Why Kyler Murray’s commitment to the NFL is the best thing for the Broncos

DENVER — Options, options, options.

Having options is never a bad thing — in football or in life.

On Monday, another option was officially put on the table for the Denver Broncos to solve the reoccurring problem at quarterback they’ve faced ever since Peyton Manning hung ‘em up three years ago.

Kyler Murray — the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Heisman-winning quarterback — officially committed to playing in the NFL.

“Moving forward, I am firmly and fully committing my life and time to becoming an NFL quarterback,” Murray stated through a message on his Instagram, putting to rest whether he would play baseball with the Oakland Athletics — who drafted him ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft — or enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

“Football has been my love and passion my entire life. I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships. I have started an extensive training program to further prepare myself for upcoming NFL workouts and interviews. I eagerly await the opportunity to continue to prove to NFL decision makers that I am the franchise QB in this draft.”

And this is the best possible news for the Broncos.

“Much like Baker [Mayfield] last year, someone is about to pick up a difference maker and franchise QB in this years draft. Don’t be the guy that passes on him,” Kirk Herbstreit, one of the most well-respected college football analysts, said after Murray officially committed to football.

“If Murray was 3 inches taller, I’d say he’d be the No. 1 overall pick,” Mel Kiper, one of the most well-known draft guru’s, stated on the undersized quarterback. “He’s unbelievably athletic and one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks I’ve ever seen. He can make every throw, and he does it with timing, touch and poise. He could be a really good NFL quarterback.”

For these reasons, among many more, there would be plenty of excitement and reasons for optimism if the Broncos landed the Oklahoma product in the first round in April’s draft.

But even if the Broncos don’t land Murray — or heck, even if there’s zero interest in him coming from Dove Valley — his rise, and commitment to the NFL, will still help Denver and John Elway in a multitude of ways.

Not only does Murray’s commitment give the Broncos another potential option, it gives every other quarterback-hungry team another option. As it stands, with Murray in the mix, there’s now four first-round-graded quarterbacks in the draft: Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Drew Lock and Daniel Jones.

There are at least two teams ahead of the Broncos in the draft, the Giants at six and the Jaguars at seven, that are widely believed to be interested in drafting a quarterback in the first round.

If that happens, and the Broncos don’t trade up, instead of being stuck with the final first-round quarterback at No. 10 — and essentially no options if Elway wants a quarterback — Denver will instead have a choice with two quarterbacks remaining.

Additionally, it gives that much more of a shot for Elway’s guy — all signs right now point to that being Missouri’s Lock — to fall to him. It also gives Elway another opportunity to build a smokescreen of who he actually likes and divert the spotlight away from his man.

Although it is believed the Broncos are interested in drafting a signal caller, Murray’s rise still helps Denver even if they don’t go the route of quarterback in the first round.

With teams like Miami and Washington sitting behind them interested in a quarterback — and dark horses such as New England and the Chargers — Denver’s No. 10 pick could gain significant value if any one of those teams wants to snag their guy and trade with the Broncos. Thanks to Murray’s commitment, there’s that much more a chance one of those team’s quarterbacks falls, and the Broncos capitalize.

This isn’t a new storyline, either.

Nearly exactly one year ago, BSN Denver wrote a parallel story to this about another undersized Oklahoma quarterback fresh off a Heisman Trophy victory — much like Murray himself.

The story titled “Why Baker Mayfield’s rise is the best thing to happen for the Broncos this offseason” detailed many of the same reasons why Murray’s rise and commitment to the NFL is beneficial to the once again quarterback-hungry Broncos.

Hindsight being 20/20, Mayfield’s rise was, or at least could have been, extremely beneficial to the Broncos finding their long-term answer at quarterback.

Since Mayfield — who was viewed as a second-round pick by many at the start of the draft process — went No. 1 overall to the Browns, three other first-round quarterbacks were sitting there for the Broncos when they were on the clock at No. 5.

Of course, Denver bypassed all of them, instead grabbing the ultra-talented-pass-rusher Bradley Chubb.

But the point remained valid — Baker’s rapid rise one year ago greatly benefited Denver in their pursuit of a franchise quarterback in the draft if they had chosen to go that route.

One year later, Murray’s forecasting to have the same benefit to Elway as he once again searches for his quarterback of the future.