Was thinking about this the other day and I realized that the Rams have the 2 pick in what looks like a 2 QB draft, assuming that Manziel comes out. They have Sam Bradford with relatively high cap numbers the next two years. He's shown flashes of being a very good QB but he's never put it all together. They have cap issues going into 2014 and would save about $10M on the cap if they traded Bradford. What are the odds they decide to cut and run after 4 fairly disappointing years? From the Jets perspective would it be worth it to look at spending a high pick on Bradford? It's very possible that a 2nd this year would persuade the Rams to move the heavy contract that has two years left to run.
I think the Rams would be wise to get rid of him, I just don;t think any team, including hopefully the Jets, would trade for him a valuable pick and assume a huge contract that he has not lived up to. They are going to have to give him away if they want to get rid of the contract.
Hi Br4d If it was another poster, I would probably bash the OP but I do have a ton of respect for you. That being said, I am strongly against this idea.
Bradford's been hurt 3 out of the last 5 years. Shoulder at Oklahoma in 2009, high ankle sprain in 2011 and torn ACL this year. I get the strong reservations you guys have about him but he's probably the single most likely early prime QB to have a major surge in the second half of his career at this point. I guess it's a risk no matter how you look at it. He's been playing in the dome for 4 years and hasn't been able to turn that into major hay. He does have the arm to play in the northeast winter though.
They need Jake Matthews on that line bad. They are weary about Jake Longs future and we all know winning starts in the trenches.
He is certainly worth picking up if available, but excuses aside he has tangible nfl experience to judge him against, it is no longer speculation. And that experience says 4th rounder if the rams want to move on to another QB. The risk is on the rams that they give up on him and he has a career resurgence. No team is going to assume that risk themselves and give up a high pick that he hasn't proven worthy of.
the big problem is the contract and the fact he has proven to be inconsistent at best. i mean i have seen him and in some games he makes mark sanchez look good. i am not a fan of bradford and would never ever trade a pick in order to hvae that terrible contract. if i were the rams i would move on. clemens proved he was a middling backup at this point this year but a rookie learning the ropes for half a year before replacing him might be an interesting situation. i could even see them trading down if bridgewater is picked first. i am not a fan of manziel and would not draft him at the 2. they could turn that rg3 pick into a handful of picks.
I would think that if Bridgewater drops to the 2 pick the Rams trade Bradford before the draft is over and if Manziel drops to the 2 and the Rams decide to take him they probably keep Bradford to give them a buffer to avoid over-exposing Johnny Football early. If Bradford was really available for a 4 you just jump all over that. How often do you get to pick up a 26 year old former #1 selection whose big failings have been injury-related for just a mid-rounds pick?
They're going to have to get cap savings somewhere for 2014 and that probably means either renegotiating Bradford, which will be tough coming off an injury season or trading him. He's too valuable to cut even if they have a young QB coming on board.
Way too fragile and injury prone. Even when healthy he's had a shaky career. Definitely not worth much to the Jets at this point. I was a big Bradford fan until that first game of his last season at OU when he got hurt again. After that it's been all downhill.
Have the Rams and Jets both put it to Bradford and Sanchez that they have a possible trade but they both need to renegotiate. They both get a contract for a reasonable vet amount and then trade them straight up giving them each a fresh start somewhere else. The Rams then draft the new starter and each team has a back up, with a chance to compete to start, at a reasonable contract amount. If they don't want to then they risk getting cut since cutting Sanchez saves the Jets over $22 mil on the cap over 2 years and Rams would save over $23 mil on the cap over 2 years by cutting Bradford. Of course I don't see this happening but it would be the only way I would want Bradford. I don't want them to waste any draft picks on him.
Fisher has to start producing results like winning season/playoffs. He is entering year 3, his team has been pretty good but they havent really gone anywhere. Playing in a division sucks but its not an excuse either. The NFC West will come back down to earth probably by next year. If Fisher drafts a QB it wold give him at least two years to get them in, he hasnt had the chance to get his guy and Bradford got injured to.
I don't believe that trading for a veteran QB to become your multiyear starter is a good idea in general. Alex Smith was a pretty unique situation being an efficient, risk-averse QB who was stigmatized as a 'game manager' even though that's not a bad thing if you're good at doing it. Without the injuries Chad Pennington would have been an elite QB 'game manager.' The 9ers wanted the younger, flashier guy that showed he could step in as the starting QB and got what they could for Smith. With a year of hindsight I'm not sure they would make the same decision again, but that's certainly nothing like the Bradford case regardless. If you don't have the franchise QB you take your lumps and inflated draft picks until you've one, it's that simple. Taking somebody else's headache just prolongs the problem, and ultimately makes it worse.
1. Reportedly, Rams are trying to trade out of #2. As you mentioned, this looks to be a 2 QB draft, and someone will bite. I don't know which one it will be, but there will be someone biting come draft day. I just don't see Rams spending that 2nd on one QB prospect. I would try to get multiple #1s myself, like Rams fleeced the Redskins last year. 2. That still doesn't rule out Rams drafting QB. If Fisher's track record is any indication, Rams will probably go with dual threat QB again - which Bradford is anything but. Just, the top prospects this year doesn't fit the bill - so I am inclined to think that the likes of Brett Hundley or Tahj Boyd will be drafted later. 3. If general consensus from Rams fan base is any indication, however, they don't seem down on Bradford - not as of yet to say the very least. 4. If Jets have a chance to get Bradford - now might be the time, as his stock will be an all-time low. [Just look at who is coordinating that anemic offense.] With competent OC and decent talent around, he will fare much better. [Rams fans have noticed this too, unfortunately - so Brian might get shitcanned briefly if things stay there or go south next season.] 5. And it would pay to wait in this case. Trading for Bradford is not such a good idea. If Rams are willing to roll the dice with Bradford - it's their problem. It's not like Bradford is coming with impeccable situation - i.e. he busted his shoulder once in the past. If Rams are looking elsewhere, they will cut Bradford.
Good post and I also appreciate Brad starting this thread and making some good points. But I disagree with the fifth point here. If the Rams want to unload Bradford due to the combination of their draft status at #2 and his current, too high contract, a threat of a cut preceding a contract renegotiation and a trade is the best approach for the Rams, and one that Bradford might feel he has to go along with. As for the Jets, I also agree with Brad on this one. If the compensation is like a 2 round pick, or some equivalent combo of players in trade, he has good upside and would be an improvement over Smith.
He was the best QB in the 2010 Draft but that's like making the best piss-flavored chocolate. I'd be interested for a reasonable draft pick but that's unlikely given his reputation, fair or not. Can we give them a fourth and Chansi Stuckey?
1. When it comes to QBs, the cap figure is not the overriding factor. The talent is. The fact of the matter is, the Rams haven't given up on him as of yet - he just got his rookie WRs this year. Since his injury is a concern, the next logical step would be to provide him with sufficient protection. And yes. Of course, they will need better offensive scheme, as they are underperforming. 2. As the Rams haven't given up on Bradford as of yet, Jets will have to overpay if they want to pry Bradford away. This is exactly the situation I think Jets must avoid - overpaying for a talent. Look - Rams know Bradford has good upside. They just gave him the tools last season. I don't think it makes sense for them to get rid of him now. 3. Thus, it would be a good idea to first know where they stand - i.e. are they trying to draft a new QB and go in other direction? Or are they staying with Bradford? Without knowing this situation, any compensation idea is premature.
considering none of us are going to get on the phone and call the Rams to inquire about his availability, we are working from speculation and hypotheticals only. we don't need to know any of that to discuss the scenario. if he is available, hypothetically, what would he be worth? simple.
