by By Jim Thomas ¿ jthomas@post-dispatch.com , St. Louis Post-Dispatch

"What Marc showed me and us was that he's a good decision-maker, he's a very accurate passer, and he gets the ball out on time," offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said after the Rams' first minicamp two weeks ago. "Those are all things that are primary to being a good quarterback."

Besides, there are financial reasons to keep Bulger around in '09. The potential cap hit makes it almost impossible to trade or release Bulger this offseason. If Bulger is traded, there's $8 million of "dead" money - money that counts against the cap for a player no longer on the roster. That figure grows to $11 million if Bulger is cut, because $3 million of his 2009 base salary is guaranteed.

But the dynamic changes in 2010, when the Rams actually would realize a net cap savings by trading or releasing the two-time Pro Bowler. It seems clear that if Bulger makes it three subpar seasons in a row, he might have to prove himself to a new set of coaches ... in a new town after '09.

So the new regime of coach Steve Spagnuolo could hedge its bets at the position by taking a so-called quarterback of the future in the upcoming draft. Three quarterback prospects made pre-draft visits to Rams Park earlier this week: Southern California's Mark Sanchez, Fresno State's Thomas Brandstater, and Sam Houston State's Rhett Bomar. A scheduled visit by Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman was cancelled.

Flush off a stellar showing in the Rose Bowl, Sanchez's stock has soared during the offseason. His willingness to work out at the NFL Scouting Combine and USC's pro day helped his cause. But with so many other needs at other positions, would the Rams really consider using a No. 2 overall pick on Sanchez?

"You know what? Everything's possible," Rams general manager Billy Devaney said. "Stafford and Sanchez, they've got a chance to be Pro Bowl-type quarterbacks - they're that good. So if you're in position to get one of those guys, it makes you think."

Stafford being Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford, who's widely projected as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft to the Detroit Lions.

Of course, it's entirely possible that the Rams' interest in Sanchez is nothing more than a classic smokescreen designed to entice a team to trade up to the No. 2 overall spot. With a boatload of needs, the Rams could use the extra picks they'd get in a trade-down scenario.

But if it is pure smokescreen, it's a good one. At the NFL owners' meetings last month in California, Devaney met with Sanchez. This week, during his pre-draft visit to Rams Park, Sanchez's leadership qualities and charisma captivated team personnel.

"He took over the room," said one Rams Park insider.

And the possibility of a trade down might not be as far-fetched as it once seemed, particularly if Detroit does take Stafford.

Why? This is generally regarded as a two-quarterback draft. If you're looking for a rookie who can start right away in 2009 it's SOS - Stafford or Sanchez. So if Stafford goes to the Lions, a quarterback-needy team might be willing to trade all the way up to No. 2 for Sanchez. At least that's the theory.

As for Freeman, he might eventually be a fine NFL starter, but might take a little more time to be game-ready. Freeman originally had the look of a second- or third-round draft pick. But now, he could go as early as the mid-to-late first round, which probably takes him out of consideration for St. Louis. (And probably explains why his visit here was cancelled.)

The dropoff appears to be considerable after Stafford, Sanchez and Freeman. If all three are indeed taken in the first round, there might not be another quarterback drafted until the fourth round. Even if the Rams don't make the big splash with a high pick at QB, the team could still take one later in the draft.

"I'd like to draft a quarterback every year at some point," Devaney said. "That's like gold if you hit on a quarterback. Even if he turns out to be a solid backup."

Brandstater was one of the more impressive throwers at the scouting combine. At 6-5, 220 pounds, he has good arm strength, although some feel his accuracy on deep balls has been inconsistent. After throwing just five interceptions in 2007, he tossed 12 "picks" in 2008.

RAMS NOTES

Friday was the last day for NFL restricted free agents to receive contract offers from other clubs. The deadline came and went without the Rams' two restricted free agents - defensive lineman Victor Adeyanju and offensive guard Richie Incognito - receiving an offer sheet from another club.

As a result, both players will be under contract with the Rams for 2009. Adeyanju, in fact, already has signed his one-year, $1.01 million tender offer with the Rams. Incognito is expected to sign his tender offer (one-year, $1.01 million) next week.

Had Adeyanju or Incognito received an offer sheet from another club, the Rams would have had one week to match.

Meanwhile, Rams unrestricted free agent Brandon Gorin has signed with the Denver Broncos. Gorin, an offensive tackle, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last preseason and didn't figure into the plans for 2009.

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QUARTERBACK: CREAM OF THE CROP

Name Ht. Wt. School

Matthew Stafford 6-2 225 Georgia Has elite arm strength, but does he have the moxie to be an elite NFL QB?

Mark Sanchez 6-2 227 Southern Cal Someone will put a lot of chips on the table for Sanchez based on one season.

Josh Freeman 6-6 248 Kansas State Arm strength, and Ben Roethlisberger-type size may push him into 1st round.

Stephen McGee 6-3 225 Texas A&M Limited to only three starts in 2008 because of injury to throwing shoulder.

Pat White 6-0 197 West Virginia Because of his running skills and small stature, will he be a wideout in the NFL?

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NFL DRAFT: APRIL 25-26 RAMS QB NEEDS

The Rams have a clear starter (Marc Bulger), a clear backup (Kyle Boller), and two candidates for the No. 3 job (Brock Berlin, Jeff Otis). But Boller signed only a one-year deal (for $1.5 million), so he may not be a long-range solution even as a backup. So they could be looking for a QB of the future. Smokescreen or not, they like Sanchez.

CHASE-ING THE DREAM

Largely because he struggled in some of Missouri's biggest games this past season, Chase Daniel has gone from a Heisman Trophy finalist (in 2007) to someone just trying to get his foot in the door in the NFL. He has spent the entire pre-draft process trying to prove himself once again.

"No doubt about it," Daniel said. "I've been down the road a lot, even when I was in college, even when I was a Heisman Trophy finalist. It's another challenge, it's another hurdle to step over."

Daniel's modest height (by NFL quarterback standards) of 6-0 works against him. And he never really operated under center at Mizzou. Some scouts and personnel executives wonder if Daniel will even get drafted. No problem, Daniel insists.

"If you don't get drafted, and you're a free agent, then you get to pick and choose where you want to go," he said. But he added, "Of course I want to get drafted. It's what I've been working my whole life for."

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