Especially if the pick is a late pick, hopefully for Vikings fans it will be pick no. 32.
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Last Thursday, two days after his starting quarterback suffered a season-ending knee injury, Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told reporters he was weighing all options, but wouldn’t mortgage the team’s future with an act of desperation.
That’s good news for the Birds in the sense that they now have a first-round selection in next year’s draft, an event that the City of Brotherly Love will host next April.
Whichever quarterback the Eagles choose to start Week 1 they will need strong play from their defense to keep them in some games.
After Teddy Bridgewater’s significant left knee injury during Tuesday’s practice, the Minnesota Vikings were clearly in the market for a quarterback. “I know by adding Sam Bradford to this roster, we are a better team today than we were yesterday”.
Quarterback Sam Bradford got the trade he lobbied for. Less than 48 hours later, he traded their 2017 first-round pick and a conditional pick in 2018 that can become a second-rounder to get Bradford.
“This was not part of the blueprint, but we have to take advantage of opportunities that are presented to us”, Roseman said.
But the Eagles have a chance to get that back with the huge trade they just made with the Vikings.
Philadelphia’s path forward was going to be Bradford for one year with Chase Daniel as the backup while Wentz sat and learned in an attempt to make the substantial leap from the FCS level to the professional ranks a less treacherous one.
In addition, Wentz missed the Eagles’ last three preseason games after fracturing two ribs. However, Roseman said coach Doug Pederson would decide who starts against the Browns on September 11.
Pederson wasn’t in the building Saturday because his father, Gordon, died Friday night.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) warms-up before playing the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.
Bradford will work with a sixth offensive coordinator in the person of Norv Turner, in seven seasons.
Bradford, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2010 by the Rams, was ensconced as the Eagles’ starter and signed a $36 million, two-year contract in the spring.
Under the orders of head coach Chip Kelly, known for its offensive in fast tempo, Bradford was successful during the second half of the season.
But that plan changed Saturday when, just eight days before their season-opener against the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles traded Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings. Shurmur and Bradford also spent the 2015 season together in Philadelphia.
Bradford guided the Eagles to a 7-7 record a year ago, throwing for 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Bradford also gives them insurance for 2017 because he’s under contract and it’s uncertain when Bridgewater will return.
By exchanging Bradford, they will initiate development of Bradford earlier than planned.
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“Just excited to be here right now, anxious to get into the playbook and start learning the offense”, Bradford said of the move. The Eagles are responsible for Bradford’s $11 million signing bonus, which was due on or before September 1, and the rest of his contract – $20 million in base salaries and $4 million March 2017 roster bonus – would go to the Vikings, according to ESPN.
