St. Louis Rams
2014 NFL Draft Handicapping Tips: St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams enter the 2014 season in a familiar spot – with a top three draft pick and with added expectation that they will finally improve after years of disappointment.
Rams 2014 Draft Picks (12)
- First Round (No. 2)
- First Round (No. 13)
- Second Round (No. 44)
- Third Round (No. 75)
- Fourth Round (No. 110)
- Fifth Round (No. 153)
- Sixth Round (No. 188)
- Sixth Round (No. 214)
- Seventh Round (No. 226)
- Seventh Round (No. 241)
- Seventh Round (No. 249)
- Seventh Round (No. 250)
They have the #2, thanks to the Redskins trade for the rights to Robert Griffin in 2012 and they have the #13 overall pick as well. Will they keep their #2 pick and address a huge need or will they trade down and stockpile a few other picks and address their needs via trade?
Rams 2014 NFL Draft Predictions
#1 Need. Protecting Sam Bradford off ACL surgery has to be the #1 priority for the Rams – if they trade the #2 pick or if they keep it. Jake Long is coming off a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee, and his status for 2014 is up in the air which adds to the importance of the Rams getting a big man along the line. We know the Rams will go after some Offensive Line help – it’s just a matter of when.
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First Round Options: Greg Robinson, Auburn – he is in play at the #2 overall pick and likely won’t last much longer than that. He is extremely athletic and was a big part of Auburn’s run to the BCS Title. At The 6-5, 332-pound the junior clocked a 4.92 40-yard dash at the Combine and put up 32 reps on the bench press with an impressive 35-inch arm length – yikes!
Further down and potentially available at #13 is Jake Matthews – Texas A&M. He may be the best all-around O-lineman in the draft. He may not have the freakish athleticism of Robinson but Matthews looks like a safe bet to become an ever-play starter out of the gate. Texas A&M’s Mike Evans is another name that may be out there at #13.
Other names that are being mentioned as a fit are Brandon Thomas, Clemson on Day 2 and even Spencer Long, Nebraska as we go deeper into day 3 or 4.
No. 2 Team Need: Defensive Back
The Safety and Cornerback positions will be addressed by the Rams – guaranteed and one name keeps surfacing as a fit for St. Louis is:
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First Round Options: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama. He’s a Safety that is being pegged to play alongside rising sophomore SS T.J. McDonald, but FS Rodney McLeod. He is a great fit but the question is whether or not he will be available.
Second Day Option: Terrence Brooks, FSU. He could be the best bang-for-your-buck at the safety position. If he’s there on Day 2 expect the Rams to call out his name.
No. 3 Team Need: Defensive Back
Following up on St. Louis’s need for secondary help. Cortland Finnegan was released leaving Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson as OK, not great starters. Oklahoma State’s Justin Gilbert and Michigan State’s Darqueze Dennard are names that we are hearing the Rams could target at #13. This is seen as a pretty deep draft in terms of cornerbacks so the Rams could reach out at any time over the three days and grab some talent.
Other areas of possible need offer a tad more intrigue although Offensive Line and secondary help are what the Rams are after. Some Wide Receiver help will be right there for the taking at #2 with Clemson Stud Sammy Watkins – he may be the most explosive player in the entire draft.
Quarterbacks will be in the spotlight all weekend long and the Rams could opt to select some insurance behind the oft-injured and underwhelming Sam Bradford. Johnny Manzeil is an interesting name, Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage will likely be there on Day 2 and Keith Wenning from Ball State is another name that could go late to the Rams.
The St. Louis Rams are certainly in an interesting spot as we head into next week’s draft. With 2 of the top 13 picks they could seriously plug some hole. And with the #2 overall pick they could go a number of ways – trade it for a king’s ransom or get the second best player in what is a deep draft.
Stay tuned – it should be interesting in Rams-land!
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