Doug Pederson Comments on Sam Bradford's Play at Eagles OTAs

Once a holdout this offseason, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford is impressing new head coach Doug Pederson at OTAs.

Pederson spoke with the media Friday about Bradford's performance since his short holdout, per Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com.

"I think he's done an outstanding job," Pederson said. "Again, when you're spreading reps equally, with three guys, that's what you want to see, and I think he's really done a nice job and taken that next step to be the leader of this football team and be the starter. He's done a good job there."

Pederson also said Bradford has "established himself as the top quarterback," per Sheridan, though his projected quarterback depth chart hasn't changed much even after the Eagles traded up in April's draft and selected Carson Wentz No. 2 overall out of North Dakota State.

That's what prompted Bradford's short holdout, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, which ended May 9.

Pederson said Chase Daniel is the team's No. 2 quarterback as Wentz assumes third-string responsibilities.

This has to be comforting for Eagles management and fans to hear, given that the team inked Bradford to a two-year, $36 million deal in March. It's a steep price for a quarterback who has only played 16 games in a season twice since being drafted in 2010.

Pederson said there is "still a competition" at the position, which will help Philadelphia's quarterbacks elevate their games.

It's apparently already done exactly that with Bradford, according to Pederson: "I look at what Sam's done, and he's taken this thing and run with it. It's unbelievable what he's done. I'm so excited about the direction he's going, and the stuff that he's doing on the field right now are the things that I expected and what I saw at the end of the season last year from Sam Bradford."

While it's promising that Bradford is doing so well at OTAs, it won't mean a thing if he wins the starting job and leads the Eagles to another subpar season.

This new contract won't help ease any pressure either, with Bradford expected to perform up to the standards of his big-time deal.