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Draft dodgers: Snead and Fisher hide their hands as big day approaches
By Palmer L. Alexander III | Posted: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 4:46 pm
http://www.stlamerican.com/sports/s...c-de38-11e4-a182-730a61a88172.html?mode=print
There is no way to handicap what plans the St. Louis Rams have in store for the 2015 NFL draft. Head coach Jeff Fisher and General manager Les Snead have perfected the poker face. We’ve gotten a chance to see it, not just on the field, but off the gridiron as well.
Let’s go back to last year around this time. Snead was making the rounds on every NFL show, professing the love the Rams organization have for Sam Bradford. Bradford was the future and beyond, Snead said during an interview on NFL Network prior to the 2014 draft, in which the Rams held the second overall pick and the 13th. They picked offensive lineman Greg Robinson – who had his share of ups and downs, as any young player would – and Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald.
The Donald pick was a mild surprise, and it yielded very promising results on the football field for the Rams. It also made DT Kendall Langford expendable, and he was cut by the Rams, but found himself a new home with the burgeoning Indianapolis Colts.
After this season concludes, the Rams will face plenty of questions on how they’ll move forward with pending free agents like CBs Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins or DT Michael Brockers. Chris Long is not getting any younger at DE; he’s 30.
That’s why this draft is just as crucial as last year’s. The Rams were very active in free agency and even found a way to add a draft pick and got a compensatory pick in the 6th round.
Here is the Rams’ present draft order:
1st Round, 10th
2nd Round, 41st
3rd Round, 72nd
4th Round, 119 (from Philadelphia Eagles)
5th Round, (no pick)
6th Round, 216th (compensatory pick)
7th Round, 228th.
That draft order is always subject to change.
Several top notable players have visited the St. Louis Rams like WR Amari Cooper, OTs Andrus Peat and Jamon Brown, and G Laken Tomlison, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
With the additions of notable free agents DT Nick Fairley and LB Akeem Ayers, Kenny Britt and Lance Kendricks resigning, and trading for QB Nick Foles, the Rams are in position to build on a promising roster.
I’ve seen and heard several rumors stating the Rams are eyeballing WR Kevin White or Amari Cooper with that first pick if Brandon Scherff is off the board. Rams should consider it.
Brian Quick is another Rams player from the 2012 draft class whose contract is up and is still an enigma. He got off to a torrid start, but teams started making adjustments on him. It’s no different from Chris Givens or even former Rams wideout Donnie Avery. The jury is still out on Quick. The fact that he probably won’t be ready until the start of training camp is not a good sign.
The Rams might have Shane Ray fall into their laps at the number 10 spot, because there is a shortage of quarterbacks in this year’s draft. The Tennessee Titans are looking for potential buyers, since they presently hold the number two pick this season and there are a couple of teams thirsty for a QB. Teams like the Bears, Jets, Browns, are in desperate need for a signal caller. The Rams still are too, but not as much since they have Foles.
The Rams can really be sitting in a great spot if a team trades up into the top three of the draft. That could mean several impact players, such as CB Trae Wayne or DT Danny Shelton, could be in the mix as candidates for the Rams’ first pick on April 30.
Then again, Snead and Fisher could run some misdirection again and draft a shortstop with the first pick.
By Palmer L. Alexander III | Posted: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 4:46 pm
http://www.stlamerican.com/sports/s...c-de38-11e4-a182-730a61a88172.html?mode=print
There is no way to handicap what plans the St. Louis Rams have in store for the 2015 NFL draft. Head coach Jeff Fisher and General manager Les Snead have perfected the poker face. We’ve gotten a chance to see it, not just on the field, but off the gridiron as well.
Let’s go back to last year around this time. Snead was making the rounds on every NFL show, professing the love the Rams organization have for Sam Bradford. Bradford was the future and beyond, Snead said during an interview on NFL Network prior to the 2014 draft, in which the Rams held the second overall pick and the 13th. They picked offensive lineman Greg Robinson – who had his share of ups and downs, as any young player would – and Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald.
The Donald pick was a mild surprise, and it yielded very promising results on the football field for the Rams. It also made DT Kendall Langford expendable, and he was cut by the Rams, but found himself a new home with the burgeoning Indianapolis Colts.
After this season concludes, the Rams will face plenty of questions on how they’ll move forward with pending free agents like CBs Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins or DT Michael Brockers. Chris Long is not getting any younger at DE; he’s 30.
That’s why this draft is just as crucial as last year’s. The Rams were very active in free agency and even found a way to add a draft pick and got a compensatory pick in the 6th round.
Here is the Rams’ present draft order:
1st Round, 10th
2nd Round, 41st
3rd Round, 72nd
4th Round, 119 (from Philadelphia Eagles)
5th Round, (no pick)
6th Round, 216th (compensatory pick)
7th Round, 228th.
That draft order is always subject to change.
Several top notable players have visited the St. Louis Rams like WR Amari Cooper, OTs Andrus Peat and Jamon Brown, and G Laken Tomlison, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.
With the additions of notable free agents DT Nick Fairley and LB Akeem Ayers, Kenny Britt and Lance Kendricks resigning, and trading for QB Nick Foles, the Rams are in position to build on a promising roster.
I’ve seen and heard several rumors stating the Rams are eyeballing WR Kevin White or Amari Cooper with that first pick if Brandon Scherff is off the board. Rams should consider it.
Brian Quick is another Rams player from the 2012 draft class whose contract is up and is still an enigma. He got off to a torrid start, but teams started making adjustments on him. It’s no different from Chris Givens or even former Rams wideout Donnie Avery. The jury is still out on Quick. The fact that he probably won’t be ready until the start of training camp is not a good sign.
The Rams might have Shane Ray fall into their laps at the number 10 spot, because there is a shortage of quarterbacks in this year’s draft. The Tennessee Titans are looking for potential buyers, since they presently hold the number two pick this season and there are a couple of teams thirsty for a QB. Teams like the Bears, Jets, Browns, are in desperate need for a signal caller. The Rams still are too, but not as much since they have Foles.
The Rams can really be sitting in a great spot if a team trades up into the top three of the draft. That could mean several impact players, such as CB Trae Wayne or DT Danny Shelton, could be in the mix as candidates for the Rams’ first pick on April 30.
Then again, Snead and Fisher could run some misdirection again and draft a shortstop with the first pick.