The coaching staff might be trying to downplay it, but the St. Louis Rams have wandering eyes when it comes to the quarterback position. Sam Bradford has shown signs of promise, but patience is thin when it comes to the desire to be playing in the postseason. After suffering a season-ending ACL tear, are the Rams beginning to build a backup plan to Bradford?
The Rams are set up well in the draft and could really go multiple directions as they make their first selection at No. 2. The first option is of course moving down. The team does not need Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles, so unless the Rams favor Jadeveon Clowney (who they do not need) or Sammy Watkins then a trade down is the best option. However, passing up on either player might be a tough call to make for the Rams.
According to the NFL.com analyst Girl Brandt, the Rams will draft a quarterback, it is just a matter of where. If Manziel is available at No. 2, does St. Louis pass on him? Right now, Brandt notes that a middle-round quarterback is the target as long as Houston drafts one with the No. 1 overall pick. If Clowney is off the board first, the Rams will change their plan. Until then, Tajh Boyd, Connor Shaw and Aaron Murray are favorites come the third round at the earliest.
All three quarterbacks would not be ready to start Week 1 of the 2014 season, but the Rams do not necessarily need them to. Right now, Jeff Fisher and company continue to voice their support for Bradford despite the lingering trade rumors and doubt over his health. Fisher spoke with media and noted that Bradford is ahead in his rehab and will continue to be "the guy" for St. Louis.
"But he is realistically way ahead of schedule. He's working hard," Fisher said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Sam's in a very good place considering what happened last year. I thought he was off to a great start. Had he stayed healthy his projected numbers could've been quite impressive. He's worked hard through the process, and I would expect him at some point to be throwing in OTAs."
Bradford's increasing health is not stopping the Rams from considering all options. ACL tear aside, Bradford has yet to make that leap as a starting quarterback that St. Louis was hoping would happen by now. With nothing guaranteed in the NFL, his replacement could be joining the roster sooner rather than later.
