Rick Spielman on Teddy Bridgewater: ‘If we just relied on pro days…why would we scout in Fall?’
Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville) poses for photos with his jersey after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to the Minnesota Vikings at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The Minnesota Vikings were arguably the biggest winners on the first day of the 2014 NFL Draft, and I gave them high marks for trading down one pick before drafting Anthony Barr and then swooping back into the first round at 32 and drafting Teddy Bridgewater in trade with the Seattle Seahawks. Bridgewater is the best and most polished quarterback in the draft class, and it’s clear to me that he only fell because of all of that ridiculous talk about his pro day being indicative of a lack of skill.
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The notion that a player’s tape should be thrown out the window in favor of a pro day workout is beyond ridiculous, and just about every draft analyst was trying to beat that into the heads of fans when talking about Bridgewater. After the Vikings selection of Bridgewater, GM Rick Spielman stated that it would be unwise to take a pro day over a player’s actual play on the field.
He told Sirius XM NFL Radio, “If we just relied on pro days…why would we scout in Fall? You have to rely on history of player.”
Amen. The Vikings are strong playoff contenders with a legitimate franchise quarterback on their hands, and he will have plenty of offensive talent to work with in Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, Kyle Rudolph, Cordarrelle Patterson, and a strong offensive line.