Kliff Kingsbury Thinks Colt McCoy Mentorship Can Push Kyler Murray To New Level

A promising tenure at Texas led draft analysts to believe that Colt McCoy was poised to be a franchise quarterback in 2010. The Lone Star QB was then drafted by the Cleveland Browns and joined the dreaded list of doomed Browns quarterbacks, dating back to Tim Couch, who was drafted back in '99.

Eleven years have passed since he went to Cleveland in the third round, so McCoy may have aged out of a starter's role, but it appears that his intangibles as a leader are still in their prime.

He signed with the Arizona Cardinals in March on a one-year deal, and McCoy is now serving as a mentor for the young QBs training in Glendale, according to head coach Kliff Kingsbury.

In so doing, McCoy joins a group that includes forecasted 2021-2022 MVP candidate Kyler Murray and 26-year-old backup Chris Streveler, and Coach Kingsbury believes that McCoy's experience of overcoming lows — having played for the Browns — and maturity at the position will help the young guys stay confident and stay afloat in a highly competitive NFC West division.

Kliff told AZ Central: “Colt could be one of the best things ever for him (backup Chris Streveler), being around that type of professional, with that type of experience and the way he goes about the game. So, we’re really excited about his progress."

Kyler Murray threw for nearly 4,000 yards, with a 26-12 TD to INT ratio, and rushed for 819 yards in 2020. Analysts believe that Murray will improve again in 2021, his third year in the league, and Kingsbury hopes that McCoy's insight on the sidelines will guide Murray through the pressure.

“We knew we wanted to sign the right guy that could play at a high level and could also help mentor Kyler and find a guy that Kyler probably watched," added Kingsbury. "I know he watched growing up when Colt was the king of Texas. It’s pretty neat.”

McCoy last saw a starting role with the New York Giants in 2020. Though he initially played behind first-round QB Daniel Jones, McCoy was promoted to the starting role after Jones suffered a hamstring injury against the Bengals in Week 12. Colt finished the game and helped the Giants win, 19-17. He then pulled off a great upset against the Seattle Seahawks the following week.

The former Longhorn will be also become familiar with a stacked Cardinals wide receiver lineup that includes DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Christian Kirk and potentially Larry Fitzgerald.