One thing this market proves with QBs

[Merlin]

Is that you gotta have depth and another option waiting in the wings just in case. Along these lines and as a general rule, if I were the GM of a team, I'd make sure I took a QB project type at a minimum at the "two years out" point of my starter's remaining contract. Not to avoid paying him, but to hedge my bets.

Philly winning it all with their backup also puts the value of the position in perspective. Granted that type of thing doesn't happen all that often, but your backup QB is pretty damn important.

WRT Jared's contract, he's got 2018 & 2019 seasons covered, so now would be a nice time for the team to snap up a "backup" QB that the staff can sink their teeth into and start developing. Mannion will be a FA after the season, and this particular draft is very deep at the QB position. This is a good one to do that in.

 

[Akrasian]

The QB pipeline should always be running. Even if the starter has a long term contract, injuries happen. I would suggest 3 QBs on the roster all the time - one as the backup, and one kid to develop. I suspect that will be the case - not high picks, but not necessarily UDFAs or late rounders either. Given the value of QBs, it's too important to hope you can find one on the cheap when a crisis hits.

 

[Corbin]

Without a doubt. I like Mannion but to sign him for crazy millions to be a backup? IDK

I wonder how much he would command as a backup? He is competent at the very least.

 

[leoram]

Without a doubt. I like Mannion but to sign him for crazy millions to be a backup? IDK

I wonder how much he would command as a backup? He is competent at the very least.

Mannion should be extended IF the Rams really believe in him. Nobody knows better than McVay but you’ll never hear anything but positive from him so...as with all the players, the proof is in the contract. This pre-season will tell us what we need to know. If we acquire another good QB, look for the competition to begin for that long term QB2 role. If just a late round pick, Mannion is safe for another couple years.

 

[dieterbrock]

I don’t know about that. Seems to me it’s more important to find your guy and pay him enough so he never leaves. Philly winning with a backup is an outlier. 2 qb is all you need. If you are playing your 3rd qb, your season is over.
I suspect the Rams will have enough faith in Goff to carry only 1 backup this year and Mannion will have to earn his spot

 

[Noregar]

After the season finale against SF I was wondering if the Rams were considering an upgrade to Mannion. Granted he was playing with a lot of backups but he did not have a god game either. It will be interesting to see if the Rams bring in a vet in the second wave of FA or if they draft a young QB in the mid rounds. I do not think Mannion is a lock to be the Rams the backup QB for 2018 since he will be a FA next year but he is a cap-bargain at this point so that works in his favor.

 

[Merlin]

Without a doubt. I like Mannion but to sign him for crazy millions to be a backup? IDK

I wonder how much he would command as a backup? He is competent at the very least.

Market for backups seems to fall in the $5M range if you go get one on the market.

Things might be aligned for the Rams to upgrade over Mannion who they don't seem too high on. Given the depth of this class, there is a reasonable chance they see one they like at some point mid to late rounds.

 

[LesBaker]

Philly winning it all with their backup also puts the value of the position in perspective.

It's a valuable position for sure but I think @dieterbrock is right. Last season was a serious outlier and IMO Foles is better than several starters in the league.

I wish the Rams could have kept Keenum..........

 

[Akrasian]

It's a valuable position for sure but I think @dieterbrock is right. Last season was a serious outlier and IMO Foles is better than several starters in the league.

I wish the Rams could have kept Keenum..........

While he'd be a great backup - he's a good guy, and I'm glad he has a chance to start, to get some glory, AND to make $18 milllion per season for a little while.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Mannion....

 

[Akrasian]

I don’t know about that. Seems to me it’s more important to find your guy and pay him enough so he never leaves. Philly winning with a backup is an outlier. 2 qb is all you need. If you are playing your 3rd qb, your season is over.

You need a backup who can not lose games for you. You need a third stringer so if the backup is hurt for a few series, you don't have your emergency QB going in, screwing things up, and maybe getting hurt himself. More importantly, you have the third stringer so he is being developed. When your backup hits free agency, you have a guy to replace him. Plus if the third stringer looks better than the backup, maybe you can trade the backup for a late round pick.

 

[dieterbrock]

You need a backup who can not lose games for you. You need a third stringer so if the backup is hurt for a few series, you don't have your emergency QB going in, screwing things up, and maybe getting hurt himself. More importantly, you have the third stringer so he is being developed. When your backup hits free agency, you have a guy to replace him. Plus if the third stringer looks better than the backup, maybe you can trade the backup for a late round pick.

When you’re paying your qb 20+ mill, you pay as little as possible for a backup.

 

[Akrasian]

When you’re paying your qb 20+ mill, you pay as little as possible for a backup.

Which is why smart teams keep the QB pipeline going. Much better to have inexpensive guys you've developed, than have to pay free agent veteran backups. And if the starter (or the backup) gets hurt, much better to have a developmental guy as #3, than have to either sign a guy who couldn't get a job or trade a draft pick for somebody.

 

[dieterbrock]

Which is why smart teams keep the QB pipeline going. Much better to have inexpensive guys you've developed, than have to pay free agent veteran backups. And if the starter (or the backup) gets hurt, much better to have a developmental guy as #3, than have to either sign a guy who couldn't get a job or trade a draft pick for somebody.

Right get cheaper. But once you have the established starter you don’t need the 3rd string

 

[Akrasian]

Right get cheaper. But once you have the established starter you don’t need the 3rd string

So injuries don't exist?

Besides, after 4 years the backup is a free agent and gets expensive. If you maintain a pipeline you have a guy hopefully ready to step in as backup. No pipeline, you either have to count on a rookie as backup, meaning you probably use a higher pick and still might miss, or sign somebody expensive. I figure pick up a QB every other year, so the backup has two years to develop - and if it's a miss, you can get somebody the next year and have one year to develop him before the backup gets expensive.

 

[dieterbrock]

So injuries don't exist?

Besides, after 4 years the backup is a free agent and gets expensive. If you maintain a pipeline you have a guy hopefully ready to step in as backup. No pipeline, you either have to count on a rookie as backup, meaning you probably use a higher pick and still might miss, or sign somebody expensive. I figure pick up a QB every other year, so the backup has two years to develop - and if it's a miss, you can get somebody the next year and have one year to develop him before the backup gets expensive.

Of course they exist. If the starter gets hurt, the backup plays and they sign a jag who plays on a pro rated salary. If you’re playing your 3rd string qb for any amount of time your season is shot