Now before you read this, I need you to understand something. I’m not writing this because I think the Rams shouldn’t have drafted Bradford. At the time of the 2010 NFL Draft, the Rams desperately needed a franchise quarterback. Then, I completely agreed with the Rams drafting quarterback Sam Bradford and best believe I was on the Sam Bradford hype train. Just as the rest of Rams Nation, after the 2010 season where Bradford took a team who was 1-15 in 2009, and turned them into a 7-9 team who was one win away from making the playoffs; I was still big on Bradford and had big expectations for the future. But with all of the injuries that came to Bradford, those expectations were soon gone. This article is just for fun and to see what could’ve happened in the 2010 Draft, had the Rams not drafted Bradford and/or some other late round picks.
#1 Overall Pick Selection: QB Sam Bradford. Pro Bowls: 0 , All-Pro Selections: 0 , played in 49 of 80 possible games.
Now let’s supposed then general manager Billy Devaney pulled a Les Snead-esque type trade and moved down in the draft and received some extra picks. Here are some of the players the Rams could have selected:
DT Ndamukong Suh (Lions, Dolphins), now a four time Pro Bowler, four time First Team All-Pro, and former AP Rookie of the Year.
DT Gerald McCoy (Buccaneers), now a three time Pro Bowler, one time First Team All-Pro, and was Second Team All-Pro in 2014.
OT Trent Williams (Redskins), has made it to the Pro Bowl in each of his last three seasons and has only missed nine games in his five year career (played in 71 of possible 80 games).
Dec 7, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins tackle Trent Williams (71) blocks against the St. Louis Rams at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
S Eric Berry (Chiefs), now a three time Pro Bowler, and one time First Team All-Pro.
CB Joe Haden (Browns), has made Pro Bowl in each of his last two seasons and was Second Team All-Pro in 2013. In 75 career games, Haden has racked up 16 interceptions and four forced fumbles.
S Earl Thomas (Seahawks), has made the Pro Bowl each of the last four seasons, also has been First Team All-Pro each of the last three seasons.
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks safety Earl Thomas (29) during Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Broncos 43-8. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
G Mike Iupati (49ers, Cardinals), has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons and was First Team All-Pro in 2012. He also started 75 of possible 80 games in his career.
C/G Maurkice Pouncey (Steelers), has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons, is a two time First Team All-Pro and two-time Second Team All-Pro.
WR Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, and has been Second Team All-Pro in each of the last two seasons.
Thomas is one of more reliable No.1 receivers in the NFL. Photo via Getty Images.
WR Dez Bryant (Cowboys), has made the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons and was First Team All-Pro in 2014.
With the first pick in the second round, the Rams selected OL Rodger Saffold, which is by no means a bad pick, as he is one of only two players from the 2010 Draft that the Rams selected that are still on the Rams roster in 2015 (the other is Eugene Sims). The Rams had 11 total picks. Here’s a list of players that the Rams could have selected other than Saffold:
S T.J. Ward
TE Rob Gronkowski
Rob Gronkowski is arguably the best TE in the NFL. Photo via USA Today.
OT Zane Beadles
LB Daryl Washington
WR Golden Tate
All of these players have made the Pro Bowl at least once.
In the third round, the Rams selected CB Jerome Murphy, who is no longer on the team. Here are other notable third round picks taken after Murphy:
WR Emmanuel Sanders
Sanders proved to be an integral part to the Broncos offense in 2014. Photo by Justin Edmonds.
LB NaVarro Bowman
TE Jimmy Graham
In the fourth round, the Rams selected WR Mardy Gilyard, who also is not with the team anymore. Here are some of the fourth round picks taken after Gilyard:
CB Alterraun Verner
DT Geno Atkins
Both are/were Pro Bowlers
In the fifth round, the Ramd drafted TE Michael Hoomanawanui. He is no longer with the Rams but unlike Murphy and Gilyard, he is still in the NFL, currently with the Patriots. Here are other players the Rams could have selected:
S Kam Chancellor
WR Riley Cooper
In the sixth round, the Rams selected another TE, this time Fendi Onobun. Do we really have to keep repeating this? You already know he isn’t with the team anymore. Instead of taking him, the Rams could have had:
WR Antonio Brown
Brown had the best season of any other WR in the NFL in 2014 (129 receptions for 1,698 yards and 13 touchdowns). Photo via Don McPeak.
DE Greg Hardy
The Rams had a second sixth round pick and they selected Eugene Sims.
In the seventh round, with the next to last pick in the draft, the Rams selected LB Josh Hull. Instead of him, the Rams could have selected players who later went undrafted including:
WR Victor Cruz
CB Sam Shields
Shields has started 28 of 32 games for the Packers over the last two seasons. Photo via Kirby Lee.
Obviously, you can’t expect a GM to draft a future Pro Bowler in every single round of a draft but when looking back on the 2010 NFL Draft, it really makes you think what if? The Rams had 11 total selections. Two of those players are still on the team today and neither of them has made Pro Bowls. But they are key contributors. That’s Billy Devaney drafting for you. But it makes you really think what would happen if Les Snead were GM at this time in 2010.
