How Do You Play It?

[Juggs]

I've been wondering, after the way we are playing, we are most likely going to be out of the running for one of the top 3 guys (Mariotta, Hundley and Winston) So, that said, how do you handle it?

 

[Juggs]

I for one, can not give up on Bradford just yet. I know if we let him go, someone else will snatch him up and he will be a star. I say we ride this thing out. That said, we need a very good backup. Draft someone who has a lot of potential in the 3rd or 4th.

 

[RhodyRams]

I would suppose it depends on draft position. Certainly wouldn't want the team to give up the farm to move up a few spots and draft one of these guys

 

[moklerman]

Uhhh...they way I'd play it is be thankful that we're not in a position to be talking about the draft already. HUGE win(at home) and they're still in the playoff hunt. Let's shelve draft talk--specifically QB draft talk, until later.

 

[rhinobean]

Bring Sam back on the cheap and draft bqa 3-5 round. JMO!

 

[Rams and Gators]

Depends on what happens in the draft, ideally draft a 1st round worthy QB, bring Sam back at a much reduced contract for a year, if Sam is ready play him, if not throw the rookie in the deep end.

 

[iBruce]

Why does everyone think we can sign Bradford 'for the cheap'?

 

[RhodyRams]

Why does everyone think we can sign Bradford 'for the cheap'?

my first guess would be because he hasnt played a full season since his rookie year

 

[Juggs]

Uhhh...they way I'd play it is be thankful that we're not in a position to be talking about the draft already. HUGE win(at home) and they're still in the playoff hunt. Let's shelve draft talk--specifically QB draft talk, until later.

No one is talking draft talk. We are talking about our options at QB for the future. We aren't discussing players. Pump the brakes.

 

[Juggs]

When I say on the cheap, in my mind it is a 10mil/year contract, not an 18mil/year. No hundred million dollar deals for me please.

 

[Rams and Gators]

Why does everyone think we can sign Bradford 'for the cheap'?

If we can't then fair play, let's take the $15m and build an OL.

 

[Jumava1968]

I say draft best Qb available but with no picks in rounds 4,6,they have to hit home runs in 1st 3 rounds.So depending on where we draft we may have to use future draft capital to get what we need.

 

[iBruce]

my first guess would be because he hasnt played a full season since his rookie year

And that's fine. I would love it if it happened. I just don't think I'd take a pay cut if I got injured doing the job I'm being paid to do. Or, is some other team going to take a chance on him and still pay him pretty decent money if he hits the market?

 

[moklerman]

And that's fine. I would love it if it happened. I just don't think I'd take a pay cut if I got injured doing the job I'm being paid to do. Or, is some other team going to take a chance on him and still pay him pretty decent money if he hits the market?

What it boils down to for me is, is the difference saved by cutting Sam and paying someone else worth the risk? Cut him and the Rams have $12M to play with. What does a FA QB cost on the open market? Can you sign one for a short term deal? Is one who's willing to take a short term deal worth acquiring?

All things considered, it really looks like keeping Sam one more year--even if it's at the high number, is still the most prudent thing to do. Just like any signing, it's a roll of the dice because of his health issues but unless something changes, 2015 looks like a pretty thin year for finding a QB.

 

[moklerman]

my first guess would be because he hasnt played a full season since his rookie year

Better go with your 2nd guess. 2012 he played a full season.

 

[moklerman]

2015 QB "market":
Blaine Gabbert, Mike Glennon, Joe Webb, Christian Ponder, Dan Orlovsky, Jimmy Clausen, Kirk Cousins, Eli Manning, Brandon Weeden, Sanchez/Barkley, Matt Schaub, Chase Daniel, Jake Locker, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jason Campbell, Chad Henne, Matt Moore, Geno Smith, EJ Manuel.

These are all the guys, IMO, that could be acquired at a reasonable cost. Some will be FA's most would have to be traded for.

The only guy on that list that I'd even consider as a reasonable alternative to keeping Bradford is Glennon.

In the draft, the Rams are going to have to hope someone drops because as it stands, they aren't going to have the resources to trade up(not that any of the potential 1st round QB's would really warrant such action). Is the 4th best QB in a weak draft class the way for the Rams to go? Doesn't seem like it to me.

I'd much rather have the best of any other position than the scraps left at QB.

 

[V3]

I can't answer with the available options. It all depends how the draft pans out. What if a top QB falls to us? What if the top ones are already taken? What if Bradford doesn't agree to any new (cheaper)contract?

I did draft the best gem available but that really isn't how I feel about the situation.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

it all depends on who is available and what the asking price is if you go free agent.

It also depends on who is available in the draft.

The Rams answered the only question they could at this point and that was that Austin Davis is not the answer.

And, that is the only answer I have right now too.

 

[ChrisW]

I've been wondering, after the way we are playing, we are most likely going to be out of the running for one of the top 3 guys (Mariotta, Hundley and Winston) So, that said, how do you handle it?

Winston is starting to fall for me, and I can't help but wonder how much fun it would be to watch Mariota run an offense in the dome. And that boy would look good in horns!

But, I think with our remaining schedule going .500 the rest of the way is an easy stretch, with winning out being a far stretch. So, we may not be in position to draft him, unless he falls to about #5 where we can package a deal without future picks to go get him.

If you look over the list of 2015 F/A QB's, there's not a whole lot on the list. It's basically a list of journeyman backups.

You might be able to roll the dice on a second tier QB like Mannion, or Connor Cook late in the first, but how often do they work out? At best they are as good as Sam Bradford, but perhaps that's not a bad thing either as we can have a real QB competition.

 

[rhinobean]

If Sam can't be signed at a lower short term deal, move on and draft someone in the 2d-3rd round! 10 mil for Sam is not unreasonable, IMO!