The Rams slow play on addressing the quarterback position in free agency can be interpreted a few different ways.
- They are waiting for the quarterback market to emerge before getting serious about talking to free agents Ryan Fitzpatrick or Robert Griffin III.
- They are confident Case Keenum and Sean Mannion can handle the position in 2016.
- They believe they will find their quarterback of the future in next April’s draft.
- They will rely on some combination of all of the above playing out over the next month or so.
After doing some poking around, my sense is the Rams are ok with rolling right now with Keenum, but hope to draft one of the top three quarterbacks next month in Chicago.
The question is, when they make their first-round selection at No. 15, will at least one of North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz, Cal’s Jared Goff or Memphis’ Paxton Lynch still be available?
If I’m the Rams, my concern is that the Cowboys at No. 4, the 49ers at No. 7 and the Eagles at No. 8 are all strong possibilities to take quarterbacks. And if we are to assume the Cleveland Browns are taking Wentz at No. 2, it seems dubious Goff and Lynch both get through the Cowboys, 49ers and Eagles gauntlet.
Which means they might seriously have to consider trading up to insure they get a chance to draft either Goff of Lynch. With the obvious trade target being the Ravens at No. 6.
Chances are, Goff and Lynch will both be on the board at No. 6. And it’s almost guaranteed at least one of them will be there.
According to WalterFootball.com’s NFL Draft Value Chart, the sixth pick carries a value of 1,600 points while the Rams 15th pick is worth 1,050. So, to trade up, the Rams need to come up with 550 points. Based on the draft chart, that means the Rams would have to trade their 15th pick plus the 43rd pick overall (2nd round, 470 points) and 110th pick (4th round 74 points) to get in the neighborhood.
On the surface, that’s a lot to give up to move up nine spots. But when you consider the Rams have two second-round picks (thanks to the Sam Bradford trade) it certainly makes it easier to digest knowing they’d pick again at No. 45.
Especially if they are convinced either Goff or Lynch can be their quarterback of the future, and the only way to guarantee they get a crack at one of them is by making a bold trade.
Rams fans, would you be on board?
