It was hardly a surprise: the Rams used their No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft to select Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford. Yes, St. Louis has many holes to fill on their team -- remember, this is a team with just six wins in the past three seasons, combined -- but none was bigger than getting a quarterback.
Rams Blog Reaction: Bradford The Smart, Obvious Pick, But Still Risky
Our Rams blog, Turf Show Times, says it was indeed the obvious and smart pick, but that doesn’t mean it is not without risks (see: a very expensive contract).
There will be plenty of time down the road to discuss the contract, a contract that’s likely to stand as a record if the players union allows rookie contract to be sacrificed in the name of forging a new CBA...as well they should.
Drafting anyone with the first overall pick and the kind of contract it requires automatically makes it a risk; the stakes are just too high. That’s especially true with a QB. Lots of people will dislike this pick for that basis alone. And passing up a player regarded as the next great defensive tackle, and a much safer investment, stings a lot of folks. The difference is the ceiling, and the Rams need to be reaching as sky high as they possibly can given the disrepair the franchise was in when Billy Devaney took the reigns as GM.
The Rams went with the safer pick last year, drafting OT Jason Smith. It was the smart pick. They needed to rebuild the offensive line. Now, they have to take the next logical step, and a much riskier one.
Like the pick or not, the guy has to succeed in order for the Rams to win again.
Welcome aboard Sam Bradford. You’ve got a big job on your hands. We’re pulling for you.
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