The Arizona Cardinals hold the No. 1 overall pick in next week’s 2019 NFL Draft, and there’s plenty of speculation they'll select reigning Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray.
Back in 2005, the 49ers were in the same position, holding the first overall pick, with an obvious need for a quarterback. San Francisco's general manager at the time, Scot McCloughan, decided to use the selection on Alex Smith, and he has an opinion on the Cardinals' current situation.
In speaking to Sports Illustrated's Robert Klemko, McCloughan had major concerns with making Murray the top pick in the 2019 draft, because of what he sees as a critical character flaw.
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"To be a legit NFL quarterback, you’ve got to have leadership qualities,” McCloughan said. “Watching Kyler do an interview, it’s like, C’mon, guy, what do you got? Give me something. I’m sure they’re trying to train him up, but ... he’s just not a go-getter. Doesn’t mean he can’t be a good QB. Just means he’s not gonna be the guy in the locker room."
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McCloughan assisted the Browns in the lead-up to their selection of quarterback Baker Mayfield with the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft, and that seems to have worked out nicely for Cleveland.
Of course, McCloughan also was the man who opted to select Smith with the first overall pick instead of eventual Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so maybe he should keep his quarterback evaluations to himself.