2010 NFL Draft Preview Part One: Why Sam Bradford Needs to Toughen Up

As the 2010 NFL Draft quickly approaches, the debate has heated up on whether the St. Louis Rams should take Sam Bradford, Ndamakong Suh, or trade the first pick Thursday.

There has been much expert analysis on this, and it appears that the people are divided on what the Rams should do come 8 p.m. on April 22.

Based on talent alone and the fact that the Rams have passed on some good franchise QBs in past years, Bradford is the somewhat obvious choice.

Unfortunately, there is no longer a "sure-thing pick" at the quarterback position, especially when it is the very first one on the board.

The Detroit Lions were pressured like a QB facing a nine-man front to take Georgia's Matthew Stafford with the first pick in last year's draft because they'd whiffed on so many picks previously.

Believe it or not, previous picks have an enormous effect on what a team will do with each first-round pick following a losing season.

The pressure mounts on the franchise to deliver impact players, and no player has more impact than the quarterback position, which can make or break a coach's and GM's career.

Jason Campbell broke Jim Zorn's. Tarvaris Jackson nearly broke Brad Childress' until the uncanny No. 4 showed up in a Superman cape. JaMarcus Russell broke Lane Kiffin's and is working on Tom Cable's. You get the picture.

While the jury is definitely still out on Stafford, when a QB plays well and wins games, the extensions start flowing for franchises, which can only mean one thing:

More tickets sold, more merchandise sold, and more fan excitement.

Therefore, that first pick for the Rams is huge—like as big as a fitted hat on Drew Carey's head.

So the question remains: Suh, Bradford, or trade?

Let's explore the possibilities.

With the First Pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams Select: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

This will likely be the easiest, most obvious choice for the Rams. It makes sense: Marc Bulger was released, Bradford is the closest apparent thing to a franchise QB, and the organization needs a shot of tequila.

But, to again quote one of my favorite analysts, Mr. Lee Corso: "Not so fast my friend."

Bradford has many questions entering this draft. In fact, I'm not even sure how he's propelled to the first pick of the draft.

Wasn't this the guy who had his AC joint severely injured against BYU in the first game of the season and returned against Texas only to foolishly allow himself to be driven into the ground on the same shoulder to injure it again?

There's one thing that Bradford should do as soon as his name is called and he talks to the camera, and that's thank Drew Brees.

Because so many people doubted Brees returning from a serious shoulder issue, nobody wants to get it wrong this time.

It's like after Tracy McGrady's micro-fracture knee surgery, the Rockets were expecting him to come back and be the 20-25 points per game scorer he used to be, so they kept him around for entirely too long.

Amare Stoudemire had the surgery and proved everyone wrong, coming back and nearly regaining his pre-surgery form while still playing amazing basketball.

Nobody wants to be the dunce who passed on a guy for the wrong reasons (see: Blair, Dejuan). Sometimes though, it's better to take the risk.

Is this one of those times? Nobody truly knows. But if Bradford doesn't toughen up, the shoulder may not be the only thing hurting him.

Teams better be careful giving Bradford's shoulder credit due to Brees. It isn't just about the body part, but the toughness of the guy it's on.

As Jon Gruden said in football camp, "You are the worst sliding quarterback I've ever seen."

Judging by the body language and voice of Bradford, he's going to have to amp it up a little when he sees Patrick Willis heading straight for him, 'cause toughness for a QB isn't taking silly hits.

It's being able to sustain the necessary ones, and that we don't know yet about Bradford.

With the First Pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams Select: Ndamakong Suh, DT, Nebraska

When I hear Suh's name, I feel increasingly nervous for Roger Goodell when it comes time to announce the pick of the dominant defensive tackle.

I can hear him flubbing the name now.

Goodell: "Damakong Shoo, Nebraska University."

Adviser behind stage: "Commish, you totally screwed up the young man's name. It's N-dam-a-kong Soo."

Goodell: "Isn't that what I said?" (Looking for assurance).

Suh's hype preceding this draft is infectious. He's being labeled as the next Reggie White and potentially the most influential defensive tackle in many years.

All accounts appear to be that Bradford is the consensus pick, but the fact that the Rams haven't offered him a contract shows that they are poker-faced about this choice.

If Suh is what everyone says he is and can repeat the strength, leverage, and hand placement he showed in college in the pros, he will be great.

Defensive players that are game-changers aren't made from clay and water. In other words, they don't come around very often.

What happens if the Rams draft Bradford? Does Suh go second to the Detroit Lions and become a 12-18 sack a year guy as Bradford struggles?

That is what the weight of choosing first in a draft can do to you.

It can be Greg Oden (hey, so far), Ryan Leaf, or Tim Couch, or it may be Troy Aikman, Drew Bledsoe, or Peyton Manning.

For defensive linemen, being picked first hasn't been pretty, either.

Besides Mario Williams in 2006, defensive linemen chosen first in the draft have been busts for the past 20 years.

None of that seems particularly promising for the Rams or Suh, but that's why history isn't always the best indicator of future situations.

Suh appears to be supremely talented, and his numbers and impact back that notion up.

Basically, this pick is a very good potential road for the Rams to travel. If they pick Suh first, Bradford will slide to at least fifth because the next three teams have vested QBs already.

Bradford may slide further because the Kansas City Chiefs have invested a lot in Matt Cassel, and may go all the way down to nine and the Buffalo Bills.

Suh will almost undoubtedly go to the Lions, barring a complete 180. So if the Rams choose Suh and allow Bradford to slide, and choose a QB like Colt McCoy at pick No. 33, they may have a steal.

As my friend Simba used to say, "Two for one? You can't beat that." (Yes, that's his real name)

This choice will also be a better choice than trading the pick, because the fans want a pick here and if a trade doesn't work out, the fan base will be devastated. If the player doesn't work out, at least they chose someone.

Basically, they don't need to trade the pick with two outstanding players ready to be chosen.

This may not be the path that many believe the Rams should take, and perhaps it's a done deal that Bradford will be a Ram in 48 hours.

Nonetheless, it is at least worth thinking about because if the Rams waste this pick, they can expect to be set back another decade.

One thing is for sure: Bradford better toughen up.

Talent in the NFL nowadays is rampant. Everyone has it. But the heart to sustain a beating week in and week out while performing at the highest level?

Now that's what I call a short list.