL passing consists of quick throws and Murray already racked 11th in success rate and 12th in EPA on those throws, per Steven Ruiz of For The Win. With Hopkins being the focus of the opposition and spreading the field, intermediate and middle of the field throws will be easier, too.

As for Garoppolo, his production relies on short throws, play-action, and screens and while he’s impactful on dynamic passes, he is rarely asked to throw them. The conversation would change if the 49ers open up their offense and Garoppolo’s success sustains, but that remains to be seen.