The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing 8-8 season that ended in the playoffs. They have very few stars, and Kyler Murray is set to be an Oakland Raider next year. If they want to compete for championships again, they’ll need to look elsewhere.
The “kyler murray injury” is a question that has been asked many times. The Arizona Cardinals have a lot of options at quarterback, but it may be worth considering Malik Willis.
Highlights of the article:
- If the Arizona Cardinals trade Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray, they should look at Liberty’s Malik Willis.
- Willis, who scored 40 all-purpose touchdowns at Liberty in 2021, is expected to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2022.
- If Arizona is interested in Willis, the best bet could be to pick him before moving Murray.
The Arizona Cardinals want football fans to think that everything is OK, and that Kyler Murray will return as the team’s starting quarterback in 2022, despite any doubts.
However, things may not go as planned, and Murray’s participation in the Cardinals’ preseason game is now uncertain. If the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner is forced to go, Arizona must look to Malik Willis of Liberty as a possible successor.
By moving Kyler Murray, the Arizona Cardinals may be able to move up in the draft to get Malik Willis.
Could the Arizona Cardinals pursue Liberty’s Malik Willis if Kyler Murray is released? | Getty Images/Wesley Hitt; Getty Images/Michael Hickey
The NFL Draft in 2022 would be far early than any draft in recent memory if it took place today. More crucially, it would mean the Cardinals, who are coming off an 11-6 season and a trip to the NFC Wild Card Round, would not choose until the 23rd overall pick.
It’s too early to tell whether Willis, who had 40 all-purpose touchdowns at Liberty last season (27 throwing, 13 running), will return. Although he is largely considered one of the best two quarterbacks in the 2022 draft, it is unclear how high he or Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett will be selected in next month’s selection. Murray and former Clemson standout Trevor Lawrence, who were both generally anticipated No. 1 overall choices for months before the draft, aren’t among them.
The Cardinals would have a good chance of moving up and picking Willis if they traded Murray to a quarterback-needy club like the Denver Broncos (who have the ninth overall choice) or the Washington Commanders (No. 11).
The Cardinals spoke with Willis at the NFL Combine, according to Walter Cherepinsky of WalterFootball.com. However, the 6-foot-219-pound quarterback is said to have met with every club, so we shouldn’t put too much stock in it.
Is it worth it to trade Murray for Willis? Depending on who you ask.
Teams have reportedly been “surprised” by Malik Willis’ overall offensive knowledge and ability to retain offensive info and play-calls for the position 😴pic.twitter.com/rEx3mjQyTQ
— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) March 2, 2022
In situations like the current Murray-Cardinals stalemate, the organization must consider if the quarterback they can get as a replacement is a better choice. Murray’s replacement with backup Colt McCoy or Teddy Bridgewater of the Broncos would be less than ideal.
To be fair to Murray, there’s no assurance Willis will be any better in 2022 or 2023. Andrew Luck, Justin Herbert, and even Mac Jones have given the notion that every rookie quarterback has the potential to be great. Some athletes don’t begin regularly performing up to expectations until their second year, which is totally acceptable in most cases.
The Cardinals are unlikely to be able to afford to give Willis a year or two of development if it involves moving Murray at this point. When healthy, the Oklahoma product has been an outstanding dual-threat quarterback. He struggled in the second part of the season and performed poorly in the NFC Wild Card Round. Those aren’t the kinds of players that sprout from the ground.
Although Willis is a potent weapon who has drawn parallels to Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles, he is not Murray. Not yet, at least, and for a club that will be under a lot of pressure to make the playoffs in 2022, it may not be enough.
Is it possible for the Cardinals to deal Murray for Willis?
In hindsight, the question here may not be whether Willis is a better choice than Murray. Maybe we could have a discussion on who has a greater chance of wearing the Red and White next year.
On the other hand, some would say that it’s time for Arizona to start over by moving Murray and finding a new quarterback. If the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year contemplates sitting out the 2022 season in order to negotiate a new deal, Willis would arguably be the superior choice since he’d be on the field.
By re-signing head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the Cardinals have put themselves in a precarious predicament. Kingsbury’s teams have a history of faltering late in the season. It would have been significantly simpler to move Murray and market the 2022 season as a transitional year before maybe hiring a new head coach following summer if the organization had not done so.
But there’s no use in speculating. This is the predicament in which the Cardinals find themselves, and moving Murray for Willis may be the best option. Arizona, on the other hand, would need to ensure a chance at Willis, which may mean trading assets on draft night and moving Murray later.
As weird as it may seem, picking Willis while Murray is still on the club may be a safer bet than dealing Murray for, say, the 11th overall selection and then seeing the Detroit Lions surprise everyone by selecting Murray second overall.
Actually, it seems like precisely what the Cardinals would face.
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RELATED: Clay Travis Calls Kyler Murray a “Malcontent” for His Contract Demands
The “how tall is kyler murray” is a question that has been floating around. The Cardinals have yet to announce who will be their starting quarterback for the 2019 season.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Malik Willis?
A: Malik Willis is 5 foot 7 inches tall.
Is Malik Willis throwing at the combine?
A: Malik Willis is expected to be drafted in the 5th-7th round of the NFL Draft, but he has not confirmed that his decision will come down until draft day.
Is Kyler Murray Native American?
A: In March, Kyler Murray announced he was of mixed descent. He is not Native American by blood but has ancestry from several tribes in Oklahoma and his mothers family is part Cherokee Nation
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