1.2 Analysis
| On 8 years ago

Vikings Facing off Against History with Bradford Trade

By Adam Patrick

Image courtesy of Vikings.com

In a move that some may consider a bit desperate, the Minnesota Vikings traded away a 2017 first round draft pick and an additional 2018 fourth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Sam Bradford on Saturday. Apparently, the Vikings felt they needed to do something drastic to achieve success this season after losing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the entire season to a knee injury less than a week ago.

Bradford is just the sixth quarterback since 2001 to be dealt to another team in exchange for a first round draft selection. The five who preceded him include Carson Palmer, Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub, Drew Bledsoe, and Trent Green.

Of those five quarterbacks, absolutely none of them made the playoffs in their debut season with their new team. Will Bradford be the first?

Some think he will and there are a few reasons to believe why it could be possible.

In regards to each of these quarterback’s situations, Bradford may be the one that landed with the most talented team of the six. Of the team’s that acquired these quarterbacks, Minnesota is the only team that made the playoffs during the previous year.

Ok, so what about these quarterbacks’ second seasons with their new teams? Well, the results look to be a bit better.

Of the five quarterbacks traded before Bradford, two (Palmer and Cutler) made the playoffs in the second season with their new team. So if the Vikings do not make the playoffs in 2016, they would seem to have a little better chance at getting there next season according to these numbers.

These results do seem to make a some sort of sense, given the amount of time it can sometimes take for a team and a new quarterback to get acclimated with one another.

For Bradford, he has definitely been traded to a team whose talent level is higher than anywhere he has played during his entire five-year NFL career. Will his play be elevated by being around more skilled players in 2016?

We will just have to wait and see.

All statistics provided by pro-football-reference.com unless otherwise stated.

Adam Patrick

Adam has been rooting for the Vikings ever since he saw Randall Cunningham win NFC Special Teams Player of the week in 1997. Since his career sports highlights include 3rd place at 5th Grade Golf Camp and catching a ball during a soccer game (he was not playing goalie), Adam turned to writing. He considers himself a 'Vikings Realist' as he does not shy away from criticizing the purple and gold if necessary. He will not always write about the popular topics, but his goal is to provide readers with content they cannot find anywhere else. Follow him on Twitter @Str8_Cash_Homey

Tags: Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Carson Palmer Chicago Bears Denver Broncos houston texans jay cutler Jeff George john elway matt schaub minnesota vikings sam bradford teddy bridgewater

View Comments

  • I for one think this is a great move. He had played with AP in Oklahoma and he has played for our TE coach last year. I'm more excited now than I was Wednesday but a little less then I was on Monday haha. I'm just wondering how long it will take before he is ready to see for the field.

    I'm thinking this way in 2012 we made it to the playoffs with Ponder. We didn't have nearly as good of a defense or playmaker at the WR position. Now substitute Bradford for Ponder and upgrade the D and WR. I don't hinkle it looks bad at all.

    Time will tell I guess.

  • Reeks of a panic move by Rick. Ask any Ram fan what they think about old Sam, he's too inconsistent. He's been traded twice for a reason. Why did the Eagles trade up to get a QB? I know why....
    Then do you guys remember Bradford's reaction to that?
    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/29/pederson-says-eagles-told-bradford-theyd-draft-a-qb/
    Hmm, kinda sounds like a guy I wouldn't want on my team.
    I really hope I'm wrong, I've been known to be on occasion. But he just isn't a very good NFL QB. And we just lost a 1st rounder for that. I really hope they don't put him out there for at least a month. Remember Josh Freeman?

  • "Bradford is just the sixth quarterback in NFL history to be dealt to another team in exchange for a first round draft selection."

    What the hell are you talking about? From the Vikings own history, we traded one first round draft pick to the Giants for George Shaw in 1962, two to the Saints for Gary Cuozzo in 1968 and two more, and then some, to the Giants for Fran Tarkenton in 1972. The Shaw and Cuozzo trades didn't work out as hoped, although the Vikings did make the playoffs in 1968 with Cuozzo backing up Joe Kapp, and the Vikings missed the playoffs in Tarkenton's first year back with the team, but leading the team to three Super Bowls and to the playoffs for six straight years rates that as one of the best trades in team history.

    There have probably been dozens of other QB's traded for first round draft picks, and more, over the last 60 or 70 years. Hell, the year before the Vikings gave up two first rounders for Gary Cuozzo, the Saints had traded the #1 overall pick in the draft to the Colts for him! The whole premise of this article is mistaken, and the page to which Adam linked is woefully incomplete.

    • You could count on Gary Cuozzo to get the Vikings in Field Goal range ...... barely
      He never scored.

      At the time, rumors swirled about that Cuozzo's kids were adopted.
      Guess ol' Gary couldn't cross the goal line at home either.

  • I think Bradford is gonna be great! He's never played on a team with this much talent! He's very smart and should pick up this offense quickly!

  • Better than tanking the season. Give him pass protection and his deep ball accuracy doesnt need to be proved. If he gets hurt were screwed but I love the deal. Hope he learns the playbook soon!!