Trent Dilfer says Sam Bradford is "not even close to the best player in the draft"

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Mike Florio on April 6, 2010 7:45 PM ET
With all indications pointing to Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford being the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, not every voice is trumpeting the case for Bradford.

In a recent appearance on ESPN Radio's St. Louis affiliate, ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer gave a candid assessment of the 2008 Heisman winner: "In my opinion, he's not even close to the best player in this draft."

Wow. Trent, please elaborate.

"I think he has major, major challenges ahead of him," Dilfer said. "Sam Bradford is not Mark Sanchez. He is not Matthew Stafford. He is not Matt Ryan. I would say he's not even Joe Flacco."

Dilfer explains that, in his view, Bradford hasn't been "challenged" in the college game, and that selecting Bradford could end up being a "catastrophic" mistake for the Rams.

So who does Dilfer like? He thinks that Jimmy Clausen is the best prepared to make an immediate impact, but that Colt McCoy will be the best of the bunch four years from now. Dilfer acknowledges, however, that all three players are "projects."

Dilfer could end up being right about Bradford; if Dilfer is, he'll be able to say he's one of the only ones who saw the potential problems with Bradford being the first pick.

UPDATE: As it turns out, Dilfer is represented by David Dunn's Athletes First firm, which also represents Colt McCoy. We'll leave it to others to decide whether this may have influenced Dilfer's assessment of McCoy, Bradford, and Clausen.

 

[Biggems]

When Bradford was actually challenged, he struggled and basically folded like a lawn chair.....both in the BYU and UT games.

You give Bradford time, he will pick any defense apart...however, in the NFL, there are very few QBs who get tons of time....and those who do, find ways to get extra time by great movement in and out of the pocket........something Bradford lacks.

I am not a fan of Claussen either, but I do have to agree with Dilfer that Claussen is more pro ready at this stage. He played in a pro style offense and he knows what it is like to be under pressure often and have to continue to hang in there and fight with your team.

 

[RS12]

I think Bradford and McCoy will both get hit alot harder and more often than they did in college. I have serious doubts about either being able to stand up to the punishment. That Ram team is a train wreck right now. Whoever ends up at QB next year gonna get pounded in to the ground like a rail road spike unless they run the ball 80% of the time.

 

[Biggems]

I think Bradford and McCoy will both get hit alot harder and more often than they did in college. I have serious doubts about either being able to stand up to the punishment. That Ram team is a train wreck right now. Whoever ends up at QB next year gonna get pounded in to the ground like a rail road spike unless they run the ball 80% of the time.

dude, Colt got hit a lot during his career. you obviously did not watch UT that often. His OL wussed out the last two seasons.

His freshman year against KSU, he injured his neck on a QB sneak. The following week, A&M pounded him to a pulp.

This year alone, OU rocked him. Nebraska definitely rocked him. Alabama rocked him.

The one advantage Colt has over all the top QBs in this draft is his mobility. He can move in the pocket and he can scramble. He should be able to avoid hits a lot better than Bradford and Claussen.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

I agree... I like Colt McCoy a lot better than Bradford.

 

[DFWJC]

UPDATE: As it turns out, Dilfer is represented by David Dunn's Athletes First firm, which also represents Colt McCoy. We'll leave it to others to decide whether this may have influenced Dilfer's assessment of McCoy, Bradford, and Clausen.

This is all you need to know............

Colt is one of my favorite players and I think he may end up making it at the next level. But now that Bradford is filliing out and looks healthy, I just think he's better....and that's hard to say. I also think he is slightly more accurate and has a stronger arm. But then again, pretty much every other scout or GM agrees with me, so I'm not saying anything earth shattering or Colt would be a high 1st round prospect.

Still, I HOPE Colt does better in the long run.

 

[CATCH17]

Wow Trent Dilfer basically states my exact opinion in a more humble way.



What is the difference between Sam Bradford and Tony Pike physically? Pike just had to play @ Cincy and wasn't put in one of the all time great situations @ OU with an amazing line and no defense in the conference to speak of.

 

[CATCH17]

I agree... I like Colt McCoy a lot better than Bradford.

McCoy has more of a chance to have success in the NFL because of his ability to buy time.

If he can move around in the pocket and scare teams with his legs like Romo did early on than he could be dangerous at this level.

But Colt needs 2 years at least I would say before stepping foot on the field because of his College offense.

 

[DFWJC]

Wow Trent Dilfer basically states my exact opinion in a more humble way.



What is the difference between Sam Bradford and Tony Pike physically? f.

Pike= 6'6 223, Bradford 6'4 236....and he looks much thinker than Pike. I like Pike okay though.


Those of yuou that say Bradford will bust at least have a minor advantage odds-wise b/c he's going to the Rams. I still say now way he busts.

 

[Biggems]

Wow Trent Dilfer basically states my exact opinion in a more humble way.



What is the difference between Sam Bradford and Tony Pike physically? Pike just had to play @ Cincy and wasn't put in one of the all time great situations @ OU with an amazing line and no defense in the conference to speak of.

Texas and Nebraska are pretty darn good on defense and have been for the last few seasons.

 

[Biggems]

Colt looked like he was 15 when he got to UT. He was so small and frail. After the late season injuries in his Freshman season, he dedicated that offseason to bulking up. He did just that. Over his career at UT he got much stronger and bulkier, especially in the upper body. He is still a bit small, but by no means is he the twig that first walked into Austin.

 

[rkell87]

player or QB? seems like he means QB

 

[dbair1967]

I'm standing by my prediction that 3 years down the road or so, the best QB from this draft isnt going to be one of these big name guys.

 

[burmafrd]

Trent Dilfer has always been pretty willing to be outspoken about players. The Turds assertion that just because he is represented by the same firm as McCoy is the reason he favors him is about par for the course for that piece of crap.

 

[Hostile]

The article is confusing. He's not the best player, but then they only name QBs. No, he's not the best player. Is he the best QB? He might be, but there is just as much chance that someone else's game will translate better to the NFL.

I think the Rams almost have no choice but to draft him but I've never thought he was the best player. QBs rarely are.

 

[CATCH17]

Texas and Nebraska are pretty darn good on defense and have been for the last few seasons.

In 08 I would say Texas and Florida were the 2 best defenses he faced.. And he lost both games.

The Texas defense in 08 while good wasn't anything like it was last year. They were kinda soft in 08.

Nebraskas 08 defense wasn't anything special.

 

[jimmy40]

I may have to hand in my Longhorn card but I think Bradford's going to be a damn good NFL QB.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

One factor that goes against both Bradford and McCoy is the conference. The Big 12 has a track record of not producing quality NFL signal callers for whatever reason.

Who was the last QB from the Big 12 to become a "franchise" type?

 

[CATCH17]

One factor that goes against both Bradford and McCoy is the conference. The Big 12 has a track record of not producing quality NFL signal callers for whatever reason.

Who was the last QB from the Big 12 to become a "franchise" type?

Josh Freeman looks a heck of a lot better than I anticipated so far with Tampa but he wasn't exactly great in the big 12.

So really nobody has stepped up since they went to the spread.

I feel like Colt has a legit chance because of his ability to buy time and Bradford has shown he can do well if you give him great protection. If not he is a deer in headlights.

I actually like some of the guys who are still in school like Blaine Gabbert from Mizzou and Garrett Gilbert from Texas as Pro QB's.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Trent is one of the better analysts out there . . . and he's usually right.

Even if he did predict we would beat Minnesota handidly.