Rams' epic quest for rookie QB could lead team to one of these five up-and-comers
ST. LOUIS -- The Rams have made two things clear regarding their quarterback situation heading into the 2015 season.
Sam Bradford, barring an unexpected setback, will have the inside track to be St. Louis' starter, and a new face will join him in practice as another option. It's possible the Rams could find someone after the free agency period begins March 10, but considering the limited options there, a rookie looks like the better choice.
Everyone knows about Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota, the only two surefire first-round prospects in a weak class of quarterbacks. Although it's possible Winston could drop due to off-field concerns, the Rams aren't likely to have a shot at either of them with the No. 10 pick.
With that in mind, and assuming St. Louis won't make a risky move to trade up, let's look at the top five quarterbacks the Rams could be eyeing this May. All of them likely need at least a year to develop and should still be available when St. Louis makes its pick in the second round, or later, in most cases.
Brett Hundley, UCLA
Some scouts and analysts believe one other quarterback could sneak into the first round, if a team with a later pick decides to turn him into a project.
Hundley benefited from a spread attack at UCLA, where he threw for 3,155 yards, 22 touchdowns and five interceptions as a junior. His stock might have dropped since last season, though that might say more about the Browns' scouting department than him.
A 4.63 40-yard dash and one of the best shuttle run times in recent years at last week's NFL Scouting Combine helped Hundley demonstrate his impressive athletic ability, where observers also took note of his size -- 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds. Toughness and mobility are two valuable assets that could help offset some of his other weaknesses.
"You might take a flier on somebody like Brett Hundley in the second round because he's mobile and obviously showed he can take a hit because of (UCLA's) offensive line," said Dan Shonka, Ourlads' general manager and national scout.
The Bruins ranked last in the Pac-12 with 41 sacks allowed, and it's a little concerning that Hundley finished last in the conference with a miserable 32.6 percent completion rate while scrambling. He completed two-thirds of his passes overall, but most of those came on quick, short throws in an offense heavy on play-action.
That lack of experience with a pro offense would make Hundley a big gamble for the Rams, but the tools appear to be there. NFL Network's Mike Mayock says Hundley doesn't have good pocket awareness, and he'd almost certainly need a year or more to develop at the next level.
Bryce Petty, Baylor
The Big 12's best quarterback likely saw his stock rise with an impressive performance at the Combine.
That might be enough to make him the third-best QB in the draft after an up-and-down, injury-plagued senior season. Petty battled a back injury and concussion issues to lead Baylor to an 11-2 record while throwing for 3,855 yards and 29 touchdowns with seven interceptions, despite sitting out a game against Northwestern State.
Scouts like Petty's arm and accuracy to go along with his 6-3, 230-pound frame, and he surprised many by showing above-average athleticism. Solid form gives him the ability to throw the ball just about anywhere on the field.
As always with Baylor quarterbacks, the Rams and others must determine how much Petty benefited from the system and whether his skills will translate to the NFL. It's tough to see him as an immediate impact player, but if he can learn to pass out of the pocket and go through his progressions, he could have potential as a starter down the road.
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Garrett Grayson, Colorado State
This year's best, lesser-known dark horse quarterback prospect has been a Ram for the past four years.
Grayson set a new single-season school record with 4,006 passing yards as a senior at Colorado State. The Mountain West Player of the Year also ranked eighth in FBS with 32 touchdowns to go with seven interceptions.
A hamstring injury kept him out of drills at the Combine, though he did perform in front of scouts at the Senior Bowl. They like his arm strength and mechanics, as well as his decent size (6-2, 213).
Unlike Hundley and Petty, Grayson played in something similar to a pro-style offense in college, which should work to his advantage. He needs some polish and Mayock projects Grayson as an NFL backup, but he could be an interesting sleeper pick for the Rams in the middle rounds.
Sean Mannion, Oregon State
A mediocre team and some brighter stars at quarterback in the Pac-12 might have limited attention for Mannion.
He owns 18 passing records at Oregon State, where he compiled 3,164 passing yards and lost six of his last seven games in his fourth and final season as a starter. The tallest quarterback invited to the Combine (6-6, 229), he threw only 15 touchdowns to go along with eight interceptions as a senior.
He has the arm -- if not always the accuracy -- to thrive in the NFL, as well as plenty of experience with a pro-style offense. Scouts praise his vision and ability to read defenses, plus three years as a team captain shows strong leadership skills.
He had the slowest 40-yard dash time among quarterbacks at the Combine, underscoring a lack of mobility, and scouts are worried about his footwork and poise under pressure. His stock has fallen considerably in the past year, and most projections see him going no earlier than the fourth round.
Shane Carden, East Carolina
If numbers were the only thing that mattered, Carden would have a strong case to be one of this draft's best quarterbacks.
As a senior, the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year threw for 4,736 yards and 30 touchdowns, second in all of FBS to Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty. At 6-2 and 218 pounds, he has the size to be an NFL quarterback and he holds ECU records for passing yards and touchdowns in a career.
However, a closer look shows a weak arm, average athleticism and an awkward throwing motion for the NCAA leader in pass attempts in 2014. He also struggled at the end of the season in East Carolina's up-tempo spread offense, throwing four interceptions while losing the final two games of his collegiate career.
Carden has spent some time working with new Rams quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke, so they should have a good idea of his abilities and potential. He grades high in intelligence and could be a good pick if St. Louis decides to take a developmental quarterback in the late rounds, as it did with Garrett Gilbert last season.
St. Louis had formal interviews in Indianapolis with Hundley, Petty and Mannion. One of them could be the first quarterback drafted by the Rams to make the 53-man roster since Bradford's rookie season, though Shaun Hill and Austin Davis may also return to compete for backup roles.
You can follow Luke Thompson on Twitter at @FS_LukeT or email him at lukegthompson87@gmail.com.
