Tom Savage, Kelvin Benjamin have interest from St. Louis Rams
Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Tom Savage (7) during the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Rams signed a top-notch backup for Sam Bradford this offseason after adding former Detroit Lions second-string QB Shaun Hill, and he’s a steady presence holding the clipboard behind the starter. Austin Davis is currently the Rams third-string quarterback, but that could change if the Rams decide to draft a backup quarterback later on in this year’s draft and groom him. I believe in Bradford, but there’s a chance he could bust out this season, and this would also make it more appealing for the Rams to try and develop someone.
Anyway, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jim Thomas reports the Rams have some level of interest in Pittsburgh Panthers quarterback Tom Savage and are considering giving him a “top 30 workout” and a private visit on top of that. Savage was once viewed as a potential sleeper by a few analysts, and now the Savage bandwagon has grown now that more people are fawning over his arm strength. A likely mid-round pick, Savage could be selected as high as the second round, but I think that’s crazy talk. He isn’t accurate enough, poised enough, or a good enough decision-maker to be anything more than a mid-round flier. His physical tools make him intriguing, but his best fit would be with an organization like the Rams where he would be a project as a backup quarterback.
Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin also has interest from the Rams, as Thomas reports that he took a pre-draft visit with the team yesterday. Benjamin has significant interest around the league, as the potential first-round pick has been linked to the New England Patriots and New York Jets. He has excellent size and is an explosive player with ridiculous athleticism, but he’s also very inconsistent due to below-average hands and inconsistent route-running. In a deep wide receiver class, Benjamin is too boom-or-bust to warrant a first-round pick, but the Rams could take him in the second round if they can’t pull Mike Evans- or another top wideout- in the first.