Former Ram Sam Bradford voted a top Heisman winner

Recently NFL.com ranked the top 25 Heisman Trophy winners of the last 25 years. Bradford ranked 13^th on a count down that took not only his NFL career into account, but also his collegiate accomplishments. Bradford, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, has built himself a love/hate relationship here in St. Louis. Things started very well for Bradford in a Ram uniform. However, injuries ultimately forced the team to go in another direction.

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Again, the rankings took college accomplishments into account when deciding where players fell in the countdown, and Bradford had himself quite the college tenure. He wouldn’t have won himself one of the most coveted trophies in all of sports had he not. Bradford was only the second Sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy, after Tim Tebow, and would reach the BCS National Title game the same year. He would lose his title opportunity though in a matchup against Tebow and the Florida Gators, but choose to play another year at Oklahoma. Unfortunately, Bradford was almost non-existent on the football field in 2009 due to a rash of injuries.

If you have some time, check out the list. Bradford doesn’t beat out any real notable names through the first 12 selections. If you consider the unproven commodities of Johnny Manziel in Cleveland, Jameis Winston in Tampa Bay and Marcus Mariota, who is yet to even sign his first pro deal, in Tennessee to be notable players than maybe. After that you are stretching for guys like Troy Smith and Eric Couch (also taken by the Rams in 2002 in the 3^rd Rd.)

Jun 17, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) walks onto the field during minicamp at The NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis made the right decision in 2010 when they drafted Bradford first overall. In need of a quarterback, and having no real options to move down from the top of the heap the Rams went with the best prospect available. If Bradford’s last season at Oklahoma was a precursor for anything, it would be his inability to stay healthy. Injuries would be the unraveling of his time with the Rams. Bradford would start every game under center in his first two years in gold and blue. He was even named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, but two major knee injuries was enough to sour the relationship.

Bradford was traded to the Eagles earlier this year in one of the biggest moves of the offseason. The Rams received, who they hope will be a more permanent fixture at quarterback, Nick Foles and a conditional draft pick. All depending on how much Bradford plays the Rams could pick up a pick as high as the second round. With the Rams using a fifth round pick in this weeks supplemental draft, they will be forced to forfeit their corresponding pick in next years NFL draft. That leaves St. Louis with five draft picks, the lowest total of all 32 teams. The position of the Bradford pick will prove to be important. Once again, a significant portion of the Rams future may be determined by Bradford’s play even though he now calls home a stadium that resides 886 miles away.