Wes Welker to the Rams: What Makes it So Great

Oct 19, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker (83) during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Wes Welker will give the Rams and its fans hope.

I don’t know about you, but whenever the Rams sign a player that has been on successful team, I get excited. There just something about being a fan of a mediocre and irrelevant team over the years that makes such signings thrilling. Most recently, linebacker Akeem Ayers was a Super Bowl XLIX champion with the New England Patriots before he signed with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent. Although Ayers has performed well in his debut season as a Ram, he isn’t as big of a name as Wes Welker.

Wes Welker is a five-time Pro Bowler. Wes Welker positively changed the slot receiver position in the modern era. Wes Welker might be in the Hall of Fame one day. Wes Welker, Wes Welker, Wes Welker. It’s a name that almost every NFL fan recognizes.

Honestly, how surprised were you when the Rams signed Wes Welker? The man has been part of winning teams since 2007, and he decides to sign unto a team that has failed to record more than 8 wins in a season since 2003? He decision may have been out of desperation due his status as a free agent in the middle of a season, but he believes that the Rams do have potential.

"“Obviously, they have a great team… great running back, great defense… I think Nick [Foles] is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the league… I was excited about the opportunity to get with the Rams.” –Wes Welker, wide receiver of the St. Louis Rams"

Welker will not be the player he once was with the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos. He has a lot of wear and tear on his body over the years and is well past his prime as a football player. However, Wes Welker will give the Rams fans some hope that the Rams can actually make the playoffs.

Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher watches play during the first half against the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

While most fans have been busy grabbing Todd Gurley jerseys, people will start purchasing Wes Welker’s no. 19 jersey when it becomes available. Fisher finally got a big-name player on the free agent market this year, not just another former Tennessee Titan. Increased jersey sales are the natural consequence of such an action.

The signing of Wes Welker was a statement by Jeff Fisher and his St. Louis Rams. Just like the fans, they are fed up with the “maybe next year” mentality. The Rams have a Super Bowl-caliber defense and offensive pieces that can be potentially elite. It’s time to become a playoff contender, something the Ram have failed to be since 2004.

Making Wes Welker part of the team is definitely a risk, but the Rams have been too mediocre to not take such risks. If absolutely everything falls into place, Wes Welker might be a part of the puzzle that St. Louis has been missing to finally make the playoffs after a decade-long drought.

Will Wes Welker be active and ready to play in Week 9? We’ll see when the Chicago Bears (3-5) visit the St. Louis Rams (4-4) at the Edward Jones Dome this Sunday! What are your thoughts on the Rams signing Wes Welker?