Murray adds option of NFL, enters draft

Kyler Murray, the firstround Major League Baseball draft pick and Heisman Trophy-winning Oklahoma quarterback, declared himself eligible for the NFL draft on Monday.

Murray announced his decision in a tweet, ending his brief and storied college career. What’s next for the Murray is not yet known.

The Oakland Athletics made the speedy outfielder the ninth overall selection last June and agreed to a $4.66 million signing bonus. The A’s let Murray continue playing college football, and he made the most of it by winning the Heisman in his only season as a starter for the Sooners. He passed for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns and ran for 1,001 yards and another 12 scores, posting the second-best passer efficiency rating in FBS history.

As Murray dominated, his draft stock improved. Jim Callis, a senior writer on MLB.com, said the A’s couldn’t have foreseen that Murray would be a potential first-round NFL draft pick because of his size. Listed at 5-10 and 195 pounds, Murray would be a small quarterback in the NFL by any standard.

“The primary risk was, ‘What if he gets hurt on the football field?’ ” Callis said, recalling his conversations with scouts before the season. “I don’t think anybody was saying he could be an NFL first-round pick.”

Once the NFL emerged as a potential option for Murray, the A’s took action. Representatives of the A’s and Major League Baseball met Sunday with Murray, and the possibility existed that Oakland could offer more money by putting him on the 40-man majorleague roster.

Even with the A’s efforts, Murray would have a shot at a bigger payday sooner in football and he wouldn’t have to go to the minor leagues.

Callis and other observers say it is very unlikely Murray will be able to play both sports because he’s a quarterback.