The Minnesota Vikings, reeling from the loss of Teddy Bridgewater, have made a blockbuster move to push for the position, as well as to keep their postseason hopes very high. They have made a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford, giving up a 2017 First Round Pick and an undisclosed pick in 2018.
Bridgewater, a 2014 first-round pick who earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2015, suffered a dislocated knee and a torn ACL when he went down during a non-contact drill at practice Tuesday, ending his 2016 season.
The injury could have been completely devastating for the Vikings, as they had been hopeful of repeating as the NFC North champions in 2016 and making a deeper postseason run. With a stronger defense in 2016 and a top rushing attack led by future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson, and now with the addition of Bradford, the Vikings season is not lost.
With a roster capable of making a playoff run, it is obvious that the Vikings have pushed all their poker chips to the middle of the table by giving up a first-round pick for Bradford.
Bradford will be the unquestioned starter on a roster that features Shaun Hill at the top of the depth chart at quarterback, along with rookie Joel Stave, who left the Vikings’ final preseason game with a hand injury, although it could take some time for Bradford to grab that role.
It remains to be seen how quickly Bradford can get assimilated to the Vikings offense, but one thing is for sure, if Bradford can remain healthy the whole season, the Vikings will still be a team to be reckoned with in the NFC, and will not skip a beat.