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All signs are indicating that Kyler Murray out of Oklahoma will be the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft Thursday night. The Heisman trophy winner stands at 5”10 which would make him the shortest starting quarterback in the NFL if he indeed takes the first snap for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 season.
Of course, the biggest question…is he too small?
History would suggest, well not really. There is a strong list of quarterbacks that are successful under 6’1.” Last year, Baker Mayfield (6’0”), also a Heisman winning quarterback from Oklahoma, was selected first overall and set the record for touchdowns thrown by a quarterback in his rookie season with 27.
Nov 25, 2018; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) reacts to a first down against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mayfield accomplished the feat starting in only 14 games which gives reason to believe that a Sooner can possibly do this is again in 2019. Mayfield is not the only quarterback vertically inclined by NFL quarterback standards to have success.
The Most Successful Quarterbacks Under 6’1”
Drew Brees, 6’0” – The Saints quarterback is coming to the end of a hall of fame career which is going into its 19th year.
The one-time super bowl winner currently holds the NFL record for passing yards, completions and has the highest career completion percentage. He also holds the record for most 5,000 yards seasons in NFL history. He was drafted 32nd overall in the 2nd round out of Purdue.
Russell Wilson, 5’11” – Wilson can give you 140 million reasons why you can invest in a quarterback under six feet.
The Seahawks will be paying the one-time super bowl winning quarterback that amount over a span of four years. Wilson was drafted 75th overall in the 3rd round out of Wisconsin.
Fran Tarkenton, 6’0” – Tarkenton was a 3rd round pick (29th overall) out of Georgia and was dazzling on the football field.
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 9: Fran Tarkington #10 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass against the Oakland Raiders during Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 32 -14. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
He earned the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award in 1975 and is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks of all-time.
Michael Vick, 6’0” – Vick is also in consideration for the best dual-threat quarterback of all-time. Vick holds the NFL record for rushing yards in a career and in a season by a quarterback.
(Photo by Robert Skeoch/NFLPhotoLibrary)
He averaged 7 yards a carry as a QB which is also an NFL record. Vick Finished third in the Heisman voting in 1999 as a freshman leading Virginia Tech to the national championship game that year. He was the number one overall pick to the Atlanta Falcons.
Joe Theismann, 6’0” – Theismann was the 99th pick (4th round) in the NFL draft out of Notre Dame, then claimed the most valuable player award in 1983.
He led the Redskins to a Super Bowl victory over the Miami Dolphins in the same year.
Sonny Jurgenson, 5’11” – Jurgenson was a fourth rounder out of Duke and won an NFL championship as a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960.
He led the league in passing yards five times mostly as a Redskin and also was a two time NFL passing touchdowns leader.
Len Dawson, 6’0” – The fifth overall pick of the 1957 draft out of Purdue led the Kansas City Chiefs to their first and only super bowl victory.
Dawson also took home the MVP honors of the game and also has three AFL championships to his name.
In the past 11 years, only the following quarterbacks were 6 feet or under. Out of 131 total quarterbacks drafted, only Wilson and Mayfield will seem to continue to have successful careers.
Quarterbacks Drafted In The Last 11 years Under 6’1.”
BJ Daniels, 5’11” (7th Round) 49ers
Johnny Manziel, 6’0” (1st Round) Browns
Russell Wilson, 5’11” (3rd Round) Seahawks
Pat White, 6’0” (2nd Round) Dolphins
Baker Mayfield, 6’0” (1st Round) Browns
Bigger does not always equal better. Arguably the biggest busts at the quarterback position were all over 6’1.”
Ryan Leaf, 6’5” (Round 1) Chargers
JaMarcus Russell 6’6” (Round 1) Raiders
Art Schlichter 6’3” (Round 1) Colts
Todd Marinovich 6’4” (Round 1) Raiders
Heath Shuler 6’2” (Round 1) Redskins
Rick Mirer 6’3” (Round 1) Seahawks
Andre Ware 6’2” (Round 1) Lions
Drafting the tallest quarterback does not project to a high ceiling of ability. Here is a list of the tallest quarterbacks in NFL history, all are considered underachievers.
Brock Osweiler
Brock Osweiler 6’7”
Dan McGuire 6’8”
Frank Patrick 6’7”
Mike Glennon 6’7”
Paxton Lynch 6’7”
Scott Mitchell 6’6 1/2”
Sonny Gibson 6’7”
Highs and Lows Of 2019 NFL Draft To Watch
This year’s draft has its share of tall and short quarterbacks. Besides Murray, Trace McSorley (6’0”) out of Penn State had success in college but many are doubting what he can do it as a NFL quarterback. McSorley threw for 9,899 yards as a three-year starter helping the Nittany Lions score 77 touchdown passes with only 25 interceptions. Yet McSorely is projected to be a sixth-round pick and many teams are scouting him as a defensive back or wide receiver based on his 4.5 speed.
Tyree Jackson (6’7) of the University of Buffalo is projected as the 7th to 11th ranked quarterback according to most mock drafts. He decided to skip his senior season to try his luck in the draft after scoring 35 total touchdowns and throwing for 3,131 yards in his final collegiate year.
Draft The Best Player
History has shown that success at the quarterback position comes in many different sizes. If Kyler Murray can prove yet again that size does not matter like Mayfield did last year, maybe the narrative will suddenly disappear and doubting the small quarterback will be thoughts considered silly.
Odds are at -400 for Kyler Murray to be the number one pick of the draft. I would bet that if Murray was 6’4,” those odds would be greater. Only time will tell how great Murray will become, but one thing is for certain is that he would not be the first to experience success at a low height and certainly will not be the last.
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