Bradford/Clausen now split among Mock Drafts

[GTripp0012]

Before we go off the wall on Bradford, can someone remind me of a player who missed either their last year of college ball with injury, or their first year of pro ball with injury (the qualifying factor is the practice time...were they unable to practice most of the year?), and went on to acheive great success.

I'm not talking about relative success at a position...that's what we already have at the QB position. I'm talking about unquestionable, best of era (or in the discussion) at their position. Made a lot of pro bowls early?

I'm sure if we go back far enough, said player exists. I just can't think of the last one who, like Sam Bradford, basically didn't practice all year after the BYU game, and went on and didn't skip a beat, continuing on at the next level as if the injury year simply never happened.

The first two years of Bradford's college career suggest a player that was destined for NFL stardom. The most critical year leaves us with a player that is, at best, injury prone, and at worst, too unrefined to make the jump. The question is: which NFL comparable would help me reconcile the two "careers" Sam Bradford had. I have statistical comparables, but they suggest simple mediocrity. I'm looking for something more relevant to the player himself.

[mlmdub130]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

Before we go off the wall on Bradford, can someone remind me of a player who missed either their last year of college ball with injury, or their first year of pro ball with injury (the qualifying factor is the practice time...were they unable to practice most of the year?), and went on to acheive great success.

maybe i'm forgetting someone but can you remind me of someone who missed their last year of college fb and then was a top five pick in the draft

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by mlmdub130

maybe i'm forgetting someone but can you remind me of someone who missed their last year of college fb and then was a top five pick in the draft

Jason Allen, the University of Tennessee safety (drafted by the Dolphins), was picked somewhere between 16-18 in 2006, and hasn't produced like a first round pick.

Antonio Cromartie was picked in roughly the same range the same year. He's got a pro bowl appearance. But he's had an up and down career.

Neither of those guys were top five picks, but that was probably as much about being defensive backs as being injured. Darrelle Revis, for example, was the 14th overall pick in 2007. People knew he was great at the time, but it's tough to justify a top ten pick on a DB unless you know he's going to be THIS good. Ed Reed was the 23rd? overall pick in 2002.