With the 144th overall pick, the St. Louis Rams select Marques Hagans, RB/WR, UVA

[Nick]

Rams Draft a Return Specialist
By Jeff Gordon
04/30/2006 12:36 pm

Marques Hagans played quarterback at Virginia, but that is not why the Rams drafted him in the fifth round Sunday.

Coach Scott Linehan drafted him to return punts and kickoffs. “We drafted him for his ability to play football and use his legs,” Linehan said. “The biggest draw for us with Marques was his return ability. That is where he will vie for a roster spot.”

If he excels as a return specialist, the Linehan will also use him at slot receiver and/or running back. “He gives you one of those toys on offense,” Linehan said. “Teams wonder what are you going to do. Does he line up at running back, receiver or does he line up behind center for a down.”

Hagan is 5-10 and weighs 209 pounds, so scouts see him more as a running back than receiver. Linehan could use him as Mike Martz used Marshall Faulk on third downs — coming out of the backfield to catch passes, lining up in the slot, or going in motion.

“We worked him out at both receiver and running back,” Linehan said. “He looked great.”

Once Hagans established himself as Virginia’s starting quarterback, he quit returning punts. But he did that enough earlier in his career to convince the Rams he could succeed in the NFL.

“He is a very exciting player with great elusiveness,” Linehan said.

The Rams took a look at Mizzou star Brad Smith for this sort of role. But, Linehan said, “his heart is still on the quarterback side of things.”

[OrlandoPaceIsMyHero]

Uh oh - NFL.com doesn't have any info on him... he is the first player taken who's name you CAN'T click to get more info on him...

-OPIMH

Edit: Wait - what? He was a QB in college??? Uh oh... I hope someone finds some positive info on this guy's potential at WR. Why did we draft a WR anyway...?

[Jonze]

Is this our new returner?? Haven't heard of him...

[RamsFan4ever]

i hope rams made a good choice, but he could be used on trick plays like Antwan Rande El's pass to Hines Ward... This could be like Marques Hagans' pass to Torry Holt or Isaac Bruce.... he played QB ..... thats what OrlandoPaceIsMyHero said

[Nick]

He has Randle El-like versatility, with experience at QB, RB, and WR. He probably projects best as a change of pace RB and return man, but I'm not convinced he couldn't have been had later in the draft if not as a free agent, and would have liked to see the team address another area here.

[Rip32]

The first mistake the front office has made in the draft

Should have taken an O lineman in this round

[RamsFan4ever]

yea o line should have been taken this round and then 7th pick get KR man

[Nick]

Wagoner on Hagans:

Another selection, another need filled. The Rams used their fifth round selection on Virginia quarterback/running back/receiver/return man Marques Hagans. Hagans was one of the highest rated pure returners on the team's board coming in and I know of at least a couple of people that are more than happy to add him to the mix. He has good elusiveness, speed and vision and will instantly be in the mix as a punt returner. As for offense, he could be a receiver or a running back, something Linehan said will be decided in time.

[Shadesofgrey]

Why do you people type crap like this? Do you honestly think you have a better clue to what the Rams needs are vs. the FO and the coaching staff? Geeezzz

The first mistake the front office has made in the draft

Should have taken an O lineman in this round

[viper]

He definitely fills a need, provides depth and versatility. Our return game has been so pathetic since Hakim and Horne left that I'm OK with the pick.

We still have more late round picks and some free agent's may be hitting the market after the draft.

[rams_fan81]

people are going to hate me for this but i think we should try to play him at QB

[RamsFan4ever]

yea Probably but why we already have 4 QBs...... he'll probably be used on trick plays

[RamsFan16]

I like the pick no doubt about it. Can't wait to see what he does!

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Rams | Hagans expected to be team's punt returner
Sun, 30 Apr 2006 11:47:49 -0700

Andrea Adelson, of the Associated Press, reports St. Louis Rams QB Marques Hagans was drafted by the team in the fifth-round with the intention of being the team's punt returner.

[Bigtime]

I think guard Fred Matua of USC was still available, among others. He would have been a better selection, especially since we signed Pyatt from the Colts as a return man (maybe he's still fighting injuries, so perhaps we'll cut him).

Hagans had better be used often enough besides KR/PR because why did we sign Tony Fisher and are we going to have to cut Dane Looker or what?

It will be interesting to see who our cuts will be, besides the street FA types, this summer.

We should have gone OG/C but hopefully with those 3 7th-rounders we'll address that soon.

[Goldenfleece]

This pick looks the most questionable pick in our draft. To me the issue is not the player but the timing. I think he or someone comparably adept at returning kicks would have been available in the seventh round. You do have to ask yourself what the coaches saw that we didn't. But he hasn't returned kicks in two years, and back when he did he averaged 9.2 yards/PR. His best season average was 9.6 yards/PR. That's pretty good but not that incredible. By comparison, last year Jones-Drew put up an average of 28.47 on punt returns, and 42 other returners beat the 9.6 mark. Maybe we got a gem with this player, but I'm just not getting excited about this one like most of the rest of the draft. I'd also like to see Charles Gordon in camp. He's a street FA.