NFL Analysis Network

NFL: Will Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray have the better 2020 season?

NFL, NFC West, Cardinals, Kyler Murray
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Case For Kyler Murray

If the Mayfield-Murray debate were a card game, Mayfield might have a “king” up his sleeve with Beckham Jr., Landry, and Hooper, among others. But Murray might be the only one with an “ace of spades” in his hand. When Murray looks to his left and right, he has a Hall of Fame lock on one side in Larry Fitzgerald, and Hall of Fame talent on the other with DeAndre Hopkins.

That level of talent, paired with an actual proven coaching scheme isn’t something you normally see for quarterbacks in Year Two. On Aug. 13, Murray told ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss that he anticipates having three 1,000-yard receivers on the same team — Fitzgerald, Hopkins, and Christian Kirk — all within the same campaign. The last team to do that? The Arizona Cardinals.

It’s also difficult to ignore the historic adjustments the Cardinals have made already. They had the No. 3 best year-to-year improvements in offensive DVOA in NFL history. And Murray is already cognizant of what aspects he needed to improve at: throwing the ball away instead of taking unnecessary shots, and producing better against zone defenses.

Even the absolute worst of them got better compared to 2018. The Cardinals’ offensive line is still a work in progress. They were rock-solid in pass protection, but giving Kyler Murray reliable running back play in Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds begins with improved run blocking. Still, the increments are difficult to ignore.

And, at the end of the day, there’s still so much uncertainty surrounding Mayfield’s coaching. Last year, the team put the reins in the hands of a man who had never been a head coach before, something they’re doing once again. Murray’s got a strong case to win this argument.

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