The 2015 NFL regular season is over, and that means it's time for some draft analysis with more real context, as the top 20 picks are now set. Picking No. 15 overall will be the St. Louis -- err -- Los Angeles Rams (sorry, we all have to get used to saying that again), and one thing we undoubtedly know they need is a quarterback. With Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff likely off the board at this point, they may have the diamond in the rough in North Dakota State (NDSU) QB Carson Wentz.
As we all know, the Rams have been struggling mightily for quite some time, almost since the Greatest Show On Turf with Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and the rest of them.
The poor performance over the past decade or so has led to shoddy attendance and sales, and, ultimately, a move back to Los Angeles. That's been the Rams' big news since the end of the season, and it's a plan that's been in place for quite some time.
Coincidentally, the move both times was due to a lack of profitability from their location. Of course, the original move from Los Angeles to St. Louis was more because the organization couldn't get its own stadium. Playing at the Coliseum in L.A. was a major problem, as it was hard to sell out that enormous of a stadium, and, therefore, TV blackouts of games occurred, and it just didn't make sense. That won't happen again, as this time around they are getting their own stadium and blackouts in the NFL are a thing of the past.
That said, the performance on the field won't get better just because of a move to L.A. and a brand-spanking new stadium. General manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher need to do a better job building this team, and right now, that has to start with a new quarterback.
As mentioned, the top two guys in Goff and Lynch will be gone by this point, and trading up is a risky proposition. Instead, they should make the right move here, and that's to take Carson Wentz.
Now, many will argue that taking an FCS quarterback is an even bigger risk than trading up for a quarterback or just rolling with Nick Foles or Case Keenum. But that couldn't be further from the truth.
Both the FCS and FBS are Division-I football. Every year, we see FCS schools play some FBS programs pretty tightly, if not winning outright. And we see some even win their way into the FBS -- such as Georgia Southern. Truly, a lot of these guys are simply overlooked coming out of high school at only 17-18 years old, and that's exactly what happened with Wentz.
More specifically, Wentz was overlooked because he decided to switch from his high school position of wide receiver to quarterback. Obviously, that has worked out very well for him, as well as the top FCS program in the nation -- NDSU.
Wentz has turned into a stunning quarterback prospect. Labeled a dark horse coming into the year, he's no longer that. There are many analysts out there projecting him to be a first-round talent, especially if he plays well in the Senior Bowl, combine, etc. this offseason.
Being a former receiver, his athletic ability is top-notch for a quarterback. He moves extremely well, and is dangerous on the run, both taking off and making a throw from an unbalanced position. With the limited experience obviously comes some flaws, but a few years more of playing plus NFL coaching will get him ready. What can't or doesn't need to be taught is his arm talent, mobility and size -- all of which range from being solid to elite.
He doesn't have the biggest arm out there -- but it's certainly good enough. He can make plenty of throws, and his short to intermediate game is excellent as far as accuracy is concerned. Couple that with his mobility, and his ceiling is fantastic.
If something is to separate him from the pack, it's the fact that he's 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds. Size is in such demand at the NFL level, and his size is elite. Just like Joe Flacco -- who also came from FCS program Delaware -- Wentz stands tall and arguably has even more talent than his counterpart.
Ultimately, if coached properly and given the time to develop, Wentz has the potential to be Los Angeles' starting quarterback for quite some time, and take the Rams to the next level as they move into the new stadium in a couple of years.
