Rams News Recap: May 5

[RamBill]

Burwell: Rams Need an Offensive Tackle, Not Manziel
When Jeff Fisher and Les Snead step to the podium inside the Rams Park main auditorium this afternoon to meet the local media for their final pre-NFL draft chit chat, I almost expect to see the coach and general manager of the Rams emerge from the billowing clouds of some giant smoke machine like their players do during some elaborate pregame introduction.

Rams sign former Mizzou star T.J. Moe –PD
A little more than a year ago, T.J. Moe paid a “local” pre-draft visit to Rams Park, but ended up signing with New England as an undrafted free agent.

Despite Rumors Rams Won’t Target a QB at 13 –Balzer
When Jeff Fisher was hired as head coach and Les Snead as general manager of the Rams two years ago, they owned the second overall pick in the draft and had a roster that needed a major overhaul after the team won just 15 of 80 games the previous five seasons.

Rams Draft Preview: Quarterback –Wagoner
The NFL draft is set to begin May 8 and the St. Louis Rams hold 12 picks in this year’s selection process. For the next week and a half, we’ll take a look at a different position every day with what the Rams have in place at a position, what they need, when they might address it and some possible fits.

Why to Buy into ‘Johnny Manziel to Rams’ Rumors –SI.com
Since the St. Louis Rams got their closer look at Johnny Manziel last Friday, the notion of them drafting the former Texas A&M quarterback in the first round of Thursday’s NFL draft has become a groundswell.

Rumors Continue to Swirl on Manziel, Rams –PD
For four months, or ever since the 2013 season ended, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead have told everyone who would listen that Sam Bradford was their man at quarterback.

Is Johnny Manziel headed to the Rams? –Video

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen Talks Johnny Manziel and the Rams –Radio Interview

Rams Should Select Sammy Watkins. Will They? –Karraker
Perhaps you’ve heard it’s Draft Week. After the NFL moved its annual selection meeting back, the league got an extra two weeks of draft discussion to the point of saturation. With the second and 13th picks, the Rams control this draft.

Jason La Canfora Talks NFL Draft and the Rams –Radio Interview

The End of the Bradford Era? –Video

Bernie: What will Rams do at No. 2? –Video

Morning Ram-blings: A Combo Mock –Wagoner
Throughout the course of the past few months, ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay have been offering up mock drafts on a regular basis, providing different scenarios and possibilities for how this weekend’s NFL draft could play out.

Rams Doing Plenty of Homework on Johnny Manziel –PFT
The Rams might hold the keys to the draft, and their own futures, this week.

Report: Johnny Manziel Object of a Lot of Attention from Rams –NFL.com
Houston owns the No. 1 pick and obviously will set the tone for the draft. Thing is, St. Louis — which owns two first-round picks, at Nos. 2 and 13 — has a chance to shape the first round, as well.

Rams remain committed to Bradford –PFT
Yes, the Rams have been doing plenty of homework regarding quarterback Johnny Manziel. Yes, rumors have circulated regarding a possible trade of Sam Bradford.

Rams Spreading Misinformation? –Video

Are the Rams All-in On Bradford? –Video

Balzer’s Top 5 Rams Big Board –Video

ESPN Insider NFL Draft Film Room: Mike Evans –Video

 

[RamBill]

Morning Ram-blings: A QB in the first?
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/8102/morning-ram-blings-a-qb-in-the-first

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- I'm sure when you read the headline for this edition of the Ram-blings, you expected the words herein to be covering something else. But no worries, we'll get to that more in depth later on.

This version is focused on something interesting from ESPN NFL Nation columnist Kevin Seifert that appeared on this website Monday afternoon. In the piece, Seifert explores the effect of the fifth-year option for first-round picks and how teams in need of a quarterback might now see additional value in taking their signal caller of the future in the opening round.

Be sure to read the entire column for a full explanation, but it essentially boils down to this question: if you're a team in the second round planning to use a choice on a quarterback, would it be worth giving up a pick or two to move back into the first round to select him so you can enjoy the benefit of having him under team control for an additional year at a relative bargain in price?

It's too early to know if there really is value in that since the new CBA was just signed in 2011, but it's an interesting question to consider and one that actually applies to the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams are going to take a quarterback in this draft. Whether that quarterback is Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel is a question that requires more space than the Ram-blings allows. If it's not, I believe they'll make that move in the second or third round. Let's assume that they have interest in a player such as Georgia's Aaron Murray, Pitt's Tom Savage or Alabama's AJ McCarron in the second round.

Might it make sense to give up a pick or two to get back into the first for the benefit of the fifth-year option?

The answer for this Rams team, a team that needs to make good use of its picks, especially in the middle rounds, is probably not. But if they truly want to find a quarterback capable of pushing starter Sam Bradford or even beating him out, it's something to consider.

I.C.Y.M.I.

A roundup of Monday's Rams stories appearing on ESPN.com. ... In the Ram-blings, we began the day with a look at the combo mock done by Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay. ... Next, we looked at the Rams' need to secure top talents rather than worrying as much about stockpiling picks. ... In the continuing draft series, we took a look at the quarterback class. ... In the prospect profile, we dug a little deeper on a signal caller a little further down the radar in Ball State's Keith Wenning. ... Finally, we got a little actual Rams news with the team's signing of former Mizzou receiver T.J. Moe.

Elsewhere:

At stltoday.com, Bernie Miklasz discusses what the Rams will do with the second overall pick.

Miklasz also writes about the logic in the Rams taking a quarterback.

At TheMMQB.com, Peter King offers some thoughts on which way the Rams might be leaning in the NFL draft.

SI.com adds fuel to the Manziel rumors fire with speculation on the team trading Bradford to Minnesota.

Yahoo.com speculates on the Manziel rumors.

 

[Boffo97]

There's a word for the Rams drafting a QB before the 4th round of this draft:

Mistake.