National consensus: Vikings, Eagles both winners in Sam Bradford trade

National experts mostly agree both sides involved in the Sam Bradford trade were winners.

The Vikings were desperate for an experienced quarterback and the Eagles' roster was overloaded with overpaid quarterbacks, including the 2016 No. 2 overall draft pick Carson Wentz.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King said the Vikings overpaid for Bradford with a first-round draft pick in 2017 and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2018, but the deal was necessary.

"Did they overpay? Of course they overpaid. But they're going to overpay as you get close to the season. It is a trade I would have made if I were [Vikings general manager] Rick Spielman," King said.

"I see the trade from the Eagles point of a view for a very simple reason. When you get a [first- and fourth-round draft pick] for a quarterback that is going to be on the team for one more year when you're franchise quarterback is already on the the roster, it's a trade I also have to make if I'm the Eagles.

"As Rick Spielman told me on the phone Sunday, 'Listen, all you can do in a situation like this is do the best thing you think at the time is the best thing for your team and you just got to let the chips fall where they may,' and that's what these two teams are going to do. But to me, it's an absolutely understandable trade for each side."

ESPN's John Clayton agreed the price was steep, but necessary to stay in contention in the NFC North.

Clayton also praised Eagles general manger Howie Roseman for proving once again he's among the most innovative front office executive in the league.

Marc Sessler at NFL.com wrote that this trade shows the Vikings won't give in and landed a quarterback that "many coaches around the league – if not the fans – still believe in."

Gregg Rosenthal at NFL.com said the Eagles and Vikings are both winners, highlighting the Vikings ownership specifically.

"No one wants to say it, but the Vikings did not want to move into a beautiful new stadium with 16 games of Shaun Hill on tap," Rosenthal wrote. "Bradford is not the fan favorite that Teddy Bridgewater is, but this gives the organization renewed life heading into the 2016 season. … It remains a team built to compete for titles on defense and Adrian Peterson. They have a proven quarterback tutor in Norv Turner. If he can't get Bradford to finally fulfill his potential, one will.

Rosenthal and Clayton, however, noted Bridgewater as a loser in this deal because of the way Bradford's contract is structured into next season. This could mean the Vikings have "serious questions" about Bridgewater's ability to start next season healthy.

"I have to give Howie credit. I don't agree with everything they do and he opens himself up to criticism with some of the things he does, but he is a wizard when it comes to some of these trades," an unamed exec told CBS Sports. "Not everyone's owner will eat $11M to make that trade, but his will and this is another contract I didn't think he could get value for. This gets him back some of the picks he gave up for Wentz, and moving up twice doesn't look as crazy now. I cannot believe he got a 1 for Bradford. I really can't.