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Keeping tabs on Rams' pre-draft visits
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17543/keeping-tabs-on-rams-pre-draft-visits
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The 30 pre-draft visits that each NFL team can have with incoming prospects have begun all over the league. Each team takes a different approach to the process.
For example, in Detroit, the Lions willingly share which prospects are visiting on which days and put that information out there for the public via their in-house reporter. As you'd expect with what St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher would call a "competitive" thing, the Rams are more secretive.
But in this day and age of social media and various other means, names tend to leak out, whether it's before, during or after a visit. Some players announce it on their Twitter or Instagram accounts. Some agents confirm visits and many offer a list at their respective pro days.
Although we don't know for sure exactly when the Rams started hosting prospects at Rams Park, some names have been put out there in the past week or so.
With that in mind, here's a look at the players believed to have visited. Some have been confirmed, some have not -- but it's safe to say that this team is hunting offensive linemen. Fisher essentially said as much as the owners meetings when he acknowledged the team's needs on the line and said this draft class was rich in offensive line prospects.
Alabama WR Amari Cooper (completed)
Stanford OT Andrus Peat (completed)
Duke OG Laken Tomlinson (completed)
Louisville OT Jamon Brown (completed)
Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings (reported/expected)
Miami OT Ereck Flowers (reported/expected)
Baylor QB Bryce Petty (reported/expected)
That's just a sample of the players expected to visit or those that already have. Keep in mind, these 30 visits don't mean a lot in the grand scheme. It certainly can be an indicator of interest, but taking it much beyond that is probably going too far. For example, the Rams have six picks in this draft. Of the names listed above, with the exception of Brown, it's entirely possible the Rams might have a chance to draft only one of those players.
The pre-draft visits also can be a chance for teams to clean up any leftover work they didn't get done at the Senior Bowl, scouting combine or during the season. They can get questions answered, have medical staff meet with prospects and can conduct just about anything else short of a workout.
Also, teams are entitled to visit with local prospects who played or are from within a certain radius of the team's facility. Safety Maurice Alexander, who played at Utah State but is from the area, took such a visit last year before the Rams drafted him in the fourth round.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17543/keeping-tabs-on-rams-pre-draft-visits
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The 30 pre-draft visits that each NFL team can have with incoming prospects have begun all over the league. Each team takes a different approach to the process.
For example, in Detroit, the Lions willingly share which prospects are visiting on which days and put that information out there for the public via their in-house reporter. As you'd expect with what St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher would call a "competitive" thing, the Rams are more secretive.
But in this day and age of social media and various other means, names tend to leak out, whether it's before, during or after a visit. Some players announce it on their Twitter or Instagram accounts. Some agents confirm visits and many offer a list at their respective pro days.
Although we don't know for sure exactly when the Rams started hosting prospects at Rams Park, some names have been put out there in the past week or so.
With that in mind, here's a look at the players believed to have visited. Some have been confirmed, some have not -- but it's safe to say that this team is hunting offensive linemen. Fisher essentially said as much as the owners meetings when he acknowledged the team's needs on the line and said this draft class was rich in offensive line prospects.
Alabama WR Amari Cooper (completed)
Stanford OT Andrus Peat (completed)
Duke OG Laken Tomlinson (completed)
Louisville OT Jamon Brown (completed)
Pittsburgh OT T.J. Clemmings (reported/expected)
Miami OT Ereck Flowers (reported/expected)
Baylor QB Bryce Petty (reported/expected)
That's just a sample of the players expected to visit or those that already have. Keep in mind, these 30 visits don't mean a lot in the grand scheme. It certainly can be an indicator of interest, but taking it much beyond that is probably going too far. For example, the Rams have six picks in this draft. Of the names listed above, with the exception of Brown, it's entirely possible the Rams might have a chance to draft only one of those players.
The pre-draft visits also can be a chance for teams to clean up any leftover work they didn't get done at the Senior Bowl, scouting combine or during the season. They can get questions answered, have medical staff meet with prospects and can conduct just about anything else short of a workout.
Also, teams are entitled to visit with local prospects who played or are from within a certain radius of the team's facility. Safety Maurice Alexander, who played at Utah State but is from the area, took such a visit last year before the Rams drafted him in the fourth round.