Who Was the First Pick in the 2019 NFL Draft?

Kyler Murray, quarterback out of the University of Oklahoma, was selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Murray's selection as the top pick was unprecedented. Just a year earlier, the Cardinals had drafted quarterback Josh Rosen with the 10th overall pick in 2018. However, when new head coach Kliff Kingsbury arrived, he fell in love with Murray's dynamic skillset and convinced the organization to make the bold move of drafting a quarterback first overall despite having just invested a first-round pick in the position.

The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma threw for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns in his final college season. At 5'10", Murray faced questions about his height, but his elite speed, escapability, and arm strength made him irresistible to the Cardinals. Murray also had to choose between football and baseball—he'd been drafted 9th overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 MLB Draft.

Murray ultimately chose the NFL, and Arizona moved on from Rosen, trading him to the Miami Dolphins. It was a rare and controversial decision to give up on a first-round quarterback after just one season, but the Cardinals were convinced Murray was a generational talent.

Murray's NFL career started impressively. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and earned Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021. His combination of passing ability and explosive rushing (he's averaged over 400 rushing yards per season) has made him one of the league's most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks, though injuries have complicated his career trajectory.

The 2019 draft class also featured defensive stars Nick Bosa (2nd overall) and Quinnen Williams (3rd overall), but Murray's selection demonstrated Arizona's commitment to building around an innovative offensive system centered on quarterback mobility.