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Kiper and McShay’s 2019 Dueling Mock Draft has the Arizona Cardinals taking Kyler Murray and fixing the offense

Mississippi v Texas A&M Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images

As far as mock drafts go, this is one to pay attention to.

Every year Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay team up to do a dueling mock draft that will give fans a show of what they think will happen in the upcoming draft.

For the 2019 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals are getting quite the haul, and it looks eerily similar to the 2018 NFL Draft results.

1. Arizona Cardinals

Kiper: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

Arizona is putting up smokescreens, but I’m not changing here. Murray is a perfect fit for what coach Kliff Kingsbury wants to do.

McShay: Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

It has been a month since the combine, and I still can’t find anyone close to the situation saying Arizona prefers keeping Josh Rosen over taking Murray here. Remember, though: This is lying season. Murray’s explosive athleticism would spark this docile offense.

I think that is a key verbiage that gets ignored by a lot of fans. The Cardinals prefer Murray. If that is true, that is a statement that tells the whole story that is quite often overlooked. The Cardinals and Kliff Kingsbury would like to draft Murray, but they are not so out on Josh Rosen that they are just going to move on without what they feel is fair compensation.

Both Kiper and McShay have the Cardinals taking Murray at one, their picks at 33 are different, but are both realistic options.

33. Arizona Cardinals

Kiper: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma

If I’m giving Kyler Murray to the Cardinals at No. 1, I can get them his favorite receiver at the top of Round 2.

McShay: Erik McCoy, C/G, Texas A&M

When you have a 5-foot-10 quarterback like Murray, you’d better protect him.

All things the same, McShay has McCoy going at 22 to the Baltimore Ravens. McCoy is 100% the pick, in my opinion at 33 if he is on the board. He can start immediately at center and could be a top 10 player at his position in year one. He has experience in an offense similar to what Kingsbury will likely run, shotgun snapping is what he is good at, where Mason Cole struggles with that. Cole can compete at right guard, left guard or right tackle, McCoy anchors the middle of the offensive line.

Brown is one of the other targets I would have at 33 if I am the Cardinals. He can play anywhere outside, in the slot, and is an electric athlete with the ball in his hands.

Either pick works, but give me McCoy if both are available.