The NFL trade market for QBs is heating up with Ryan Mallett moving and Mark Sanchez remains a target with the Eagles, as the St. Louis Rams are trying to replace Sam Bradford after his season ending injury, while the San Francisco 49ers also could be interested in upgrading at the backup quarterback position and this comes as STL claimed Case Keenum off waivers following his release from the Houston Texans.
According to ESPN.com, the Rams have an interest in Sanchez as long as the Eagles don't ask for a king's ransom for him, while the 49ers also could be interested after the way Blaine Gabbert struggled in the preseason. Pro Football Talk reports that the Rams claimed Case Keenum after he was waived by the Texans and that came after the long expected trade with the Patriots for Ryan Mallett. The Rams are ready to go with Shaun Hill to start the season, but the team doesn't have much hope with him under center compared with Bradford.
The move with Sanchez makes sense, as he has plenty of starting experience in the NFL and he also had some of his best seasons with the Rams' current offensive coordinator. Sanchez worked with Brian Schottenheimer in NY and now he is in STL and it would make a ton of sense to bring in Sanchez if the team can. Pro Football Talk reported that the Eagles and Sanchez are happy with the situation they are in, but if Week 1 goes by and the Rams look terrible, expect at least a phone call or two to head that way.
USA Today reports that Sanchez is not looking to be traded out of Philly and that is due to the fact that he is comfortable in the Chip Kelly offense. Sanchez was looking for a fresh start and he has found it and if Nick Foles gets injured, it could be Sanchez starting in Philly anyway. Sanchez has been up and down through his career and now with a starting job a possibility in St. Louis, he is not looking to get out of Philly at this time. Sanchez was at his best while working with Schottenheimer and while it was the Jets personnel that failed him later on, it also came at the same time as the split with Schottenheimer.
Sanchez has been very strong through the preseason and in three games leading up to the finals week, he had over 280 yards passing and had completed over 80 percent of his passes with two TDs and an interception. While the preseason isn't always the best measurement of what a QB can do, the results clearly were promising for Sanchez. Hill is 34 years old and doesn't have much of a starting resume, while the team also has Austin Davis on the roster with Keenum now.
Bradford went down in the preseason and the injury to his knee was on the same leg as he had last season. Bradford had ACL surgery last year and was on his way back and now he will be out for the season again with another injury. Bradford has fought the injury bug for the bulk of his career and now he will be out again and that makes it 49 games over the past five years that he has missed.
