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Quarterback could still be in Rams' draft plans
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17431/quarterback-could-still-be-in-rams-draft-plans
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- On the day that the St. Louis Rams introduced Nick Foles to the St. Louis media, Rams coach Jeff Fisher declared Foles his starter for 2015.
Fisher also was asked whether the addition of Foles and backup Case Keenum meant the Rams were out of the quarterback market when it comes to the draft. Fisher declined to respond. At last week's NFL owners meetings, Fisher was asked the same question and this time offered a pretty definitive response.
"As we’ve said, we could potentially draft one," Fisher said. "No, the Nick trade will have no bearing over what we do in the draft.”
And rightfully so. As it stands, the Rams have Foles, Keenum and Austin Davis under team control for 2015 (Davis is expected to sign his restricted free-agent tender). But Foles and Davis are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents after this season and Keenum will be restricted. That, of course, doesn't even take into account the fact that none of those three quarterbacks has proved that they're a definitive long-term franchise quarterback, either.
Barring some major unforeseen change, Foles will get the first crack at doing that. But whether he's the answer remains to be seen. Which means it's quite possible the Rams will do what they should have done last year and draft a young quarterback who has enough upside to eventually become a starter.
Obviously, the two names at the top of the quarterback list are Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota. It's widely assumed that Winston will be the No. 1 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mariota's eventual draft spot is murkier.
“They’re unique," Fisher said. "They’re rare. They’ve clearly proven that they can win games. Marcus is slightly more mobile than Winston is, but Winston makes all the throws. They’re both very impressive to watch.”
Some believe that Tennessee will eventually use the No. 2 pick on Mariota, but if that doesn't happen, he could slide a bit, perhaps down to No. 5 or 6. There has been some speculation that the Rams could move up for Mariota, something that shouldn't be ruled out but would be more likely if Mariota made it past No. 2 (rather than the Rams making a major move up to No. 2 or 3).
There are a few mock drafts that have Mariota falling to the Rams at No. 10 and it's hard to imagine they'd pass on him if he did, but that seems like a doubtful proposition.
“We’ll see," Fisher said. "Again, I think it’s highly unlikely that either one of them will get to us. They’re both very talented players.”
Barring Mariota or Winston falling to the Rams or the team making a move up to get one, the next set of options likely comes in a cluster of quarterbacks that includes Baylor's Bryce Petty, UCLA's Brett Hundley and Colorado State's Garrett Grayson.
Petty said on a recent radio interview that he will have a pre-draft visit with the Rams, and Grayson told ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold that he has a private workout for the team scheduled. It stands to reason that Hundley and other quarterbacks also will get a long look from the Rams in the coming weeks.
Despite popular belief that there's a major dropoff from Winston and Mariota to the rest, Fisher believes there's some talent to be found.
“There are some outstanding players," Fisher said. "Once you get beyond that, we’re just starting the process but my understanding is based on our first wave of pre-draft meetings that there’s some young quarterbacks out there.”
There are plenty of reasons for the Rams to use an early pick on a quarterback but they also probably won't force the issue. Last year, they spoke in similar terms of the quarterbacks and made it sound like they'd take one early. But they didn't draft one until the sixth round.
Whether this year's interest is more real or another round of posturing will come down to what's available when the Rams are on the clock.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17431/quarterback-could-still-be-in-rams-draft-plans
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- On the day that the St. Louis Rams introduced Nick Foles to the St. Louis media, Rams coach Jeff Fisher declared Foles his starter for 2015.
Fisher also was asked whether the addition of Foles and backup Case Keenum meant the Rams were out of the quarterback market when it comes to the draft. Fisher declined to respond. At last week's NFL owners meetings, Fisher was asked the same question and this time offered a pretty definitive response.
"As we’ve said, we could potentially draft one," Fisher said. "No, the Nick trade will have no bearing over what we do in the draft.”
And rightfully so. As it stands, the Rams have Foles, Keenum and Austin Davis under team control for 2015 (Davis is expected to sign his restricted free-agent tender). But Foles and Davis are scheduled to be unrestricted free agents after this season and Keenum will be restricted. That, of course, doesn't even take into account the fact that none of those three quarterbacks has proved that they're a definitive long-term franchise quarterback, either.
Barring some major unforeseen change, Foles will get the first crack at doing that. But whether he's the answer remains to be seen. Which means it's quite possible the Rams will do what they should have done last year and draft a young quarterback who has enough upside to eventually become a starter.
Obviously, the two names at the top of the quarterback list are Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota. It's widely assumed that Winston will be the No. 1 overall pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mariota's eventual draft spot is murkier.
“They’re unique," Fisher said. "They’re rare. They’ve clearly proven that they can win games. Marcus is slightly more mobile than Winston is, but Winston makes all the throws. They’re both very impressive to watch.”
Some believe that Tennessee will eventually use the No. 2 pick on Mariota, but if that doesn't happen, he could slide a bit, perhaps down to No. 5 or 6. There has been some speculation that the Rams could move up for Mariota, something that shouldn't be ruled out but would be more likely if Mariota made it past No. 2 (rather than the Rams making a major move up to No. 2 or 3).
There are a few mock drafts that have Mariota falling to the Rams at No. 10 and it's hard to imagine they'd pass on him if he did, but that seems like a doubtful proposition.
“We’ll see," Fisher said. "Again, I think it’s highly unlikely that either one of them will get to us. They’re both very talented players.”
Barring Mariota or Winston falling to the Rams or the team making a move up to get one, the next set of options likely comes in a cluster of quarterbacks that includes Baylor's Bryce Petty, UCLA's Brett Hundley and Colorado State's Garrett Grayson.
Petty said on a recent radio interview that he will have a pre-draft visit with the Rams, and Grayson told ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold that he has a private workout for the team scheduled. It stands to reason that Hundley and other quarterbacks also will get a long look from the Rams in the coming weeks.
Despite popular belief that there's a major dropoff from Winston and Mariota to the rest, Fisher believes there's some talent to be found.
“There are some outstanding players," Fisher said. "Once you get beyond that, we’re just starting the process but my understanding is based on our first wave of pre-draft meetings that there’s some young quarterbacks out there.”
There are plenty of reasons for the Rams to use an early pick on a quarterback but they also probably won't force the issue. Last year, they spoke in similar terms of the quarterbacks and made it sound like they'd take one early. But they didn't draft one until the sixth round.
Whether this year's interest is more real or another round of posturing will come down to what's available when the Rams are on the clock.