NFL: Cardinals rookie QB Kyler Murray says he doesn't feel pressure

Kyler Murray makes his NFL debut next Thursday, joining the ranks of top overall draft picks immediately thrust into the limelight and expectation of becoming the instant savior for their franchise. In doing so, he becomes the most hyped signal-caller to take over a struggling club since … fellow Oklahoma alum Baker Mayfield did so last year with the Cleveland Browns.

But even Mayfield, who appears headed toward stardom, sat a few games before taking the field and pumping some life into the team and its success-hungry fan base. Murray, on the other hand, will take the helm from Day 1.

The Arizona Cardinals rolled the proverbial dice with a series of moves intended to restore them to respectability sooner than later. First, they fired former coach Steve Wilks following just one season and a 3-13 campaign.

Then, they hired offensive-minded Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired from his job at Texas Tech because of a lack of consistent success, as a first-time NFL head coach. They did so with the intention of pairing him with Murray, the Heisman winner who they took with the No. 1 pick in the draft.

Murray, 21, took his share of risks as well. He also was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Athletics and ultimately chose to turn down a career in a sport with a much lower risk of serious injury to embrace the challenge of succeeding as an undersized quarterback at the highest level.

The quarterback insists he is simply focused on the task at hand. He recently told the team's official website that he was unaware he is the betting favorite for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and also said he was doing his best to tune out his intense media coverage.

"I got to go out and play well," Murray said. "And if I don't, then people are gonna be mad, I'm gonna be mad, everybody's gonna be mad. So, my focus is play well."

As for the immense expectations he is facing, Murray countered, "I don't feel pressure."

Cardinals general manager Steve Keim told azcardinals.com that the team's brass is impressed with Murray but also prepared to deal with inevitable growing pains.

"I just think you have to temper your enthusiasm," Keim said. "He's made so many wild plays and he's done so many exciting things at camp so far, you just want to make sure we're not getting ahead of ourselves."

The Cardinals currently have odds of 200/1 to win the Super Bowl, the second-biggest longshot on the board behind the Miami Dolphins (500/1).