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Bradford’s Strong Pro-Day Workout Opens Door Wider for Lions to Draft Suh Second Overall

NFL Countdown | by Mike O'Hara | 03.29.2010/6:00PM

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(Note: Another in a series leading up to the NFL Draft, April 22-4. My annual position-by-position series and Mock Drafts are part of the series.)

There had to be a few satisfied smiles and deep exhales of relief in the Lions’ draft compound early Monday afternoon over the performance of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford in his pro-day workout.
Bradford put on a show for the NFL teams who had representatives at his long-awaited passing session. Bradford likely ended all doubt that he’ll be drafted first overall by the St. Louis Rams.
The ramifications for the Lions are obvious. They draft second behind St. Louis on the first round on April 22. If Bradford goes first, the Lions are free to fill a primary need at defensive tackle by taking either Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska or Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma.
Logic dictates the Lions’ pick will be Suh – no matter what illogical analysis is being offered to the contrary.
As of Bradford’s Monday workout, Make it 99 percent certain that the Rams will draft Bradford – and 99.8 percent certain that the Lions will follow up and draft Suh.
The only reason neither choice is 100 percent is that nothing ever is certain.
By all accounts, Bradford was as impressive Monday as any quarterback prospect in recent memory.
By actual count, NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock had only one of Bradford’s 63 passes hitting the ground. And he made every throw necessary to play quarterback in the NFL, according to Mayock.
“I’ve been a lot of pro days, and this one gets an ‘A’ on all levels,” Mayock said on the NFL Network. “His arm is good at all the throws. He’s accurate. He can drive the ball intermediate. His deep touch and accuracy is phenomenal.
“I talked to a bunch of people around the league. The consensus is all the same. On the basis of 90 to 100, everybody game him at least a 90 and an ‘A’ to an ‘A plus.’
“Big day for Sam Bradford. Don’t be surprised to see him go No. 1 to St. Louis.”
While Mayock’s comments carry weight, another voice of credibility weighed in on the Rams’ level of interest in Bradford.
Bernie Miklasz, sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has a finger on the pulse of his city’s sports scene that’s as accurate as the U.S. Naval Observatory Atomic Clock.
Miklasz has an insight on what character means to Rams’ GM Billy Devaney’s – largely because Devaney was with the Chargers when they drafted Ryan Leaf, and with the Falcons when they took Michael Vick.
“I know this to be absolutely true:  Devaney loves Bradford’s makeup,” Miklasz wrote Monday. “His intelligence and maturity. Devaney is confident that Bradford will bring a strong work ethic and dedication to the job.
“When Devaney looks at Bradford he doesn’t see Ryan Leaf. What he sees, on the character scale, is someone a lot closer to Peyton Manning.”

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