Recent rankings show Kyler Murray has far more to prove in 2024 than most quarterbacks

Kyler Murray spent most of the 2023 season injured. 

That has to change heading into the 2024 season. But as a small quarterback, that isn't a guarantee.

Pro Football Focus put together a ranking of starting quarterbacks in the league. Murray ranked No. 17, just ahead of Seattle Seahawks' signal caller Geno Smith.  

For full disclosure, PFF's rankings were broken into several different categories: Mahomes, the elite, postseason caliber QBs, the melting pot of starters, can singlehandedly win and lose games, the next generation, and the holdovers.

Murray's No. 17 ranking placed him in the ranking of tier four, "the melting pot." 

He is joined there by Jordan Love (No. 11), Trevor Lawrence (No. 12), Brock Purdy (No. 13), Tua Tagovailoa (No. 14), Kirk Cousins (No. 15), and Jared Goff (No. 16). 

Rounding out the list is Smith (No. 18) and rookie Caleb Williams (No. 19). 

Here is what PFF had to say about Murray heading into the 2024 season: 

"Murray tore his ACL in November of 2022, so we knew most of his 2023 season would be lost. On top of that, we figured the Cardinals wouldn’t be very good and there wouldn’t be a reason to rush him back. But he returned in Week 10 for an eight-game season and played decently. His 2021 campaign was of an MVP caliber, with 43 big-time throws and just 14 turnover-worthy plays. But his 2022 season before injury was a massive step back. We will see which version of Murray comes out on top for the majority of 2024."

With the addition of players like wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Murray could return to elite status as quickly as he fell from grace after injuring his knee in 2022.