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Gambling site ignores other needs, has QB Kyler Murray on Steelers' radar | TribLIVE.com
Steelers/NFL

Gambling site ignores other needs, has QB Kyler Murray on Steelers' radar

Joe Rutter
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Former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray declaring for the NFL Draft on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

By using draft picks on a quarterback in the past two years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have no need to address the position in 2019.

That’s especially true with starter Ben Roethlisberger, the NFL’s passing yardage leader in 2018, hoping to play several more seasons.

Josh Dobbs is entering his third year and Mason Rudolph, a third-round pick in 2018, will be pushing him for the backup job behind Roethlisberger this offseason.

And with areas of weakness at inside linebacker, cornerback, outside linebacker and possibly wide receiver, the Steelers have other pressing issues in the draft.

Still, that hasn’t stopped one gambling site from putting the Steelers among the NFL teams that could take Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Kyler Murray in the first round.

One day after the former Oklahoma quarterback spurned a pro baseball career and declared for the NFL Draft, BetOnline.ag listed the Steelers as having 14-1 odds of taking Murray in the first round. Seven other teams have better odds of selecting Murray, according to BetOnline.

The Miami Dolphins are the 3-2 favorite, followed by the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants (5-1 odds apiece), followed by the Oakland Raiders (6-1), Arizona Cardinals (7-1), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12-1) and Washington Redskins (12-1). Also listed at 14-1 are the Cincinnati Bengals an Denver Broncos.

The Steelers have the No. 20 overall pick in the draft. BetOnline has set Murray’s over/under draft position at 9.5. ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. has Murray among his top seven prospects.

And, as mentioned above, the Steelers are expected to draft defense early in the draft. Or, with a trade involving Antonio Brown, they could target a wide receiver with their top pick.

Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.

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Categories: Sports | Steelers/NFL
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