Recently, the St. Louis Rams announced they would not extend quarterback Sam Bradford’s contract, confirming that the four-year veteran would not be the long-term answer for the franchise. This has led to speculation about who St. Louis would draft and what they would do with Bradford.
The Rams, who finished 7-9 in a very competitive NFC West division, also struggled with the passing game last year, finishing 27th in total passing yards (3125). The main problem is that Sam Bradford wasn’t the sole contributor to St. Louis’ passing game, as injuries forced Kellen Clemens to play out most of the 2013 season (10 games), throwing 1,673 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
This is a problem for the Rams because Clemens is a nine-year veteran who hasn’t exactly proven himself as a decent starting quarterback (though to be fair, most of his career was spent as a backup, so I won’t hold that against him). In addition, St. Louis decided Sam Bradford is not the franchise QB the team needs, so there’s inconsistency abound.
But thanks to the 2nd draft pick acquired from the Washington Redskins for Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, the Rams don’t need to worry about drafting a quality quarterback; there will be a few laid out in front of them (even if the Houston Texans decide they need a new quarterback taking one option off the board). The Rams could also use the pick to draft secondary talent, as they ranked 19th in passing yards given up in 2013.
While the Rams certainly need a good quarterback, the offensive line is already in good shape. Though giving up 76 quarterback hits (14th), the team allowed the eighth fewest sacks in the league, only allowing 36. So while St. Louis certainly has a decent offensive line, they do not have a consistent quarterback, which can easily be fixed by analyzing the performances at NFL Combine. As with the Jacksonville Jaguars, I think Teddy Bridgewater would be a perfect fit for the Rams on paper, since he’s the safest pick in the draft, and has a solid, consistent arm.
So what does this mean for Sam Bradford? Personally, I don’t think he’s as bad of a quarterback as many people have said. While not exactly a solid starter quarterback, he’s shown great improvement in 2013, despite playing fewer games than his previous three seasons. This is evident in that he had a TD-INT ratio of 14-4 in seven games in 2013, where as in 2012, he had a TD-INT ratio of 21-13 in 16 games (with double the passing yards he had in 2013).
While I don’t think Bradford makes a lasting impression as a starting QB, as a backup I see potential in him. He’s got the numbers for a backup certainly, and depending on if he gets cut by the Rams, could be useful to several teams.
Perhaps the best destination for Bradford would be to a team drafting a quarterback in the first round this year. The Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and Oakland Raiders are all possible destinations for the four-year veteran for a career as a backup quarterback.
Bradford’s injuries and inconsistent play have forced the Rams to make up their mind, but I believe both the Rams and Bradford could benefit from cutting him. St. Louis can find a fresh start at quarterback, and Sam Bradford can find a new destination to be a part of.
I don’t think The Greatest Show On Turf is returning anytime soon to The Gateway to the West, but the Rams and Sam Bradford will both benefit from moving on in my opinion. St. Louis has a handful of picks to choose from, and the draft is theirs to command. That has to be something worth celebrating for a city that hasn’t seen the playoffs in 9 years.
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Main Photo Credit: UPI/Bill Greenblatt
(Stats via espn.com and nfl.com)
