Who’s falling, who’s rising, and who faired well at the Pro-day.
One of those players who heard that talk was Teddy Bridgewater. During the season, Bridgewater was the consensus top quarterback in the college football. He only threw four interceptions, and helped lead his team to a bowl game.
Fast forward to the pre-draft process, and guys are talking about him going in the second round. It is a pretty steep fall considering Bridgewater has not played a single down of football since people considered him a candidate for the top pick.
They have said he has small hands, his football knowledge is not impressive, he can not lead a franchise, he is not accurant, his arm strength is unimpressive, he can not read defenses, and his frame is too small.
All of this has knocked down Bridgewater’s stock from Mike Mayock to Mel Kiper. However, could Bridgewaters tumble down draft boards be a sign of this entire draft class rather than him as a player.
Many have called this draft one of the deepest in years, especially at the skill positions. There are all kind of playmakers in this draft. Hence, it should be no suprise if the value of quarterback as a whole goes down. The defensive side of the ball is not as deep, so I expect teams to pick those players up early and often well waiting to later rounds for offensive skill players.
While this class does have talented skill players, quarterbacks are the position with the most question marks. From Johnny Manziel, Derek Carr, and Blake Bortes to the quarterbacks expected to go in later rounds, each one has their different risks at the next level.
Bridgewater was once thought to have the least amount of risk, but that seems to not be the case. Hence, it would not suprise me if this entire quarterback class slipped to later rounds. Last draft, E.J. Mannuel was the only quarterback selected in the first round, and that was considered a reach by the Bills. Geno Smith felt the same type of fall Bridgewater is facing, as he stumbled to the second round.
My other point is this, maybe Bridgewater and this quarterback class was never that high to begin. It was media who built Bridgewater up, and it is media who is knocking him down. As more and more underclassmen declare for the draft each year, media face an even bigger learner curve trying to catch up to teams with dedicated scouting units. Hence maybe Bridgewater’s draft stock hasn’t fallen, because it was never that high to begin with. Maybe media is only now putting him and quarterback classmates right where they finally belong, in the second round.
In closing, it would not suprise me if Bridgewater falls to the second round, neither would it suprise me if he is selected in the top ten. The same could be said about each of the quarterbacks in this draft. However, the team which grabs Bridgewater in the second round, will be getting a pro-ready, leader and draft day still. I am just finally glad to see what happens, because its draft day…. and we get that much closer to Footbal!!!!
