Injury might help Bradford's chances for success in NFL
This is only speculation on my part, but I believe that if Sam Bradford had decided to enter the draft last spring it would have been a runoff between him and Matt Stafford for the No. 1 choice. Even if he didn't go there he certainly would have gone high in the draft.
Would the Jets have traded up to get him instead of Mark Sanchez? How about the Redskins, who were trying to move up to take a QB? Bradford would have given them another option. And other teams such as Seattle and Jacksonville might have looked at him.
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| Heisman winner Sam Bradford's final season at Oklahoma was ruined by a shoulder injury. (Getty Images) |
What happens to Sam Bradford now? First, I believe he made the right move to go ahead and not risk any further injury to his right (throwing) shoulder and have surgery now. He was told he could continue to play but another hit on the shoulder would have put him out and forced him to have surgery later. I have been told the rehab time will be five months. That would put him ready to work out for teams about a month before the draft, providing everything goes right with the surgery.
My experience with Dr. James Andrews, the renowned orthopedic surgeon who will do the surgery, is flawless. If he tells you something, you can count on it. We never had a surgery by Andrews on one of our players that was not successful. So if I was with a team and he told me Bradford was going to be fine, I would believe it.
If I were a GM in a top draft position, I would want to see Bradford throw before the draft before I considered selecting him. But in the second half of the first round, if Dr. Andrews told me he would be OK, I would take the gamble. If I liked what I saw on tape and what my scouts saw of him before his injury, I would go with the pick.
That is why it is important for scouts to make sure they see practice and watch underclassmen live, noting their athletic abilities and certain physical characteristics that are important to the position, such as arm strength for a quarterback. When you set up a college scouting department, you must have good area scouts. Your area scouts might be the key to this draft pick.
Bradford can't worry about where he will be drafted. He can't worry about the money he missed last year. He needs to focus on getting healthy. No matter where he is drafted this year, he will still make a lot of money. George Allen, my old boss with the Redskins, would always say, no matter what, that "this is the best thing that could have happened to you," when something bad happened. In Bradford's case, he does not have to fear a lack of teams needing a quarterback. How high he goes in the draft will depend primarily on his health, but there will be no shortage of teams needing a quarterback.
Let's look at some of those situations:
The St. Louis Rams passed on a quarterback last year to build up the offensive line with tackle Jason Smith. They are in obvious need of a quarterback, and a young passer will give hope to the franchise for the fans.
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Cleveland seems to have given up on Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson cannot be viewed as the answer to the quarterback position. I believe the Browns need to make a move there.
Tennessee is the most interesting team. The Titans could make a comeback this season (I think they will). But with the hole they have dug themselves they are still going to have a good draft position. More importantly, they are going to need a quarterback. Kerry Collins is at the end of his career and I do not believe Vince Young is the long-term answer at the position. He is not consistent enough in the pocket. The best thing that could happen to Bradford is being picked by a team like Tennessee. The Titans have a good offensive line and running game and are a better team than their record. They could make a quick turnaround next year.
The list of teams in need of a quarterback doesn't stop there. Seattle has to find a successor for Matt Hasselbeck. The Redskins, at 2-5 and with a very tough schedule over the rest of the season, could be looking at a top 10 pick in next year's draft.
How about the Vikings, who by signing Brett Favre admitted to me they need a quarterback? What if Bradford were to fall down the board? Minnesota could end up with an Adrian Peterson-type pick -- a top talent that drops because of injury concerns. The Vikings can afford to be aggressive if they need to trade up to take Bradford. Minnesota's wealth of young talent would allow it to trade draft picks without damaging the future. Another advantage the Vikings have is if Farve plays one more season, they could take Bradford and let him sit for a year.
The Carolina Panthers need a quarterback for the future, but they do not have a first-round pick. GM Marty Hurney is an aggressive trader, and I would not underestimate him if Bradford were to drop into the second half of the first round. The Panthers would be a great spot for Bradford because they have a very good offensive line and two good running backs.
San Francisco is another team that could be looking for a quarterback. Buffalo has to be concerned about Trent Edwards' future because of his inconsistent play over the past year. And finally there is Oakland, where I think the Raiders need to admit their mistake in drafting JaMarcus Russell and move on to another passer of the future.
There is no shortage of potential landing spots for Bradford. Forget upside. He might be better off getting drafted lower. If this happens, then George Allen would be right in telling Bradford that "this is the best thing that ever happened to you."
