Schefter: Sam Bradford to sign with Arizona Cardinals

UPDATE: We now have the terms of Bradford’s deal, and he’s getting paid.

We now have reports of a second quarterback that was on the Minnesota Vikings’ roster in 2017 that appears to be moving on for 2018.

Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that quarterback Sam Bradford is set to sign with the Arizona Cardinals, who have a hole at the quarterback position following the retirement of Carson Palmer.

Bradford came to Minnesota shortly before the 2016 season after the devastating injury suffered by Teddy Bridgewater. After sitting out of the season opener, Bradford started the final fifteen games of that season, setting an NFL record for completion percentage in the process (largely because the dumpster fire of an offensive line he had in front of him didn’t allow him time to throw more than five yards downfield).

He came into the 2017 season as the starter, and had a brilliant performance against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football in the season opener. However, despite only getting hit twice in that game, he wound up suffering a knee injury that, essentially, cost him the rest of his season. He did start in a game against the Chicago Bears in October, but clearly should not have. He was placed on injured reserve, and though he was brought back for the postseason, that was the last time we saw Bradford on the field in purple.

Bradford might have been the best pure thrower that the Vikings had in 2017, but with his health issues, it was clear that the Vikings couldn’t trust him going forward. It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of deal he’s signed with the Cardinals and how much of it is based on incentives. I’m guessing that the Cardinals are also going to be drafting a quarterback early.

So, with Case Keenum moving on to Denver and Sam Bradford ticketed for Arizona, two of the three primary Vikings’ quarterbacks in 2017 have moved on.