Sam Bradford, guaranteed $22 million from Eagles, wants a trade
On one hand, Sam Bradford should be angry. The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed him, then went on a quarterback shopping spree and will be taking one with the second pick of the NFL draft. Bradford isn’t their quarterback of the future anymore.
On the other hand, Bradford has never shown he can be an above-average NFL quarterback, and the Eagles gave him $22 million guaranteed anyway this offseason. What a country.
Bradford wants out though. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Bradford has requested a trade and will no longer be showing up to the offseason program. That blindsided the Eagles, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said, and for good reason. Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson reported over the weekend that Bradford wouldn’t be asking for a trade. Monday’s news is a 180-degree change for Bradford.
This gets interesting on a few levels now. Do the Eagles want to trade him? Even though they’ll draft Carson Wentz or Jared Goff No. 2 overall this week, it seemed like Bradford would still begin the season as the starter as the rookie sat and learned. The Eagles could wait out Bradford, knowing he isn’t turning down a small fortune just to make a point. Or do the Eagles look at this as their excuse to get out of the glut of quarterbacks they collected this offseason?
They’ll also need to find a trade partner. Bradford’s contract, two years and $36 million, isn’t outrageous for an NFL quarterback anymore but it’s still steep for a guy with an 81 career rating who has played all 16 games in a season just once since 2010 because of injuries. But you can always find someone to talk up Bradford’s talent, though we’re still waiting to see it on a consistent basis six years after he was taken first overall, and there’s enough desperation at quarterback in the NFL that someone would be interested.
One thing is for certain: If Bradford somehow comes out of this with a new contract and more guaranteed money, he’s the shrewdest quarterback in NFL history.
More on No. 1 pick debate
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
