In that trade, the Eagles gave Cleveland their 2016 first-round pick (No. 8), third-round pick (No. 77) and fourth-round pick (No. 100), plus the Eagles’ 2017 first-round pick and a 2018 second-round pick. If Bradford, who threw for 19 touchdown passes in 2015, can produce a similar season to his performance previous year, the Vikings will likely be in the mix to win their second consecutive NFC North title. He must pass a physical before the trade is finalized. Since the Eagles are getting a 2017 first-rounder, it means the Eagles now have one for the draft they’ll host in the spring. They’re in the meeting rooms; they’re with him on the field when our other quarterbacks are playing; they’re in his ear when he’s practicing; they go through the thought process with him; and they’ve been around some great ones.
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The only thing that makes sense in this situation is the Vikings being afraid that Bridgewater may not have a successful recovery and could potentially not ever return. “He”s due a $4 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year in March, which gives the Vikings a window to move on without cost for next season. Bradford has a nice group of targets to throw to as well, Stefon Diggs, rookie Laquon Treadwell, and TE Kyle Rudolph and the #13 ranked defense from a year ago that could be better.
That sound in the background as the Philadelphia Eagles announced the Sam Bradford trade came from Berea, Ohio, where a bunch of folks in the the Cleveland Browns’ offices exchanged high fives. The Vikings tight ends coach, though, is Pat Shurmur, who was Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator in 2015 and Bradford’s offensive coordinator in his rookie season with the Rams. A former 2010 No. 1 overall pick, Bradford was acquired from St. Louis by Chip Kelly previous year. Bradford redshirted as an Oklahoma freshman in 2006 when Vikings running back Adrian Peterson played his final season for the Sooners. “We did not go into this wanting to trade Sam Bradford, but after the offer they made, we felt this was the best move for our football team”.
Now it looks like the Titans will be the first opponent Bradford faces. Assuming the Vikings continue their strong performance in 2016, these would likely be in the second half of those rounds, as the team took the NFC North division in 2016 with an 11-5 record. He fumbled 10 times, losing three.
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Overall, I would say the Vikings won the short term aspect of the trade as they got someone who is a proven quarterback, but the Eagles won the long term picture of this because with the two draft picks they got from the Vikings, they can start building around Carson Wentz or whoever is starting for them.
