[www.stltoday.com]
The strategy has been clear to the Rams all along: Trade down from the second overall pick in the NFL Draft and gain another selection or two.
Some team may want to draft a quarterback with that pick and the Rams are committed to Sam Bradford. Some team may covet pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney – and Jeff Fisher already has a Pro Bowl defensive end in Robert Quinn.
Rams general manager Les Snead made it clear the Rams stand ready to move out of that slot, as the team did when it made the epic Robert Griffin III maneuver.
The Rams’ strategy became even more obvious when 102 players with remaining college eligibility declared for the draft. Some of those young men made a big mistake, but there is plenty of quality on that list -- starting with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
The second day of the draft could be a bonanza, with top-caliber athletes lasting surprisingly long.
“You’re going to see a lot of players who would normally be second-round picks end up in the third round. Same goes for the mid- to late-first round picks ending up in the second round,” an NFL executive told the National Football Post.
Once the Houston Texans decide what to do with the first overall pick, the Rams’ trade talks will begin for real. It seems unlikely a team will make a crazy offer like the Redskins made for RG III, but the Rams should get to slide down, fill a team need and still add an extra prospect or two later on.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. noted that Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson made the first round stronger by coming out. If the Rams trade out of the No. 2 pick and pass on offensive tackle Jake Matthews, Robinson could be a solid Plan B to shore up their offensive line.
Wrote Kiper:
(Robinson) Rode a dominating season to the top 10 on my board. I've heard questions about him staying to develop as a pass-blocker, but why go back to Gus Malzahn's dominating run-oriented attack to do that? The NFL can develop him more efficiently, and he's going to land in the top 10.
The strategy has been clear to the Rams all along: Trade down from the second overall pick in the NFL Draft and gain another selection or two.
Some team may want to draft a quarterback with that pick and the Rams are committed to Sam Bradford. Some team may covet pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney – and Jeff Fisher already has a Pro Bowl defensive end in Robert Quinn.
Rams general manager Les Snead made it clear the Rams stand ready to move out of that slot, as the team did when it made the epic Robert Griffin III maneuver.
The Rams’ strategy became even more obvious when 102 players with remaining college eligibility declared for the draft. Some of those young men made a big mistake, but there is plenty of quality on that list -- starting with Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
The second day of the draft could be a bonanza, with top-caliber athletes lasting surprisingly long.
“You’re going to see a lot of players who would normally be second-round picks end up in the third round. Same goes for the mid- to late-first round picks ending up in the second round,” an NFL executive told the National Football Post.
Once the Houston Texans decide what to do with the first overall pick, the Rams’ trade talks will begin for real. It seems unlikely a team will make a crazy offer like the Redskins made for RG III, but the Rams should get to slide down, fill a team need and still add an extra prospect or two later on.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. noted that Auburn offensive tackle Greg Robinson made the first round stronger by coming out. If the Rams trade out of the No. 2 pick and pass on offensive tackle Jake Matthews, Robinson could be a solid Plan B to shore up their offensive line.
Wrote Kiper:
(Robinson) Rode a dominating season to the top 10 on my board. I've heard questions about him staying to develop as a pass-blocker, but why go back to Gus Malzahn's dominating run-oriented attack to do that? The NFL can develop him more efficiently, and he's going to land in the top 10.
