Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis Rams: Will Trade Get Sam Bradford Back on Track?

With the news that Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Lloyd is headed to the St. Louis Rams, it can only mean good things for quarterback Sam Bradford.

Bradford has struggled this season, which is more than evident from the Rams' 0-5 record. While much of his issues are attributable to a weak offensive line, other problems stem directly from the lack of reliable receiving targets for the otherwise talented quarterback.

So far in 2011, Bradford has completed an average of just 52.8 percent of his passes, going 103-for-195, for 1,170 yards, three touchdowns, two interceptions and four lost fumbles. Coming off of the bye, he had his best game of the season against the Green Bay Packers, completing 28 passes for 321 yards and an interception.

He's been hamstrung by a number of crucial drops by de facto No. 1 receiver Mike Sims-Walker, who has taken over the role usually held by Danny Amendola, out for the season with injury. Backing up Sims-Walker are Denario Alexander and Brandon Gibson, with the injured Mark Clayton on track to return to the team in Week 8.

Without Amendola and Clayton, the Rams' aerial game has clearly suffered, and the addition of Lloyd should give the team a needed boost. Lloyd's presence in Denver has everything to do with former Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, now the offensive coordinator in St. Louis.

Not only is Lloyd familiar with McDaniels' system, he's thrived in it; last season, he had a career-best 77 catches for 1,448 yards and 11 touchdowns. He should have little trouble getting up to speed with the team and making an immediate contribution.

The Rams can certainly use all the help they can get to improve their passing game. The addition of Lloyd should be helpful to the team and to Bradford. Of all the things St. Louis needed immediately, a veteran, talented receiver is easily the first priority.

Now that they've got him, they are in much better shape in their pursuit to right their sinking ship. Lloyd needed out of John Fox's run-first Denver offense; shipping him back to McDaniels to a system that directly plays to his strengths is exactly what Lloyd—and, in turn, Bradford—needs.