April 18--Quarterback Case Keenum, a restricted free agent and the Rams' presumptive starter going into the start of Monday's off-season program, has signed a first-round tender that will pay him about $3.6 million this season.
The question: Will the Rams -- or another team -- be paying him?
The Rams' trade to the top of next week's NFL draft muddled the status of Keenum and fellow Rams quarterbacks Nick Foles and Sean Mannion.
Foles, acquired before last season in a trade for Sam Bradford, signed a $24.5-million extension and opened last season as the starter. But he was benched after nine games and replaced by Keenum.
Now, with the Rams set to select either North Dakota State's Carson Wentz or California's Jared Goff in the draft, Keenum, Foles and Mannion are assets the Rams could use to trade and acquire draft picks.
The Houston Texans originally signed Keenum as an undrafted free agent in 2012. The Rams put the first-round tender on him to discourage other teams from signing him to an offer sheet. Had he received one, and the Rams chose not to match it, the Rams would have received a first-round draft pick as compensation.
Now Keenum's salary could make him attractive trade bait that could net draft picks.
FULL COVERAGE: The NFL's return to Los Angeles
But Keenum offers the Rams reasonably-priced insurance while Wentz or Goff develop, and Mannion is regarded as a prospect the Rams can continue to develop.
Foles' future remains the most uncertain.
Twitter: @latimesklein
Gary.klein@latimes.com
