Rams GM admits Foles-Bradford trade put long-term QB situation at risk
Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead admits the franchise was aware that trading Sam Bradford for Nick Foles was risky in terms of the team's long-term quarterback situation.
Despite vociferously denying the team was interested in moving Bradford leading up to the eventual trade, Snead says the team wasn't going to pull the trigger on a deal until teams like the Eagles kept calling.
"And initially you're like, 'Hey, we haven't really thought of (trading Bradford),'" Snead said on FOX Sports' "The Peter Schrager Podcast." "Who's the answer after him? We're really looking to try to get something done contractually. Those few teams kept calling and calling, now we're talking about it internally. Eventually, we made the move. You very rarely see starting quarterbacks swapped. One of the reasons for us was it helped us from a financial standpoint."
Once the Eagles emerged as a candidate, the Rams' priority became getting enough compensation to mitigate the risks of a potential Foles flop, which ended up happening in year one.
"We also knew grabbing that extra second-round pick, whoever our quarterback was going to be last year, might not work out, so it would be time to start looking again," Snead said. "We knew by getting that extra second-round pick it would give us the ability to maneuver more in the next draft."
The Rams had enough assets to move up and grab the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, selecting new franchise quarterback Jared Goff.
The revelation is notable because it was unknown until now if the Rams actually viewed Foles as a quarterback who was on par with Bradford. The gamble looks like it paid off, but it will all depend on Goff's development.
- With h/t to NFL.com