Parker makes Rams Park Visit + Confirmed Visit List/PD

[RamBill]

Louisville WR DeVante Parker makes Rams Park house call
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_bac3a98d-5962-59c3-a44b-38683602977c.html

When free-agent Kenny Britt re-signed with the Rams last month, it meant that the team's top five wide receivers in 2014 would be returning for the 2015 campaign.

However, that hasn't stopped the Rams from taking a close look at several of the top wide receiver prospects in this year's draft. To that end, Louisville's DeVante Parker was on the guest list Wednesday at Rams Park.

Parker, 6-2 1/2, 209 pounds, generally is regarded as the third-best wideout in the draft behind Alabama's Amari Cooper and West Virginia's Kevin White. Despite missing the first seven games of the 2014 season because of a foot injury that required surgery, Parker still had 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns. He ran a 4.45 in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine.

The Rams had Cooper in for a pre-draft visit the first week in April; White is scheduled to visit Rams Park next week. Also, Missouri/Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham visited Rams Park the first week in April.

Parker wasn't the only probable first-rounder to visit Rams Park on Wednesday. Continuing the trend of offensive line visits, Florida State center Cameron Erving, Florida tackle D.J. Humphries, and Louisiana State guard-tackle La'el Collins were in the house. Erving is regarded as the best center in the draft, while Collins is considered by many the second-best guard prospect behind Iowa's Brandon Scherff.

Also visiting Wednesday was Mississippi State linebacker Bernardrick McKinney, who has excellent size at 6-4, 246, and projects as a second-round pick.

Here's a list, by position, of the confirmed pre-draft visits to Rams Park so far:

OFFENSIVE LINE

Jamon Brown (T/G), Louisville

La'el Collins (G/T), Louisiana State

Jamil Douglas (G), Arizona State

Cameron Erving (C), Florida State

D.J. Humphries (T), Florida

Tre Jackson (G), Florida State

Ali Marpet (G), Hobart

Andrus Peat (T), Stanford

Laken Tomlinson (G), Duke

WIDE RECEIVER

Amari Cooper, Alabama

Dorial Green-Beckham, Missouri/Oklahoma

DeVante Parker, Louisville

DEFENSIVE END

Vic Beasley (DE/OLB), Clemson

Shane Ray (DE/OLB), Missouri

LINEBACKER

Bernardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

 

[Athos]

A lot of WRs the Rams have talked to, mostly the top ones too.

Coop/White/Parker/DGB.

I have a feeling we come away with one. Though maybe that's just hope.

 

[Mackeyser]

So... White hasn't visited... Interestink...veery interestink

 

[RamsJunkie]

So... White hasn't visited... Interestink...veery interestink

It said in the article he would be visiting next week.

 

[RamBill]

DeVante Parker, other top prospects descend on Rams facility

By Chase Goodbread
College Football 24/7 writer

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-other-top-prospects-descend-on-rams-facility

The St. Louis Rams' facility looked a lot like the green room at the NFL draft this week, as a lengthy list of some of the draft's very best prospects came through to visit with the club just two weeks before it will find itself on the clock for the No. 10 overall pick.

Among them, according to stltoday.com: Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker, Florida State offensive lineman Cam Erving, Florida offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins and Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney. Add in a scheduled visit next week from West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White, and the Rams are staying awfully busy in the final stages of draft preparation.

The visits that could have the Rams' closest attention, however, are those from the draft's top wide receivers.

The club has a definite need at the position, and should be able to draft the second or third wide receiver chosen at No. 10 overall, if it's a receiver they want first. White, Alabama's Amari Cooper and Parker are considered the draft's top three receivers, and Cooper visited the club on April 1. The Oakland Raiders are a significant threat to take a wide receiver at No. 4 overall, leaving the next best option to St. Louis if the teams picking between them -- the Redskins, Jets, Bears, Falcons and Giants -- steer clear of the receiver position. The strongest possibility among those to thin the receiver pool even more for the Rams is Chicago, which traded Brandon Marshall to the Jets in the offseason.

 

[lockdnram21]

A lot of WRs the Rams have talked to, mostly the top ones too.

Coop/White/Parker/DGB.

I have a feeling we come away with one. Though maybe that's just hope.

i think its a slim chance. But dont think they are worried about wr just like they wasnt last year. Only way i see them getting one of them is if Coop or white fall to 10 and i bet 1000 that neither do

 

[RamBill]

Ten for No. 10: DeVante Parker
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17599/ten-for-no-10-devante-parker

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Today we complete our series of 10 for No. 10, a look at 10 players who could be in the mix for the St. Louis Rams with the 10th overall selection.

For the purposes of this exercise, it's a little more difficult to peg who will be available and who won't, but out of the 10 we evaluate here, there's a good chance at that some will be on the board when the Rams pick. Based on early returns, we're going to eliminate Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams and Florida defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. from the conversation. Those three, above all else, seem all but certain to be gone when the Rams pick.

We've already looked at Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff, Alabama receiver Amari Cooper, Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory, West Virginia receiver Kevin White, Stanford offensive tackle Andrus Peat, Missouri defensive end Shane Ray, LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins and Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes.

DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

Why the Rams should consider him: The Rams haven't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Torry Holt in 2007 and Kenny Britt was able to reach the 700-yard mark last season for the first time since Holt in 2008. While the Rams seem to like their current crop of receivers, none have showed the ability to be a true, legitimate No. 1 threat at the position. Britt and Brian Quick have flashed potential, but adding a top receiver would give a Rams offense in need of a boost a much-needed playmaker for the first time in a long time. Parker doesn't have quite the reputation of Cooper or White, but some analysts and scouts believe he isn't far behind. Parker had 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns in just six games. At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, with good speed and a solid vertical, Parker is capable of going up and winning contested balls.

Why they shouldn't: Maybe not a "why they shouldn't" so much as a "why they won't," but Rams coach Jeff Fisher has made it seem as though he's content with the team's current receivers. Now that doesn't mean he might not draft one if a guy like Cooper or White falls to No. 10, but it seems less likely if Parker is the option instead of either of those two. The Rams traded up for the No. 8 overall pick to take Tavon Austin in 2013 and so far, that hasn't paid much dividend. So it remains to be seen if the Rams would be willing to do it again. Parker also comes with some questions. While he has the physical ability, his production has never taken off to the astronomical numbers of some of the other wideouts in this draft class. He's also had some injury issues along the way, including a left foot injury that kept him out of the first seven games of last season. He also missed a game in 2013 with a shoulder injury.

Chances he's available at No. 10: While Cooper and White both figure to be selected before the Rams pick, there just doesn't seem to be enough teams in the top nine that need a receiver. Nor is Parker considered to be on the same level as those two. So if the Rams want to go with Parker, it seems they'll have a chance to do it unless someone moves up in front of them. One team to keep an eye on, as is the case with Waynes, is the Minnesota Vikings. They could use another wideout even after adding Mike Wallace, and Parker would give them an instant connection with his former Louisville teammate Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback.

 

[Memphis Ram]

SI 64: No. 9 Louisville Devante Parker

Louisville's DeVante Parker is being mentioned alongside Amari Cooper and Kevin White as this draft's top receivers, all worthy of being in the top-10 discussion. How high can Parker climb come Round 1?

Bio: Before he became the Vikings' new franchise quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater threw for a combined 7,618 yards in 2012–13 as a Louisville Cardinal. Around 21% of that total came via DeVante Parker, who thrived as Bridgewater's go-to option in the passing game.

Somewhat amazingly, Parker was just as productive overall last season, despite missing Louisville's first seven games due to a broken foot and with Bridgewater off enjoying the NFL life. Parker's 2014 totals, in just six games: 43 catches for 855 yards and five touchdowns. He topped the 100-yard receiving mark in five of those contests, including a brilliant 214-yard effort (on 26.8 yards per catch) against Florida State.

"He's definitely a good receiver," said Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams (who's ranked No. 20 in the SI 64), whom Parker named as the best DB he played against in college. "He's a big receiver and he's quick off the line, and that causes problems."

Parker, a Louisville native, finished his career with 33 receiving touchdowns, tied for the most all-time in program history. His 10 touchdowns and 18.6 yards per catch in 2012 led the Big East; last year, after the Cardinals moved to the ACC, Parker finished behind only Phillip Dorsett and DeAndre Smelter in the yards-per-catch category. Could a reunion with Bridgewater await in the NFL? Minnesota holds the 11th-overall pick in Round 1 and, in theory, could use a potential No. 1 receiver.

"It'd be a good thing," Parker said of teaming with Bridgewater again. "We have a good connection with each other because we played together for about three years. That'd be a good thing if I went there."

Strengths: Thanks to his body control in the air, the 6'3" Parker makes catches on which other receivers would not even come close. He said he first realized he could be that sort of weapon for a passing attack during his freshman year: "Somebody threw me a high pass and I just went up and got. That's when I became known [for that] in practice."

It's also as much a reason as any that Bridgewater and Louisville's group of 2014 quarterbacks leaned on Parker so much—he is always available as an option, even when covered. Parker also shows awareness for developing plays, seeking out open space to present himself as a target. His height, length and 36.5-inch vertical all work to Parker's advantage on jump-ball situations, but he is just as likely to make a grab over the middle and turn upfield for yardage.

"It's just God-given talent," Parker said. "He just blessed me with the ability to outrun the defenders and to be able to catch the ball."

How reliable is Parker? Since the 2012 season, he has been chalked up for just three drops—over that same timespan Parker made 138 catches.

Weaknesses: Not many, although his rather lanky frame could leave him susceptible to jams from stronger, more compact NFL cornerbacks. Once Parker makes it into the open field, any questions about his strength disappear, but he even talked at the combine about how important it is for him to get off the line.

"You can't get jammed or anything," Parker said, "because if you get jammed it's gonna mess up the timing with you and the quarterback. So you've gotta get a clean release."

His 4.45-second 40 time is right in line with what many of this year's receiver prospects hit, and he plays fast with the ball in his hands. Still, that doesn't put Parker in the "elite speed" category. Add in a need for refinement in his route-running and, well, there is a reason Parker has to make so many tough catches: He does not always show the ability to leave a defender in his wake prior to a pass being thrown.

The foot injury, which required surgery, no doubt forced teams to dig into his health more than Parker would have liked. Parker was gangbusters upon his return, but another, similar setback could have a long-lasting effect on his explosiveness.

Conclusion: The smart money is on Amari Cooper or Kevin White to be the first receiver off the board in Round 1. Consider Parker a darkhorse for that honor, and close to a lock for a top-20 selection. He was as good as any receiver in college football over his final six games last season, ending with a three-touchdown regular-season finale against Kentucky and a 120-yard showing vs. Georgia in the Belk Bowl.

Parker plays both stronger and faster than he looks, repeatedly winning battles for receptions. And he is a threat to take one the distance whenever he makes a grab in space.

Any team drafting a receiver with a high first-round pick has to believe that player can be a leader in their offense. Parker is capable of just that, perhaps even as a rookie.

Player comparison: Alshon Jeffery, Bears (Round 2, 2012)

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/04/16/2015-nfl-draft-rankings-si-64-devante-parker-louisville