That trade consisted of a first round pick and two third round picks. Bradford replaces Teddy Bridgewater, who went down for the season after suffering a gruesome knee injury last week. The Eagles receive a first-round pick in 2017 and a fourth-round pick in 2018.
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Now that Bradford is on his way to Minnesota, all eyes in Philadelphia turn to who will end up starting for the Eagles under center when the season begins a week from Sunday.
We’re feeling this based on our exchange with Pederson when Bradford still was the starting quarterback. He regretted the decision after the Eagles traded several draft picks to select Wentz.
Bradford, the first-overall selection in the 2010 draft by the St. Louis Rams, has thrown for 14,790 career yards, 78 touchdowns, 52 interceptions and has a 81.0 passer rating in his 63 career games, all of which are starts. He is signed through 2017, which was a major reason for Minnesota’s interest. But at the time no team was in need of a guy who has backup quarterback ability but a starting quarterback contract.
“I was a little surprised just because it wasn’t on my radar, but I think that surprise quickly turned into excitement when I realized the opportunity I had ahead”, said Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma but has never been to the playoffs in the NFL. The pick can become a second if the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
The Eagles were 7-9 last season and would have been in a rebuilding mode in a division other than the diluted NFC East. Trading Bradford allows them to develop Wentz sooner than expected.
But suddenly, Sam is gone and the Eagles are left with the Carson and Chase Show.
In addition, Wentz missed the Eagles’ last three preseason games after fracturing two ribs. While a first and conditional fourth round pick are a hefty price, this team is made to win NOW. They’ve been around some great ones. “And for us, when we look at our football team and how they performed in the offseason, during training camp, seeing how our defense has performed in a new scheme with [defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz] and obviously the special teams has been a strength for us, we felt like this was an opportunity for us, not only now, but going forward, that we had to take advantage of”.
Before making the deal, the Vikings’ GM and his front office staff watched every game from Bradford last season and every preseason game.
I mean, honestly.if you think the reaction to the Bradford trade is bad with the Vikings giving up a #1 in 2017 and a #4 in 2018, imagine what it would be if the Vikings have given up a #1 and Everson Griffen (or, lord help us, Barr or Smith) and gotten a return of Mike freaking Glennon.or worse.
This deal with Minnesota is better than what he wanted just a few months ago.
The Eagles, under new leadership in 2016, signed Bradford to a two-year, $36 million contract in March.
But the Eagles grabbed Wentz, and Bradford responded by skipping some voluntary offseason workouts.
“It starts with his attention to detail; the way he goes about his business”, Roseman said.
“To be honest, it played a huge part in this deal”, Spielman said.
MCFADDEN OUT FOR SIX: The Dallas Cowboys have placed Darren McFadden on the non-football injury list to start the season, sidelining their leading rusher from past year for at least six games. Bradford is not the fan favorite that Teddy Bridgewater is, but this gives the organization renewed life heading into the 2016 season, as Marc Sessler wrote in his column.
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The key is for Bradford to get up to speed in the Vikings’ offence before losing too much ground in the tough NFC North.
