Will Sam Bradford Return To The Rams?

Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams injured quarterback Sam Bradford against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams injured quarterback Sam Bradford against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Rams 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There is no question that the Los Angeles Rams will be in dire need of a quarterback this offseason. If the Rams are going to make any improvements on the offensive side of the ball and given what Nick Foles and Case Keenum showed last season, they aren’t the answer.

Keenum did post a 3-2 record as a starter and was two field goals away from going 5-0, and Foles did post wins against the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, but it was moreso in spite of them rather than because of them.

At the end of the day, close only counts in horseshoes and dynamite. The fact of the matter is and the tape shows, Foles and Keenum were below average, if not often terrible quarterbacks. If this is an offense that wants to go anywhere, they are going to need to find somebody else.

Whether that be in free agency or the draft, the answer is yet to be determined as there is a lot of offseason left to happen. However, one scenario that would be interesting would be bringing back former Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.

ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan voiced on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia said that he “would be stunned” if the Eagles brought back Bradford to a long-term extension. Here’s what Caplan had to say:

"“Because we don’t know who will be running personnel and we don’t know how much that person, who will be heavily involved, we don’t how much expertise he has on the draft and free-agency, it’s hard to answer that question. If the Eagles aren’t totally sure about the top three quarterbacks, because they have to make a decision way before that on the franchise tag, use the franchise tag. And you keep him for one year. Bradford played really well the last six games, and that was with a bad offensive-line, that was with an inconsistent running-game and he was playing with a bad shoulder. It’s, I don’t want to say impossible, but it’s going to be extremely difficult to go past one year, because his agent Tom Condon is a smart guy. We’ll get in, the next time we are on, about the contracts and where I think that number will go. $25 million is what my colleague Jim Trotter said, but he’s not going to get that. But Condon always goes with one number and he never moves off of it, so that’s a problem.”“It’s (using the franchise-tag) the only one or he walks, that’s the way I see it. I will be stunned if they get an extension done. A long-term deal, stunned.”"

Imagine the Rams getting both Bradford, who they traded away, and the Eagles’ 2016 second round pick. The one issue here, and it’s a big one, is the relationship between the Rams and Bradford. There is no doubt Fisher likes Bradford’s ability, but after trading him away, the bridge between the two sides has likely burned down.

The Rams drafted Bradford with the number one overall pick in 2010 and he was a big reason for Fisher coming to the franchise. After two torn ACL’s the team decided to part ways and traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Moving to L.A. is going to bring a lot of pressure for the Rams to succeed and for them to find a franchise quarterback. There are very few people, if any, would would consider Keenum or Foles a franchise quarterback.

This scenario probably isn’t extremely likely, but in today’s NFL, it’s not something to rule out completely. With Bradford hitting the free agent market, there will be a lot of interest, but the question will be whether or not teams are willing to pay Bradford the type of money that he will demand. The Rams have $33-million in open cap space according to Over The Cap, so they could afford him.

Also something to note that Pat Shurmur, a coach Bradford has worked with a lot in the NFL, could end up with the Rams as he interviewed for the passing game coordinator position.

This is an unlikely, but not impossible scenario and it is something to think about. The team is in  need of a quarterback, and the Rams are a familiar atmosphere for Bradford. Plus, if it’s one coach that likes to troll other teams on past trades, it’s Jeff Fisher. Holding Sam Bradford plus the Eagles’ second round pick would do just that.

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