Sam Bradford Has the Potential to Be a Star for the St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger wore out his welcome with an unassuming personality and average play. Kyle Boller and Keith Null proved that they are not the answers for the future.

So what the St. Louis Rams are looking for, what the franchise needs in order to get back to being a viable contender in the National Football League, is a quarterback that will become the face of the team.

Sam Bradford can be that guy.

With a strikingly accurate arm, and a 6'4" frame that now carries 236 lbs—15 pounds heavier than his college playing weight—Bradford is likely to be the No. 1 pick in Thursday's first round of the NFL draft.

While St. Louis General Manager Billy Devaney said Tuesday that he has not yet made a decision, all signs point to Bradford being the choice.

The Rams released Bulger earlier this month and Boller signed with Oakland. This leaves only Null, second-year QB Mike Reilly (who has not played a down in the NFL), and veteran journeyman A.J. Feeley (whom the Rams signed this offseason) as their current quarterbacks.

Without a true No. 1 receiver, the prospect of Feeley, who has played in only 23 games over a 10 year career with four teams, throwing to a group led by Donnie Avery doesn't exactly strike fear into opposing defensive coordinators.

Despite Tuesday's trade of defensive tackle Adam Carriker (the 13th pick by the Rams in the 2007 draft) to Washington, and the fact that Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh may have an instant impact, the buzz surrounding a quarterback cannot be equaled.

Suh is regarded by most as the best player in the draft, but because of Carriker's bust, some fans—right or wrong—are not sold on the idea of selecting another defensive lineman from Nebraska. What those same fans know is that St. Louis needs a franchise quarterback. Bradford is considered this year's best.

While Bradford is the overwhelming favorite to be the first player selected Thursday night, Devaney said Tuesday that the club is in negotiations with several players, but wouldn't specify how many.

"There's been talk with a number," Devaney said during the Rams pre-draft press conference at Rams Park. "I don't want to say how deep it's been, but there has been contact with a numbers of players."

Devaney later revealed that the club is targeting four players for the top pick—Bradford, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, and the top two defensive tackles—Suh and Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy.

"They were the candidates we started out with, and they've been kind of the focus since then," Devaney said.

"At the end of the day, it's just about Week One, it's not about Week Eight, we've got to make the best decision. Obviously this year is important and we recognize that, but bring in the best player for future years also," Devaney said. "Who's going to have the greatest impact for the St. Louis Rams? It's not just about Week One of this year."

To be better right away, Suh would be the choice. But if Devaney wants to grab this draft's franchise quarterback, then Bradford has to be the guy.