St. Louis Rams: Latest Combine News and Rumors

The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off Tuesday, February 17, and there are several exciting elements to look forward to when it comes to the St. Louis Rams. 

The combine features the top collegiate talent from around the nation. The players will go through the initial weigh-in, interviews with teams and the various athletic events. 

General manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher will eye the talent and get a feel for the strengths and weaknesses of the class. They'll have a checklist of things to look for and decide which players fit the Rams' future plans. 

Fans lack the behind-the-scenes access that NFL personnel enjoy, but we can still appreciate the constant flow of rumors and information that makes the combine a thrilling annual event. 

In fact, even pre-combine rumors can alter the way we approach the event and determine which players we watch. Here are several pre-combine rumors that could have an impact on the Rams. 

LM Otero/Associated Press

Reported Interest in Sam Bradford from High-Drafting Teams is Beneficial

According to Bleacher Report NFL Insider Jason Cole, the teams at the top of the draft would rather have Sam Bradford and his experience over the top quarterback prospects of this class. 

St. Louis is in an excellent position to take advantage of this news, assuming it's true. The Rams obviously have better insight into the skills, potential and health of Bradford than any other team in the league, and that insider knowledge can be used to solve the quarterback dilemma. 

First, the Rams will have to use the combine to conduct thorough and extensive interviews with the top two quarterback prospects of the class—Oregon's Marcus Mariota and Florida State's Jameis Winston—and decide if either player is an exciting fit for the offense. 

If so, the Rams can put up Bradford and the No. 10 pick as compensation, trade up with a team such as Tampa Bay, and secure the top quarterback of this draft. 

Is that a wise decision? Maybe not. But it's the front office's job to determine if Bradford is the future. 

No other team is more knowledgeable of Bradford's situation that the Rams. If they pull the trigger on a move like this, it's because the Rams have little faith in Bradford's ability to bounce back, and they'd know better than anyone else. 

However, this latest news might pave the way for an opportunity to draft one of the top quarterbacks without giving up Bradford. If teams are down on Mariota and Winston, it's certainly not out of the question for either player to take a tumble to No. 10 overall. That would allow the Rams to draft a top passer without giving up additional compensation. 

Either way, the predraft performances of Mariota and Winston should have a significant impact on how the Rams construct their draft-day strategy. At the very least, it'd be wise to follow the progress of the two quarterbacks throughout the combine. 

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Strong Wide Receiver Class Could Force Rams to Rule Out Position in Round 1

I've discussed Alabama's Amari Cooper and Oklahoma's Dorial Green-Beckham quite often since the end of the season, but this is far from a two-receiver class. 

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com released his pre-combine big board featuring his top 50 overall players. He has eight total wide receivers in his top 50, including four in the top 20. 

If the top receivers all have a strong showing at the combine, the Rams will be in a prime position to find a future No. 1 receiver in the opening rounds. If St. Louis adopts a true "best player available" strategy, there's a good chance that best available talent with the first- or second-round pick could be a wideout. 

Even if Cooper and Green-Beckham are long gone at No. 10, there are other intriguing options available. Jeremiah has Louisville's DeVante Parker and West Virginia's Kevin White listed in the top 20, and both receivers have No. 1 potential. 

Lower on the list is Arizona State's Jaelen Strong. Strong is a physical monster and a proven playmaker, and he might even slip to Round 2. If the Rams can add a top-10 offensive lineman and Strong in the first two rounds, that would be a phenomenal start to the draft. 

The current Rams receivers have great potential, but this class is so strong that it'll be impossible to write off the position completely. The St. Louis receivers could break out soon, but we certainly haven't seen enough production out of the current players to justify ignoring the position in the draft. 

You can complain about the lack of quarterback production or the underwhelming offensive line, but the Rams' playmakers haven't been getting it done in recent years. If a playmaker falls into St. Louis' lap, regardless of the position, there's no good excuse for passing on him.

David Richard/Associated Press

Recent Show of Support for Bradford Could Tip Draft Hand

The Rams recently held an introductory press conference to announce the team's new offensive coordinator, Frank Cignetti, who has served with the team since 2012 as the quarterback coach. 

According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the team consulted Bradford on the decision and took his input seriously. Fisher said: 

"

"I had a lengthy discussion with Sam, yes, prior to making the decision. It was part of the information gathering process. Sam was very forthcoming. He had some firm opinions. I really enjoyed and appreciated his input.”

So would Cignetti have been promoted to coordinator (after three seasons as QB coach) if Bradford had voiced objections?

“We wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” Fisher replied.

"

This desire to get Bradford's approval could mean everything or nothing. Dissecting predraft comments can be dicey. 

On one hand, the comments suggest that the team values Bradford's opinion because he's the future quarterback for this team. That doesn't mean the Rams won't pursue a strong contingency plan, but it does hint that perhaps the team won't dump heavy resources into finding a new passer.

If that's the case, then you should probably keep your eye on offensive lineman throughout the combine. If Bradford is truly the undisputed 2015 starter, there's absolutely no question that the Rams will invest that No. 10 pick in a lineman.

However, don't buy into the comments too much. Smokescreens are common enough before the draft. And just because the team values Bradford's input doesn't necessarily indicate that it's willing to gamble on his health and call off the search for new quarterbacks. 

More than likely, the team is planning on Bradford in 2015 until an opportunity presents itself, and that's the smart path to take. 

Counting on a healthy Bradford in 2015 is beyond risky, but it's a possibility the Rams must embrace in case there are no other options.