Jordysghost wrote:
Im not understanding how you write off Bradford as 'Not going to be elite' but somehow think Teddy being injured is going to be the difference between a possible dynasty or not.
That seems oddly one sided, Teddy wasn't exactly tearing the league a new one prior to injury either.
By dynasty I am looking at the next decade or so. By possible I refer to the trajectory the team was headed to get a few pieces together within an offseason or two and what it takes to keep the team together while adding new pieces to get there to be consistently 10-6 or better and consistently be a playoff contender.
This move forces some rebuilding period at some point. I'm not saying it won't be worth it if somehow this year or next we win a Super Bowl either.
The problem isn't so much Bridgewater, it's how the team will likely manage this decision and how they have limited their options with this trade. The trade to give up multiple picks in addition to the massive salary cap hit of Bradford, in addition to the impact it has on future free agents as well as resignings as well as the void at QB key requiring an additional draft pick.
It's not totally about Bridgewater, although I think he was ready in s 3rd year to make a monster leap forward.. And I mean a monster leap. Teddy was better QBR both under pressure and not under pressure than Derek Carr but his overall QBR was lower... Impossible? No, he was under pressure 45% of the time he dropped back and when under pressure the NFL QBR average drops by nearly 30 points. His drop back and release looked quicker in the offseason but the new offensive line coach looked to help significantly. Someone also posted some other stat about Eli Manning and Bridgewater and the importance of the deep ball. I don't remember the exact details but I think it was something like Teddy and Eli were average deep ball passers (20+yards) Teddy would have been above average in yards and Eli would have been below average. Teddy in training camp and preseason was on the money on deep passes. We don't know that the OL would have given him the time, but it's a safe bet that it would be improved from last year.
It's also about the trade causing the team to have a QB coming in cold with zero chemistry between WRs and minimal practice time with teammates and playbook. Pat Shurmer may be able to come up with several gameplans tailored for Bradford so he may not need to learn an entire playbook but that's still a steep learning curve for the team and a challenge for Norv and everyone else to get on the same page.
But it's mostly about consequences of actions which in turn have additional consequences and the snowball/domino effect and how tight the Vikings projected to be against the cap when you factor in all the players we should/would resign including Floyd and Rhodes entering their 5th year option years that now will be tough to keep without back loading and/or cost us a free agent at left and/or right tackle, and/or that will limit room for growth in the future through back loading or costing us other players.
Additionally the draft picks are a major deal, especially when post Teddy injury you probably ar seeing Teddy not return until midsession 2017 and not being the same player. Can you pay Teddy big money then based upon the hope that he will eventually rebound? So you have to draft a QB in 2017 or 2018 as well, and 5th year option Teddy, and how do you do that when with Bradford you probably win a couple extra games which means moving down in the draft a dozen picks in every round? The ultimate cost of Teddy's injury is not just Teddy a first rounder himself... It's not just a 1st in 2017 and 4th (or as high as a second) but it's also probably going to be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in 2018 which is what it will cost to move up and get a QB from the bottom half that has any potential... And it's also the cost of cap room consequences...
And it's also potentially the cost of several team members and coaches that won't fit the scheme that matches the next QBs talents... And it's also the free agent OL and draft picks that would have made the job of say the 2018 1st round QB a lot easier... And may cost us additional first round picks until we get the QB right again depending on Teddy's recovery.
Yes. It's possible Teddy makes a full recovery by mid season 2017 and after 5th year optioning him in 2018 we keep him long term and he's able to make strides forward. And perhaps we can at some point trade the QB we drafted to get something back... Even so, we'd still be missing out on a lot and improving this team to the extent that would have been possible before is long gone out the window.
