- Joined
- Jun 20, 2010
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- Name
- The Dude
Well, I'll tell you. Because I'm an
sider.
Rams set up nicely
For new St. Louis general manager and new coach Jeff Fisher, this is a franchise-changing trade. If they handle their business correctly in the next three drafts the Rams will set themselves up for a decade of success.
The most successful teams in the NFL, [hil]those that are consistent playoff contenders, typically find three starters in each draft. St. Louis could now easily find at least nine starters over the next three drafts.[/hil] And with the rookie wage scale having cut the price of first-round picks nearly in half, the Rams can afford to pay six first-round picks over the next three drafts without suffering big veteran salary-cap casualties.
Assuming St. Louis does not engage in New England Patriots-style maneuvering with its glut of picks, you're talking about locking down nearly half of the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. Something will have to go terribly wrong for that not to happen.
As for this year, [hil]the Rams have to feel pretty good about their chances of getting Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon with the sixth pick.[/hil] The Minnesota Vikings are likely to select USC OT Matt Kalil at No. 3, and while Tannehill is a reach with the fourth pick the Browns could very well opt for Alabama RB Trent Richardson, who is one of the five elite talents (along with Kalil, Griffin, Andrew Luck and LSU CB Morris Claiborne) in this year's class.
Richardson and Claiborne will be heavily in the mix for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 5, which could very well leave Blackmon available to the Rams. His hands, route-running skills and physical style would give St. Louis QB Sam Bradford the true No. 1 target he has lacked during his first two years in the league.
[hil]If Blackmon comes off the board before St. Louis makes its first pick, the Rams should still be able to get the No. 2 offensive tackle on the board in Iowa's Riley Reiff.[/hil] That would be a nice consolation prize given the fact that Bradford was nicked up last season and had durability issues coming out of college.
Assuming Blackmon is the pick, though, the Rams can then target one of the top five cornerbacks on the board -- perhaps South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore, or North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins if character concerns drop him out of the first round -- and an offensive tackle such as Zebrie Sanders (Florida State), Bobby Massie (Mississippi) or Mitchell Schwartz (California) with those second-round picks.
The price was high for the Redskins and the rewards great for the Rams, and in the end this is a trade that could truly benefit both teams.
Rams set up nicely
For new St. Louis general manager and new coach Jeff Fisher, this is a franchise-changing trade. If they handle their business correctly in the next three drafts the Rams will set themselves up for a decade of success.
The most successful teams in the NFL, [hil]those that are consistent playoff contenders, typically find three starters in each draft. St. Louis could now easily find at least nine starters over the next three drafts.[/hil] And with the rookie wage scale having cut the price of first-round picks nearly in half, the Rams can afford to pay six first-round picks over the next three drafts without suffering big veteran salary-cap casualties.
Assuming St. Louis does not engage in New England Patriots-style maneuvering with its glut of picks, you're talking about locking down nearly half of the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. Something will have to go terribly wrong for that not to happen.
As for this year, [hil]the Rams have to feel pretty good about their chances of getting Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon with the sixth pick.[/hil] The Minnesota Vikings are likely to select USC OT Matt Kalil at No. 3, and while Tannehill is a reach with the fourth pick the Browns could very well opt for Alabama RB Trent Richardson, who is one of the five elite talents (along with Kalil, Griffin, Andrew Luck and LSU CB Morris Claiborne) in this year's class.
Richardson and Claiborne will be heavily in the mix for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 5, which could very well leave Blackmon available to the Rams. His hands, route-running skills and physical style would give St. Louis QB Sam Bradford the true No. 1 target he has lacked during his first two years in the league.
[hil]If Blackmon comes off the board before St. Louis makes its first pick, the Rams should still be able to get the No. 2 offensive tackle on the board in Iowa's Riley Reiff.[/hil] That would be a nice consolation prize given the fact that Bradford was nicked up last season and had durability issues coming out of college.
Assuming Blackmon is the pick, though, the Rams can then target one of the top five cornerbacks on the board -- perhaps South Carolina's Stephon Gilmore, or North Alabama's Janoris Jenkins if character concerns drop him out of the first round -- and an offensive tackle such as Zebrie Sanders (Florida State), Bobby Massie (Mississippi) or Mitchell Schwartz (California) with those second-round picks.
The price was high for the Redskins and the rewards great for the Rams, and in the end this is a trade that could truly benefit both teams.
