Sam Bradford’s Draft Potential

Last year, Sam Bradford might have been the number one pick in the NFL draft. With little quarterback competition and his shiny Heisman, he was a strong prospect. He decided, however, to come back for one more year with the Sooners, a decision also made by Tim Tebow of Florida and Colt McCoy of Texas.

Image: Newscom

Only Bradford isn’t having quite the same season as Tebow and McCoy are having. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if he wasn’t REALLY naughty when he was a kid, and this is some kind of karmic joke. Bradford got hurt early in the season, and after missing a number of games, he came back…only to be quickly hurt again.

So, on Wednesday Dr. James Andrews of Alabama will perform surgery on Bradford’s shoulder. That surgery will end his season and his career in college football. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s dead in the water, however. Bradford still intends to enter the NFL draft, and personally, I don’t think that his changes of being drafted are bad.

Ok, so there’s Tebow. You can’t deny that teams want him. He’s nearly a household name and only has gotten better with age. There’s McCoy as well, and a number of other quarterbacks that will be hoping for a big NFL check in the future. Bradford will be out of shape, though he’ll be able to work out for scouts after healing for four to six months. That puts him right on the edge of being able to participate in the combine and have a personal day to work out for NFL personnel at Oklahoma on his own.

Top ten potential? That’s wishful thinking. First round? Probably not. First day? Unlikely.

But someone will pick up this kid if they’re smart. He’s got tons of potential yet to be realized, and could some day be a great starter in the NFL.

Do you think Bradford will be drafted?