Rams quarterback: There will be competition and new faces in training camp

The Rams arrived in Indianapolis this week for the NFL Scouting Combine pretty certain of one thing: They are committed to upgrading the quarterback position.

Yes, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said at the conclusion of last season that Case Keenum was the de facto starter, although if training camp opened today Keenum would be in a battle with Nick Foles and rookie Sean Mannion.

But with training camp still six months away – and the free agency period and the draft standing in between – the quarterback population could look quite a bit different in August then it does right now.

“As it relates to the quarterback position it’s probably a good chance there’s going to be another one in (training) camp if not two,” Fisher said Wednesday. “And I can’t say whether that’s going to come through the draft or free agency or a trade. But that’s a position we’re looking to upgrade.”

The Rams will get their first up close look at the draft’s quarterbacks on Thursday when they arrive in Indianapolis for their medicals evaluations and team and media interview sessions. The quarterbacks will have their on-field workouts on Saturday.

Armed with the 15th pick in the first round, the Rams will keep a close eye Thursday on Cal’s Jared Goff, North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz and Memphis’ Paxton Lynch. All three are projected as first-round picks, and at least one should be available when the Rams make their first-round selection.

If the Rams pass on a quarterback that high, the second round and beyond should yield players like Connor Cook of Michigan State, Christian Hackenberg of Penn State, Dak Prescott of Mississippi State, Cody Kessler of USC and Stanford’s Kevin Hogan.

Depending what happens with some potential NFL free agent quarterbacks, the Rams could be looking at the Redskins’ Kirk Cousins and Robert Griffin III, the Broncos’ Brock Osweiler and the Jets Ryan Fitzpatrick, among others, on the open market.

For now, though, Keenum is the starter after guiding the Rams to a 4-1 finish upon taking over for Foles.

“Looking at the body of work of Case, I thought Case finished strong and Case has won some games,” Fisher said. “He was an overtime blocked kick in San Francisco and an incomplete pass from maybe winning all five. Case is excited about the opportunity to come in and hang onto that job. But there is going to be competition.”