Kyler Murray will have to pay the Oakland A’s a solid chunk of money after choosing football over baseball Monday.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Oklahoma Sooners Heisman winner will have to pay back $1.29 million of the $1.5 million the A’s already paid him after drafting him ninth overall in 2018. He also forfeits the $3.16 million that he was due to get at the start of March. (RELATED: Kyler Murray Announces He’s Choosing The NFL Over Baseball)
Kyler Murray will return $1.29 million of the $1.5 million signing bonus money the Oakland A’s gave him last year. He forfeits the remaining $3.16 million due March 1. The A’s will put him on the restricted list and retain Murray’s rights, but they don’t get a comp draft pick.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2019
Despite having to give back the money, this is still the correct call for Murray. There is just more immediate upside in the NFL, especially when you take into account how much money quarterbacks can make.
He’ll make more guaranteed money if he’s selected in the first round of the NFL draft than what the A’s were paying him already. It was a no-brainer to pick football if he can go in the first round, which is likely where I think he’ll end up.
Outside of being short, Murray has everything NFL scouts, general managers and coaches love. He can make every throw possible, he’s elusive, he’s a proven winner and he’s insanely fast.
Again, you’re just kidding yourself if you don’t think he can play in the NFL. At the very least, he has to give it a shot.
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It might not be fun to have to pay back nearly $1.3 million, but he’s got a lot more money headed his way soon. I’m sure he’ll be just fine.