Revisiting the Eagles-Vikings Trade for Sam Bradford
By Scott Rogust
The beginning of the 2020 league year saw Teddy Bridgewater complete his NFL comeback by securing a three-year, $63 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. Approaching four years ago however, Bridgewater's career appeared to be over after suffering a nasty knee injury in training camp.
When looking at Bridgewater's rise back to the top of the NFL, you can't help but remember how the Minnesota Vikings scrambled to find his replacement just before the start of the 2016 season. That's where the Philadelphia Eagles stepped in, shipping them quarterback Sam Bradford.
Now, let's take a look back at that trade, including which team ultimately won out.
Eagles and Vikings take us behind the scenes of Sam Bradford trade that reshaped season, produced by @Gavin_Cote.... https://t.co/4UFBWiATO2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2016
Vikings-Eagles Sam Bradford Trade Details
- Vikings Received: QB Sam Bradford.
- Eagles Received: 2017 first-round pick, 2018 fourth-round pick
The Vikings were obviously put in a desperate situation in 2016, as they were just coming off a year in which they made the playoffs. Considering Bridgewater suffered his injury in training camp, Minnesota made a call to Philadelphia to get Bradford off their hands before things had a chance to spin out of control.
It all started when Sam Bradford was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on September 3rd, 2016. The terms of the trade were simple: Sam Bradford went to the Vikings for a 1st round pick in 2017 and a 4th round pick in 2018. https://t.co/LzW3hRVLdP
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) May 13, 2019
Bradford performed admirably in his first season with the Vikings, as he threw for 3,877 yards, 20 touchdowns, and five interceptions. However, the team went 8-8 and failed to make the postseason. The following year, Bradford was limited to just two games with a knee injury, and saw backup Case Keenum lead Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game, which ironically came against the Eagles. The season would end there, and so would Bradford's stint with the Vikings.
Speaking of the Eagles, they used Minnesota's first-round pick to select Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett in 2017. Barnett went onto deliver the game-sealing fumble against the Vikings in the aforementioned NFC title game. Yikes.
It only gets worse for Minnesota. In Super Bowl LII, Barnett recovered the fumble that teammate Brandon Graham forced on New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to secure the Eagles' first-ever Super Bowl victory.
Happy 2-year anniversary of the Vikings giving the Eagles a first-round pick for this guy!
— Eagles Fan Problems (@EagleFanProbs) September 3, 2018
The Eagles then used that pick to select Derek Barnett, who recovered the Super Bowl-clinching fumble on the Vikings’ home field after beating them 38-7 in the NFC Title Game. pic.twitter.com/mAwBqLuQlU
As for the 2018 fourth-rounder, the Eagles used the pick to select Florida State defensive end Josh Sweat, who is more of a rotational edge rusher for the team as of this time.
Who Won the Vikings-Eagles Sam Bradford Trade?
Mark it down. The Eagles definitely won this trade.
Philadelphia traded their bridge quarterback to select a defensive end that helped eliminate the Vikings in the playoffs and then go onto win the Super Bowl. Sorry, Vikings, the Eagles just own you now.
Them's the rules.