Reactions To Sam Bradford Trade
Eagles GM Howie Roseman says that his plan wasn’t to trade Sam Bradford this offseason, but, “circumstances change” (Twitter link via Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com). It’s true, plans can change pretty rapidly when a team offers a massive haul for your quarterback and you have two more waiting in the wings.
On Saturday, the Vikings made Roseman & Co. an offer they could not refuse, sending first- and fourth-round picks to Philly in exchange for the former No. 1 overall pick. Here’s a look at some of today’s reactions to the surprising deal:
- Roseman says the Eagles didn’t call any teams about Bradford and teams called them (Twitter link via Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com). I’m inclined to believe Roseman. At this stage of the offseason, just about every team has their quarterback situation settled. When Teddy Bridgewater went down with his gruesome leg injury, Roseman surely knew that a Vikings call was just around the corner. By waiting for Minnesota’s inquiry instead of taking an active role, Roseman maintained his leverage.
- Vikings general manager Rick Spielman indicated that having the option of keeping Bradford in 2017 played a role in acquiring him from the Eagles, tweets Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. Presumably, that’s because the nature of Bridgewater’s injury means he might not be back to start next season.
- Spielman was also adamant that Minnesota did not “mortgage the future” with this trade (Twitter link per Tomasson), and reiterated that the Vikings still have eight picks in next year’s draft, per Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Vikings’ Roster Stands At 53
The Vikings have trimmed their roster down to 53 by making the following moves:
- DT Travis Raciti (Twitter link via Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune)
- DL Zach Moore (Twitter link via Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News)
- DE Denzell Perine (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press)
- WR Isaac Fruechte (Twitter link via Wolfson)
- WR Moritz Boehringer (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com)
- CB Tre Roberson (link via Tomasson)
- QB Joel Stave (link via Tomasson)
- FB Blake Renaud (link via Tomasson)
- RB C.J. Ham (link via Tomasson)
- TE Kyle Carter (link via Tomasson)
- RB Jhurell Pressley (link via Tomasson)
- DE Stephen Weatherly (link via Tomasson)
- LB Brandon Watts (link via Tomasson)
- T Willie Beavers
- T Carter Bykowski
- G Isame Faciane
- LB Jake Ganus
- DT Toby Johnson
- DL Kenrick Ellis
Placed on IR:
- S Michael Griffin (story)
- CB Jabari Price
Placed On NFI:
- QB Taylor Heinicke
Moore, who turns 26 next week, appeared in eight games for the Pats in 2014 after being taken with a sixth-round pick. In 2015, he found his way to Minnesota where he appeared in one regular season contest.
Boehringer, a native of Germany, became the first international player to go straight from a European league to the NFL when the Vikings chose him in the sixth round. He ultimately failed to earn a roster spot, though he could land on the Vikings’ practice squad, per Rapoport.
Vikings Acquire Sam Bradford From Eagles
12:00pm: If the Vikings make it to the NFC Championship game, the 2018 conditional fourth-rounder headed to the Eagles will turn into a third-rounder, tweets ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. If the Vikings win the Super Bowl, the pick will become a second-rounder.
10:23am: The 2018 fourth-round pick that the Eagles are receiving can become a third-round pick or even a second-round choice, depending on how Bradford performs with the Vikings, Albert Breer of NFL.com (on Twitter).
Bradford’s deal includes a $1MM escalator if he plays 90% of his team’s offensive snaps in 2017, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com notes (on Twitter).
9:33am: The Vikings have acquired Sam Bradford from the Eagles, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Eagles will receive Minnesota’s 2017 first-round pick and 2018 fourth-round pick, per a club announcement confirming the deal.
The Vikings now have a capable and experienced quarterback to step in after Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating knee injury earlier this week. Many have criticized the Vikings for not having a quality backup behind Bridgewater, but they have found a respected signal caller to lead the way. However, it remains to be seen if Bradford can pick up the offense with less than a week to go before the season opener. Ultimately, the Vikings felt better about Bradford learning the playbook on short notice than having Shaun Hill under center, despite his familiarity with Norv Turner‘s system.
The Vikings have given up a significant haul to acquire Bradford, who ostensibly would only be their starter for one year while Bridgewater is sidelined. However, the former No.1 overall pick is signed through the 2017 season and that does give the Vikings some insurance in case Bridgewater is not ready to go for the start of next season. Also, if Bradford performs well this year and Bridgewater comes back healthy, the Vikings could find a healthy trade market for Bradford and recoup some of what they sent to Philly.
The Eagles have already paid Bradford his $11MM signing bonus, but they are now off the hook for the remaining $7MM in 2016. In 2017, Bradford will carry a $22.5MM cap number with a $13MM base salary.
With Bradford out of the picture, the Eagles will turn to either Chase Daniel or rookie Carson Wentz to start at QB to begin the season. Daniel, who has a history in Doug Pederson‘s offense, is more likely to get the nod.
The trade reunites Bradford with his old teammate at Oklahoma, Adrian Peterson. Bradford set new career-highs in 2015 with a 65.0% completion percentage and 3,725 yards passing. He also tossed 19 touchdowns against 14 interceptions, leading the club to a 7-7 record in his starts.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vikings, Eagles Have Discussed Bradford Trade
The Vikings and Eagles have discussed a possible trade involving quarterback Sam Bradford, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter). However, the Eagles are not looking to move him.
[RELATED: Vikings Looking To Deal Jarius Wright?]
The Eagles, of course, traded up to the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft to select Carson Wentz. They also spent significant money to sign former Chiefs quarterback Chase Daniel. However, Bradford is slated to be under center for Philly when the season gets underway in just over a week. It’s not surprising to hear that the Vikings called on Bradford in the wake of Teddy Bridgewater‘s season-ending injury, but it’s also not surprising to hear that the Eagles have turned down the Vikes.
Bradford, acquired a year ago by Chip Kelly‘s Eagles in a trade with the Rams, has had his ups and downs in 14 starts for Philadelphia in 2015, but his overall numbers have been solid. The Oklahoma product set new career-highs with a 65.0% completion percentage, and 3,725 yards passing. He also tossed 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, leading the club to a 7-7 record in his starts.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vikings Looking To Deal Jarius Wright?
9:05am: A pair of sources told Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune that the Vikings are not looking to deal Wright (Twitter link). The writer notes that this could change at some point today, especially since Thielen has passed Wright on the depth chart.
8:13am: With the Vikings wide receiver depth chart being dominated by younger, versatile players, the organization may be looking to move one of their more veteran wideouts. According to ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling (via Twitter), the Vikings have been trying to trade receiver Jarius Wright.
Wright has spent his entire four-year career in Minnesota after being selected in the fourth round of the 2012 draft. It looked like 2015 could be a breakout year for the former Arkansas standout, especially following a 2014 campaign where he compiled 42 receptions for 588 yards and two touchdowns. However, despite playing in all 16 games, 2015 was a bit of a disappointment, as Wright only managed to grab 34 catches for 442 yards and no touchdowns.
Goessling notes that the Vikings will likely roll with six wide receivers, but he points out that the organization appreciates some of the player’s ability to play multiple positions. As Roster Resource notes, Stefon Diggs, Charles Johnson, and Laquon Treadwell already topped Wright on the Vikings depth chart. Assuming the 26-year-old is traded or released, that would presumably bump Cordarrelle Patterson, Adam Thielen, and Moritz Boehringer on the depth chart.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Vikings Cut Brad Sorensen
The Vikings have cut quarterback Brad Sorensen, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link via Ben Goessling of ESPN). This is the second time this week the Vikings have cut Sorensen, whom they re-signed Tuesday in the wake of Teddy Bridgewater‘s season-ending torn ACL.
Sorensen, 28, was a seventh-round draft choice of the Chargers back in 2013. Although he’s bounced around quite a bit during his four-year NFL career, Sorensen has never thrown a pass or even appeared in a game since entering the league. Even on the heels of Bridgewater’s injury, Minnesota didn’t think Sorensen was worth a roster spot. His exit leaves the club with undrafted rookie Joel Stave behind journeyman Shaun Hill on the Vikings’ QB depth chart.
Latest On Vikings’ QB Situation
Rick Spielman on Thursday night expressed confidence Shaun Hill can take the Vikings back to the playoffs. As a result, the team will not make a trade that includes a promising young talent or a high draft pick, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com reports.
The fifth-year GM revealed the Vikings are “considering all their options” as they attempt to move forward without Teddy Bridgewater
this season. But other teams are demanding a high return from the Vikings in exchange for quarterback help.
“People are asking for some crazy things,” Spielman said. “People think you’re desperate. I’m not doing anything that jeopardizes the franchise.”
Nevertheless, Spielman hopes to land a quarterback in the next two days. Teams must cut their rosters down to 53 by Saturday afternoon. There will be outside help available, although none that would qualify as a surefire starter over Hill since the pickup would be joining a new team on the heels of being waived or released less than a week before the season.
We heard last night the price for some teams whose backups have been the subject of trade rumors — Josh McCown, A.J. McCarron and Mike Glennon are among three who fit this category — is thought to be a Day 2 draft choice at the least, with the possibility of a first-round pick being sought.
Bridgewater, who suffered a torn ACL and dislocated knee in a gruesome injury on Tuesday, will decide on a surgeon within the next few days, per Goessling.
Once a UDFA who began his career with the 2005 Vikings behind Daunte Culpepper and Brad Johnson, the 36-year-old Hill has played for four teams. He’s started at least eight games in three different seasons but only sported an over-.500 record in one of those campaigns — with the 2008 49ers. With the Rams in 2014, he went 3-5 but completed more than 63% of his passes, throwing eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
The Vikings, though, look to sport better talent than the previous teams that gave Hill the starting reins. Hill, who threw a career-high 16 TD passes in 10 starts for the Lions in 2010, resided as Bridgewater’s backup in 2015 as well. He threw seven passes last season.
Teddy Bridgewater Suffers Torn ACL
WEDNESDAY, 4:21pm: Minnesota placed Bridgewater on season-ending IR.
TUESDAY, 7:20pm: Vikings head trainer Eric Sugarman has released a statement indicating that quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has suffered a torn ACL. Although the statement did not confirm a timetable, Bridgewater is still expected to miss the 2016 season.
“Teddy Bridgewater suffered a non-contact injury today at practice,” said Sugarman. “The injury was quickly identified as a dislocated knee. The injury was stabilized, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment and evaluation. After undergoing an MRI, it was determined that Teddy suffered a complete tear to his ACL and other structural damage.
Fortunately, there appears to be no nerve or arterial damage. Surgical repair will be scheduled within the next few days. Although the recovery time will be significant, we expect Teddy to make a full recovery. I would like to thank all of the medical professionals and our athletic training staff for all of their help today. Teddy has already displayed the attitude needed to overcome this injury and attack his rehab.”
As it currently stands, the Vikings have veteran Shaun Hill on the depth chart. Hill offers experience, but he is an uninspiring starting option for a team with playoff aspirations. He also has never started more than 10 games in any given season. Other than Hill, the Vikings have Wisconsin product Joel Stave on the depth chart. Fellow signal-callerTaylor Heinicke has been placed on the NFI list with an injury.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Browns Seeking High Draft Pick For Josh McCown
Should we cross another name off of the Vikings’ list of possible quarterback targets? The Browns are demanding “a high draft pick” in order to part with veteran Josh McCown, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. 
When the Cowboys were showing interest in McCown earlier this summer, it was said that the Browns were seeking a fourth-round selection while Dallas was unwilling to part with anything higher than a sixth-round choice. Neither side budged and the talks quickly cooled off. Now, it sounds like that asking price may have increased a bit.
The Browns are not inclined to trade McCown since they are worried about RGIII suffering another major injury. McCown has also been acting a mentor towards RGIII and rookie Cody Kessler. The exact asking price on McCown is unknown, but Cabot writes that it is likely more than the Vikings are willing to pay.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jason Campbell To Stay Retired
The Vikings may go out of house to find a full-in at quarterback, but veteran Jason Campbell won’t be an option for them. Campbell intends to stay retired, as Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports tweets. 
[RELATED: Teddy Bridgewater Suffers Torn ACL]
Campbell played in Norv Turner’s scheme in 2013 while with the Browns. However, it sounds like the former signal caller is content in retirement.
In June 2015, Campbell reportedly decided to call it a career, though he never made his retirement official. Since then, several teams including the Colts and Cowboys have tried – unsuccessfully – to get Campbell to return to football. At this point, it sounds like Campbell may be done with football for good.
Over the course of his NFL career, Campbell has appeared in 90 games (79 starts) for Washington, Oakland, Chicago, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. He saw his most extensive action in D.C., where he started 52 contests for Washington after being selected by the club in the first round of the 2005 draft. Most recently, he backed up Andy Dalton with the Bengals in 2014.
While Campbell’s 32-47 career record as a starter isn’t overly impressive, his career stats – including a 60.3% completion percentage, an 81.7 passer rating, and 87 touchdowns to 60 interceptions – are respectable.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.