Why Sam Bradford Should Enter the 2010 NFL Draft

There was a lot of talk last year about who would be the fist pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Matthew Stafford was eventually the pick, but many people believe that, had Sam Bradford, out of Oklahoma entered the draft, Bradford would have been the pick of the Lions.

Mel Kiper and all the other experts went on to predict that Bradford would be the first QB selected in 2010. Then, the season started.

During the Sooners week one game against BYU, Bradford was hit, and fell hard on his right, throwing shoulder. He was not only knocked out of the game, but the next five as well.

Bradford returned to play against Texas in the Red River Rivalry, and on the Sooners first drive, Bradford was again sacked, and again, left after re-injuring his shoulder.

Bradford has decided to have season ending surgery on his shoulder, ending his senior season.

Because of the little time Bradford has played this year, he would be eligible for a medical red-shirt, allowing him to return to Oklahoma for another year.

According to Mel Kiper, if Bradford decided to enter the NFL Draft, he will be picked some where between 15-21. If he decided to return to Oklahoma, he could improve his draft stock back to the top of the draft. He could also drop even further.

If Bradford returns to Oklahoma next year, and re-injures his shoulder, he will have no chance at even being a first round pick, let alone top 10. No NFL team is going to spend a first round pick on a QB that misses time in two straight seasons with an injury to his throwing shoulder.

The NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement is also being worked on, and unless there is a resolution to it, the 2011 season may be starting late. If that happens, and Bradford stays in school, he may not have a rookie season.

One of the things that the NFL is wanting in those CBA negotiations, is a rookie salary cap. No longer will top 10 rookies be breaking the bank before ever playing a down. This is something the NFL wants, and more than likely, they will get.

Bradford may actually make more money being drafted at 15 this year, than he would if he was drafted at 10 next year.

While some people say that Bradford may "slide" to the middle to late part of the first round, is that really a bad thing? Other than the money aspect of it, don't you think a young quarterback coming out of college would WANT to play for a team that has a chance of being successful?

Bradford made a financial mistake by not entering the 2009 NFL Draft, and that mistake will only be compounded if he decides to return to Oklahoma again next year. I just hope for his sake, Bradford's advisers are going what is best for him, and not what is best for the Sooners.