Rams general manager Les Snead insisted at last month's NFL Annual Meeting that St. Louis didn't plan to draft a quarterback. Everything we've heard since suggests otherwise.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Sunday that the team is "strongly considering" finding a young passer in May. The Rams, according to Thomas, seek someone who "isn't a project and could compete for a starting job in a year or two."
Snead and friends have met with a flurry of young arms including Pittsburgh's Tom Savage, South Carolina's Connor Shaw and Clemson's Tajh Boyd. The Rams also traveled to Aaron Murray's Georgia pro day and watched SMU's Garrett Gilbert work out before reportedly visiting with Derek Carr of Fresno State.
NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah called St. Louis a "sleeper team in the quarterback market," while Gil Brandt told Thomas: "I don't think there's any question the Rams are taking a quarterback."
Snead told Around The League last month that St. Louis didn't plan to surprise people with a passer at the No. 2 spot or high in the draft, saying: "You never really draft guys you're not planning to play or start early, so that's not a realistic or wise use of that pick."
The Rams GM also told us: "Sam's gonna be our starter, so there'd be no reason to take someone you're not planning to play."
For now. With Bradford set to count a whopping $17.6 million against the salary cap in 2014, we've been treated to conflicting reports about the Rams' willingness to extend their starting passer.
Coach Jeff Fishertalked him up over the weekend as a player set to take the "next step," but coming off a torn ACL, few quarterbacks are under more pressure to deliver come September.
Bradford has two more years on his outrageous $78 million contract, but St. Louis can shave almost $13 million off their 2015 cap if they release or trade him next offseason.
With the Rams looking to groom someone to start "in a year or two," the table is being set for Bradford to wind up elsewhere -- perhaps sooner than some expect.
In the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," the guys discuss the 2014 NFL Draft with guru Bucky Brooks.
