NFL Draft 2014 VIDEO: First Look Event Update
29 teams attended Louisville’s Pro Day Monday for the opportunity to watch quarterback Teddy Bridgewater put his best foot forward. Unfortunately, reports coming out might be more foot-in-mouth.
Bridgewater didn’t throw at the NFL Combine last month because he said he wanted everything to be perfect — nothing uncommon for quarterbacks who want to show off their best assets in their natural environment. However, many are reporting the quarterback under whelmed those watching, even with the extra time to prepare and the home advantage.
His ball was loose at times and wobbled into the hands of his receivers but he also showed touch in the red-zone portion of the workout, flashed deep accuracy that also lacked great timing on occasion and hit his receivers in stride while on the move in Monday’s session. Overall, his footwork was not great and his timing was average to poor on some throws.
CBS also points out that many are worried about Bridgewater’s size. Unlike top prospect predecessors such as JaMarcus Russell, it isn’t weight gain scouts are worried about with Bridgewater, it’s his weight loss.
Bridgewater is 6-2, weighed 208 at Monday’s workout. That raised eyebrows, if only because Bridgewater was 214 at the combine. He said he’d be 220-225 by the time he reports to training camp. He said he played at 222 as a sophomore before major jaw surgery led to drastic weight loss.
Of course Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson is 5-11, 204, but he’s the exception to the rule — he even went third round. Quarterbacks such as Aaron Rodgers and RGIII (both 6-2, 223) were considered almost too small to be NFL ready on their Pro Days.
It probably didn’t help Louisville fans feel better when an NFL Network analyst said Bridgewater’s performance Monday was “average at best.”
ESPN lead NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper has Buffalo linebacker Khalil Mack going to the Texans at No. 1 overall in his latest mock draft — something unfathomable just three weeks ago. Kiper currently has Bridgewater going to the Raiders at No. 5 overall.
