Sam Bradford To Declare For The NFL Draft
Total Pro Sports - It seems that Heisman Trophy Winner Sam Bradford, barring a serious injury in the National Championship game will declare for the NFL draft. We feel that the 6 foot 4, 218 pound quarterback is ready to begin his learning process in the NFL, Bradford has shown growth in his 2 years at the University of Oklahoma. He helped the Oklahoma Sooners set college football records in touchdowns and points, and set an individual record in passing efficiency this season.
The question that hangs in the balance is, "where in the draft will he go?" With Georgia's, Mathew Stafford already having declared, Sam Bradford will likely be the second overall quarterback to be drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft.
“Bradford instantly jumps toward the head of the quarterback class in the 2009 draft and will battle Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford for the top quarterback spot" The National Football Post Reports
There are plenty of teams in dyer need of a franchise quarterback, Sam Bradford offers a team great potential, however, we are not so sure he is ready to 'carry the torch' just yet. At Oklahoma he had some good receivers and a good offensive line to protect him, the team that drafts him will likely have neither. Bradford would probably be a mid to late first round pick, depending on how he performs in the National Championship game and the NFL combine.
This years draft list for quality NFL quarterbacks is short, it may be an ideal time for Sam Bradford to declare. Colt McCoy has already confirmed that he is returning and the list of those that have declared includes Graham Harrell, Chase Daniel, and Pat White.
If we are correct with our prediction of where Bradford may be picked, there is a good chance that he may be picked between 17 and 20, all those teams may be looking for a quarterback. If Sam Bradford has a good showing at the combine he may jump into the top 10.
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He should stay try for back to back Heisman Trophies
he should stay because there are so many records he can break at this rate. he can become the best college quarterback of all time.
NOOOOO ou need him hes like perfect for the team he cant go
whos says he will even do as good next year or even be in the running for heisman. I say go pro. he will be the number 1 or 2 pick. his stock is high. why take a chance and ruin it.
I say he has to go. He won the Heisman and had pretty much as good of a season as a college quaterback could have. And, though not certain, this year could be the last year of huge guaranteed contacts for rookies. The players union is trying to have rookie guaranteed salaries reduced being veteran players are making less money than first day draft picks.
Plus, it is likely many of the top QB’s this year won’t come out. Could be a lottery pick.
no. he is going out, and he’s going to be stuck with the lions. if he goes out there is NO way the lions don’t take him 1. If they took stafford my first impression would be that matt millen was back in town. he’s going to be a bust and anybody that has watched him play closely can see he’s not a good quarterback, even though he has perfect size.
Winning the Heisman is not that important in the grand scheme of things. With the exception of a few (Palmer, Bush) the others were complete flops in the NFL. If the powers that be suggest he would be an early pick he should strike while the iron is hot.
I haven’t seen him play so I can’t speak of his talent but he has great stats, it depends on how those stats translate to the next level. Meaning, does Oklahoma have a pro style offense or some variation of the Spread. The Spread is a high school and college offense. It is of no value in the NFL because of the limitation on roster spots.
he should declare while his stock is high
I’m not sure if the writer of this article knows anything about evaluating an NFL quarterback but, rest assured, Bradford is a LOCK top three pick, and is nearly a lock to go number one overall. Stafford has a better arm…PERIOD. Nothing else he does even compares to Bradford. Bradford’s numbers are ridiculous, but even that doesn’t excite scouts. His “ice cold” poise, touch, accuracy, anticipation, and ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes are what makes scouts drool. Detroit will regret it for years if they pass on him in April. They have enough picks in the top 100 this year to get him a solid O-line. They already have a quality running back and one of the best wide outs on the planet. He’ll be just fine, thanks–in Detroit or anywhere.
I don’t normally respond to comments but I will repond to this one by CDE9. I respect your opinion about Sam Bradford and I feel he is going to make a solid NFL quarterback, but I’m not sure if he will go #1 overall.
Just because he had a sensational year in college does not mean that will instantly translate into success in the NFL, he has the characteristics to be great i don’t doubt that, but he will probably not be drafted #1. He played a lot of teams in the BIG 12, not many of them played much defense, the system they run allows them to run off 1 play every 20 or so seconds, they even ran 98 plays in a game this season and the stiffest challenge they received defensively this year came in the Championship Game and they only managed 14 points, so don’t jump the gun and make him a lottery pick there is still a lot that NFL teams need to evaluate.
In response to Chico…I have no problem with anything you said. My comments were pretty clear, however, and I don’t believe I focused on his numbers as the reason he’ll be a great pro. It would be foolish for me, or anyone, to think that he’ll throw for 50, 40, or even 30 TD’s as a rookie in the NFL–20 would be a challenging goal, especially in Detroit. The learning curve for any rookie QB is pretty steep, and Bradford will be no exception to the rule. It will take a couple of years to feel as comfortable in an NFL offense, with new receivers and coaches, as he did at Oklahoma. During his third year, however, I think a lot of the doubters in this and other blogs will be heard around the world saying, collectively, “Ohhhh. So that’s why he went number one”.
I understand that teams will need to complete the evaluation process, but when they do, they’ll discover that he is the best QB prospect to come out in a long time. I’m not “crowning him” Peyton Manning just yet. I’m just saying that even Manning had his doubters, despite the clear evidence on film. You can’t evaluate production, statistics, or any of those things in a quarterback–at least not heavily. You have to look at his thought process on a given play, his game management skills, poise, pocket presence, eye discipline, size, arm strength, leadership ability, and more. Numbers and awards are irrelevant in making the jump from college to the NFL. The first series I ever saw Bradford play, as a freshman, he was one for three for six yards and they punted. I immediately called my dad and said, this kid is going to be a great quarterback. I see what I see, and I’m no genius. I’ve got to believe that I’m not alone. I guess we’ll find out in April. Thanks for your comments.
I love to see that you have thought this out pretty carefully and it intrigues me to see your knowledge of the game. Your comments are heard loud and clear and I do agree with you that Sam Bradford will be a star and may win multiple Super Bowls later in his career. As a fan of Bradford I almost hope he does not go first overall for the sake he does not have to join the lowly Detroit Lions and his learning curve will be much steeper. I would prefer to see him with an organization like the Buccaneers or Jets so he has the advantage of gradually filling the starting quarterback role.
We are always interested in hearing the fans opinions are yours were well organized and hope to see your comments on other topics that we publish. We do this so that sports fans can read and post their thoughts and we love to hear from the true fans of the game.
Chico, I appreciate the kudos, first of all. I do love the game and, once again, I agree. I think that all Bradford fans would like to see him succeed immediately in another city, with more to work with, but don’t give up on the Lions just yet. Miami showed the league what a front office “brain transplant” can do for an organization in one year’s time. With a new brain trust in place, look out for Detroit to begin competing in ‘09–not for a Super Bowl title, of course, but to show up every week and win SOME games. I know that many won’t agree with me, but I think they will be a 6-10 team this year, and compete for a playoff spot in 2010. Calvin Johnson is probably the most underrated receiver in the business, considering that he led the NFL in TD receptions and isn’t going to Hawaii, and Kevin Smith is the league’s best kept secret at RB. Look for both of them to explode next year with a talented quarterback under center and an upgraded offensive line, both problems which will easily be remedied in March and April.
By the way, (and it is just a hunch) keep an eye on who Detroit chooses to replace Rod Marinelli. It is well documented that the Lions are equally bad on defense as they are on offense, so this decision is critical to the success of the rebuilding strategy. I have a sneaking suspicion that the new head coach is likely to be an offensive guru with experience developing young quarterbacks. If that happens, it will become more than apparent that Bradford will be their guy, come April 25th. Whatever happens, it should be interesting. Thanks again!
I am not so sure that the Lions will be competitve so soon and a 6 win season in 2009 is a stratch, however, the one good thing about having an 0-16 season is that they have hit rock bottom. The difference between this years Lions and the 1-15 Dolphins from a year ago is that I feel the Dolphins were more talented. They went out and picked up two key players in the off-season, Chad Pennigton and Joey Porter, leaders on offense and defense. I do not feel that the Lions have these types of players nor will they have them at the beginning of the new season, just an opinion. They have a No. 1 wide reciever and mistakingly traded away Roy Williams, I’m not sure that Kevin Smith is a No. 1 back but that remains to be seen.
If your talking about an offensive guru as their new head coach, why not bring back Mike Martz, although he failed to lead them into the playoffs he had great success with the offense in his short stay in Detroit. A brain transplant in the head office is exactly what they need over there, if I were the Lions i would get on the phone with Mike Shanahan and offer him a managerial role. Sometimes the fans have more perspective on a franchise than those that work the offices and the case is true atleast with the Lions and probably the Raiders. Good observations and we will see what happens this off-season.
You’re probably right about the Dolphins having more overall talent than Detroit. It might be too soon to think that 6-10 is realistic, even with a great draft. I doubt that the likes of Joey Porter will be lining up to bask on the beaches of Detroit. Point taken there.
I have to disagree with you on the Williams trade, though. That trade was like a get out of jail free card for Detroit! To get a first and a third round pick for a slow, underachieving, unproductive, cry baby like Williams was a steal, and should be prosecuted. In fact, Dallas may file charges as early as Monday. Seriously, though, I believe that trade to be the first sign of life without Matt Millen, and a definite step in the right direction.
As for Smith…keep this list in mind: Matt Forte, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ryan Grant, Stephen Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Jamal Lewis, Marion Barber. These are the featured backs that failed to exceed Smith’s 4.1 yards per carry. All of them had more yards (except Barber), but all of them had many more carries (Barber had an equal amount). If Smith, who did not start four games due to the TERRIBLE signing of Rudi Johnson, had carried the ball as much as say…Forte, he would have totaled 1295 yards rushing alone. As it stands, he finished 24 yards shy of 1000, caught 39 passes and played every down, once he finally secured the starting job. All of this as a rookie, mind you, for the worst team in football history, where he had to fight to take hand-offs away from penetrating defensive tackles much of the time. The ability is definitely there. He has uncanny vision and instincts which rival those of the best backs in football. Barring injury, he will bring respectability back to Detroit’s running game next season.
Shanahan would be great for Detroit but the old Martz “greatest show on turf” philosophy is quickly becoming a dinosaur in the NFL. It requires providing the QB ridiculous amounts of time to throw; something that is becoming more difficult each year, as defensive players evolve into ever stronger and faster anomalies. No team can protect a quarterback for five seconds consistently. Even Martz has had to adjust to stay in coaching. I’m much more in favor of a timing, or “rhythm”, offense (similar to what Arizona runs). Tell me that Bradford wouldn’t be awesome in that type of system.
Detroit has interviewed many defensive coordinators to fill the vacant head coaching spot, anyway, so all of this probably won’t even matter. Jason Garrett in Dallas remains the leading (and possibly the lone) offensive candidate, at least in my mind, that could transform the offense into something explosive right away. As you said, I guess we’ll find out this off-season.
Hey CDE9,
it’s nice to read your comments they are definitely informative. I was just wondering what you think about Tim Tebow retuning next year
http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/index.php/2009/01/lets-try-for-3-tim-tebow-to-return-for-senior-season/
Tebow, oh Tebow…That is an itch I would be happy to scratch. Do I like his decision to stay in school? The answer is: ABSOLUTELY! To begin, let me just say that I agree with the consensus that Tebow is one of the greatest college players to ever suit up. He has all the tools (tangibles and intangibles) to run the Florida offense well, is a beast running the football, and has a chance next year to become the greatest player in NCAA history. His ability, production, and dominance at the college level are obvious and undisputed.
As football fans, however, we usually only notice the obvious. His numbers and record as a starting quarterback would lead the average fan to wonder what more he has to prove at the college level. Why wouldn’t he go pro? After all, he has a Heisman, national titles, and some of the best numbers ever put up. He’d be an easy first round draft pick, right? WRONG!
Tebow is a classic example of why comparing the NFL to NCAA football is like comparing the NBA to the WNBA–and I say that without taking into account the HUGE difference in overall talent. The brand of football played in the NFL is so much different than the NCAA that, in many cases, evaluating players is extremely difficult, even for scouts and GM’s. To draw an illustration, if the NCAA is a butcher, the NFL is a brain surgeon. Evaluations are, or at least should be, behavior based–not performance based. The only attributes that Tebow has that scouts will like are his size and mobility. He doesn’t have the great arm, or great accuracy. He has terrible feet, and very poor eye discipline. He doesn’t read coverage well, and doesn’t anticipate his throws consistently.
The offense that Florida runs certainly has contributed to his developmental issues. It is a first read, run first, offense designed to get superior athletes the ball to take advantage of COSTANT mismatches. He faces eight and 9 man boxes all day long, which is why he has been a productive passer. Florida rarely, if ever, trails in any game, so his passing ability never has to carry the team–thank God.
When he finally does enter an NFL training camp, he will have to learn how to play football all over again–from scratch! I mean down to taking a snap from center, to learning how to take a proper three, five, and seven step drop. He has such a long way to go that I doubt he’d be drafted in the first four rounds. His legacy ends at Florida so I’m thrilled, for him, that he will be cementing it next season.