University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker says he's staying in school instead of entering the 2010 NFL draft, and that has a lot of people wondering whether he might be next year's version of Sam Bradford, the Oklahoma quarterback who eschewed the 2009 draft, returned to school this year, and suffered a serious shoulder injury.To anyone wondering, I say this: Jake Locker is no Sam Bradford.
Below are Locker's career stats at Washington, and Bradford's stats at Oklahoma through January of 2009, when he made the decision to stay in school.
Locker: 435-of-816 (53.3%), 5,374 yards, 36 touchdowns, 26 interceptions
Bradford: 565-of-824 (68.6%), 7,841 yards, 86 touchdowns, 16 interceptions
I realize it's extremely difficult to compare passing stats of college quarterbacks, because they play in different offenses against different competition. But come on. Locker's college career hasn't even been close to what Bradford had accomplished when he decided not to enter the 2009 draft. Bradford has a completion rate 15 percentage points higher, 50 more touchdowns and 2,500 more yards. Locker has 10 more interceptions.
I say this not to bash Locker, but simply to point out that he's nowhere near the sure high draft pick that some had portrayed him as. Toddy McShay of ESPN pegged Locker as a possible No. 1 overall pick, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that Locker didn't even get a first-round grade from the NFL's draft advisory board. We'll never know for sure where Locker would have gone in the 2010 draft, but I'd wager that nearly every NFL team would have had Bradford higher than Locker on its draft board.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I agree with all of this.
Jake Locker also has 23 rushing TD's and 1,554 rushing yards. He runs a 4.4 in the 40. I'd say Top 5 next year barring an injury. An NFL GM called Locker a "bigger, taller, right-handed version of Steve Young."
You're absolutely right -- Locker is a great runner and great athlete. I just don't think he'll ever be anything close to the kind of passer Steve Young was.
The 58% completion mark says it all. I mean, how many qbs with that low of a completion percentage in college have become successful in the pros? Locker is no franchise qb.
Like Michael said comparing college QB's can be a quagmire... Bradford also had many weapons to throw the ball to and a better offensve line... Locker was for the most part most of Washingtons offense untill this year.
You cant compare the level of talent Sam Bradford had around him to what Locker has been Dealing with. If you switch the two players for each team, those stats would be switched as well. You can use stats to evaluate players on spread offense teams. I say this believing that Bradford will be a very good QB in the NFL, but Locker has better everything than Bardford, except for accuracy.
Watch Locker next year, his completeing precentage will go way up and Washington may even win the Pac-10. If Oklahoma wins the Big 12 it isn't surprising, even without Bradford.
I really dont know anything about Locker. But I bet Bradford will end up like the rest of the Oklahoma QBs in the NFL. A washout.
@Michael David Smith..I do not agree that all NFL teams would have Bradford ahead of Locker. Reason, Bradford has been injury prone, concussions and shoulder. Lets just say that they would have a wait and see attitude until the combine.
aren't these the same people who didn't even have footage on mike mitchell?
and when he plays he gets a sack and looks promising.
i'd like to see locker with players that are better than everyone else.