St. Louis Rams' Top Needs, Fits for 2015 NFL Draft to Build for the Future

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

Prime Time

PT
Moderator
Joined
Feb 9, 2014
Messages
20,922
Name
Peter
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ts-for-2015-nfl-draft-to-build-for-the-future

St. Louis Rams' Top Needs, Fits for 2015 NFL Draft to Build for the Future
By Steven Gerwel, Featured Columnist

With the 2015 NFL draft just several weeks away, the St. Louis Rams must analyze which prospects are capable of filling the top roster needs.

The Rams have a surplus of young talent thanks to owning multiple first-round picks in each of the last two drafts. Adding yet another promising draft class to the mix could allow St. Louis to do the unthinkable—compete for an NFC West title.

For that to happen, head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead must address the top needs and solve the issues that have been holding down this team for years. That's a doable task, but only if the team drafts players carefully and intelligently.

This article will outline the top Rams needs leading up to the draft and identify prospects capable of filling the vacancies.

Center
hi-res-12e66574e7d0464c5bf9cb57d629fa1d_crop_north.jpg

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Veteran center Scott Wells experienced a sharp decline in 2014 and is no longer with the team. Backup centers Tim Barnes and Barrett Jones have combined for just four career starts (all belonging to Barnes).

The team also has second-year pro Demetrius Rhaney under contract, but the seventh-round pick from 2014 lacks experience and raw talent. Expecting him to emerge as a starter is wishful thinking at best.

There have been no recent headlines connecting Oakland Raiders free agent Stefen Wisniewski with the Rams, so it's likely that free agency is a bone-dry source for potential starting centers.

Unless the coaches secretly have more faith in Jones and Barnes than the rest of us, it's likely that the draft is the only option for addressing the position. There are several ideal candidates, but few are overly exciting.

Cameron Erving, Florida State

Florida State's Cameron Erving is likely the only center from this class worth gambling on as a Day 1 starter. The others have a chance, but Erving is the safest bet.

Erving is a capable pass-blocker but still needs some development in that area. His real strength is his run blocking, and that fits well with Fisher's run-first mentality.

The problem with Erving is his draft status. He'd be a major reach at No. 10 overall, and he's unlikely to fall to St. Louis in the second round. If the Rams want Erving, they'll likely be forced to either trade down with the No. 10 pick or trade up with their second-round pick.

If not, it's hard to see a scenario where Erving falls to the Rams.

Hroniss Grasu, Oregon

Hroniss Grasu is not as refined as Erving, but he has a chance to start Week 1 with proper training and development.

Grasu manned the center position for the high-throttle Oregon offense. His pass-heavy collegiate days give him more than enough experience as a pass-blocker, but his run blocking will need serious work.

The Rams need a starting center. If Erving is not a possibility, the team might be forced to draft someone like Grasu in Round 3.

Reese Dismukes, Auburn

Reese Dismukes has not had a great predraft experience. According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Dismukes greatly struggled at the Senior Bowl, and his stock has been sinking as a result.

Despite playing in the run-heavy Auburn attack, Dismukes has not excelled as a run-blocker. He lacks the strength and athleticism necessary to move NFL defensive linemen.

However, Dismukes is a smart player and might be able to overcome his shortcomings if he learns proper technique. He has some immediate value as a pass protector, but his run blocking is in serious need of development.

Guard
hi-res-31687d031ca0427b49c22feaf918fde2_crop_north.jpg

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

Davin Joseph was completely overwhelmed in 2014 and is no longer with the team. Rodger Saffold remains a competent starting guard, but the depth behind him is nonexistent.

As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, the Rams are interested in Atlanta Falcons veteran guard Justin Blalock, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement.

Also, it's worth noting that if the Rams are unable to re-sign starting tackle Joe Barksdale, then the team might be forced to start Saffold at right tackle, where he has some experience.

One surefire way to ease the situation is by drafting a starting-caliber guard in the early rounds. Luckily for St. Louis, the draft has several capable candidates.

La'el Collins, LSU

La'el Collins has great flexibility. He's can play four different positions on the line, which is a nice asset for a team with multiple offensive line needs.

Collins is a fierce road-grader and has a nasty demeanor. He's similar to Greg Robinson only with less pure strength and athleticism. Fisher is undoubtedly drooling over Collins' ability to open run lanes and throw around defenders.

Unfortunately, the Rams are not in a position to draft Collins. He'll likely go in the late teens, so trading back from the No. 10 spot is the only way Collins will end up with the Rams.

Of course, there's always a chance that Snead's evaluation of Collins is much more flattering than the media's. If that's the case, the Rams could shock us by calling out Collins' name at No. 10.

Laken Tomlinson, Duke

Few players from the 2015 class have experienced a meteoric rise similar to Laken Tomlinson. The Duke lineman started as a mid-round gem and is now a possible first-round candidate.

If the Rams are lucky enough to have Tomlinson fall in their lap in Round 2, they'll be all over him.

Tomlinson does not fit Fisher's desire to find ruthless run-blockers. He needs work in that area. But he's an excellent pass-blocker and will help quarterback Nick Foles stay upright for the entire 2015 season.

A.J. Cann, South Carolina

South Carolina's A.J. Cann is an intriguing third-round option. The SEC standout is capable of stepping in at guard, but he's also capable of playing center, which is also a major need in St. Louis.

Cann is a well-rounded prospect on the line. He doesn't excel in any one department, but he's competent in both run blocking and pass protection. His experience against tough SEC competition also gives him an edge.

Assuming he falls to the third round, the Rams will have a tough time finding a player who offers more value at that point in the draft.

Right Tackle
hi-res-80212ccde20c6b42f123ebd55a56e28e_crop_north.jpg

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

As mentioned, the Rams have yet to re-sign Barksdale. This temporarily makes the right tackle position a vital need they must address.

If the Rams bring in a pair of starting-caliber guards in the draft and free agency, the team can bump Saffold to right tackle, and he'd likely be an upgrade over Barksdale. However, Saffold has excelled as a guard the past two seasons, so keeping him there would be the most ideal scenario.

If St. Louis cannot sign Barksdale to a contract, then the right tackle position will be yet another hole on the offensive line it must fill in the upcoming weeks.

Brandon Scherff, Iowa

Brandon Scherff is not an overly exciting pick at No. 10 overall, but he may very well be the safest pick. He fills a position of great need and has exceptional talent and size (6'5", 319 lbs).

Scherff has the ability to play either guard or tackle. The Rams likely prefer him as a right tackle, as that allows them to keep Saffold at his preferred guard position.

Scherff will take St. Louis' run game to the next level. With Robinson and Scherff manning both tackle positions, the Rams will have the luxury of effectively running the football to either corner.

Pass protection is not his top strength, but a few months of coaching will turn him into a reliable guardian on Foles' strong side.

Ereck Flowers, Miami

Like Scherff, Ereck Flowers is another monster run-blocker. In fact, Flowers is even bigger than Scherff (6'6", 329 lbs) and even nastier when it comes to opening run lanes.

However, the reason Flowers is widely considered a lesser prospect than Scherff is because he's far weaker in pass protection. It's fixable issue but still a serious area of concern for Flowers.

Luckily, the Rams value the run game over everything, so Flowers' issues in pass protection might not be a deal-breaker. If Fisher is confident he can refine Flowers' pass protection, he could very well be the pick at No. 10.

Andrus Peat, Stanford

Andrus Peat is yet another potential first-round tackle from the 2015 class, and he's someone who's been directly connected with the Rams.

Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reported that the Rams brought in the Stanford prospect for an official visit. It could merely be a smokescreen, but that's unlikely given St. Louis' desperation for offensive linemen.

Unlike Scherff and Flowers, Peat is more of a well-rounded tackle prospect. He doesn't dominate in any single aspect, but he does everything and does it well.

Drafting Peat at No. 10 would be quite surprising, but there's always a chance he'll fall to Round 2 or that the Rams will trade back into Round 1 to grab him.

Wide Receiver
hi-res-c28e716be11c3202a47522ad70db1c2a_crop_north.jpg

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

St. Louis has several young, capable talents at the wide receiver position, but none has been able to break out in a big way.

Brian Quick—the No. 33 overall pick from 2012—was well on his way to a breakout campaign in 2014. He posted career-best numbers in every category despite playing in just seven games (25 catches, 375 yards, three touchdowns).

Unfortunately, Quick suffered a devastating shoulder injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. Due to the extent of the injury, there's no guarantee that Quick will regain his 2014 form.

Kenny Britt stepped up in Quick's place and had his best campaign since 2010 (48 catches, 748 yards, three touchdowns), but he's still well-short of what the Rams are looking for in a No. 1 receiver.

As long as the Rams can fill some offensive line holes in free agency, the team will be free to use its No. 10 pick on a game-changing offensive weapon.

As is turns out, this class offers several electric receivers capable of giving the St. Louis offense a serious face-lift.

Amari Cooper, Alabama

Sure, the Rams need offensive linemen more than anything. But a top-10 draft pick should go toward securing a franchise players.

The Rams need to avoid reaching just to fill a need. The team should reserve its top pick for a true game-changer, and Amari Cooper is certainly that.

Few players in college football were as electric or unstoppable as Cooper during the 2014 season. He torched defenses for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, and he didn't exactly do it in a high-octane Big 12 offense either.

The St. Louis offense has been dull for years. The line certainly needs help, but the team also lacks elite playmakers capable of making game-changing plays.

Teaming up a phenomenal weapon like Cooper with a capable quarterback such as Foles could finally turn the Rams into a respectable offensive team.

Linemen can be found in every round. A talent like Cooper can only be found in the top 10.

Kevin White, West Virginia

If Cooper is unavailable at No. 10 overall, Kevin White might be the next-best player available. The West Virginia star has great size (6'3", 215 lbs) and impressed at the combine with a stunning 4.35-second40-yard dash.

White tore up defenses in 2014 with 109 catches, 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has the potential to be a serious game-changer at the NFL level.

There are some concerns with White. For one, he piled up his eye-popping stats while playing in a gimmicky spread offense in a weak defensive conference. Also, he wasn't a full-time starter until 2014, so there's just over a season's worth of film on him.

White is not a rare talent like Cooper, but he's a promising target for the No. 10 pick.

DeVante Parker, Louisville

DeVante Parker is yet another receiver destined to have a team call his name in the opening round. He's not as jaw-dropping as Cooper and White, but he's a nice prospect worth watching.

Parker did not exceed 1,000 yards in a season during his time at Louisville, but he has four years of experience. He has two seasons with over 800 yards and two seasons with double-digit touchdown totals.

Parker has the size of a No. 1 receiver (6'3", 209 lbs) and the potential. He's just not as flashy or as proven as the top receiving prospects.

Outside Linebacker
hi-res-780e9179d8112247a77a47920f5f9d48_crop_north.jpg

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The outside linebacker position is probably less of a need now that the Rams have signed former New England Patriots linebacker Akeem Ayers, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com.

However, they still need depth. Adding a mid-round linebacker would be a nice insurance policy in case the Rams lose Ayers or Alec Ogletree at some point during the season.

Don't expect the Rams to draft a linebacker anywhere in the early rounds, but it could be an option for the mid- to late rounds.

Shaq Thompson, Washington

Shaq Thompson is somewhat light for a linebacker (228 lbs), but don't let that fool you. He's a versatile player who plays both inside and outside, and he plays with tenacity.

He's not a true pass-rusher, but he has the athleticism to hunt down the ball-carrier and make the big tackle.

Unfortunately, Thompson is thought of as a second- to third-round prospect, and that's likely a bit high for a team that already has all three linebacker positions covered. Although, if he surprisingly takes a nosedive on draft day, he'll be on St. Louis' radar.

Jake Ryan, Michigan

Jake Ryan is a pure NFL linebacker. He has Thompson's versatility only with more ideal size (6'2", 240 lbs).

Ryan is a capable run-stopper and a willing tackler. He's a smart player and has experience playing inside and outside linebacker. The Rams will greatly value his versatility and ability to stop the run.

If the Ryan falls to Day 3, he'd be an excellent pickup as a depth player and eventual starter.

Inside Linebacker
hi-res-f0704d01c8835f4a3fbf4ad3d4dc4438_crop_north.jpg

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Inside linebacker James Laurinaitis is not exactly an intimidating force in the middle. He's a smart and capable player, but his mild tenacity does fit the mold of a Fisher and Gregg Williams defense.

Replacing Laurinaitis in the middle is not exactly an urgent matter of business, but it's something that'll happen in the next two to three years. Addressing the concern now would not be a major shock.

The Rams can do this one of two ways. The team can add a starting outside linebacker and bump either Ogletree or Ayers to the inside (both players are capable of making the transition), or the team can simply draft a true middle linebacker.

If it's the latter, there are several decent options from this draft class.

Denzel Perryman, Miami (Florida)

Denzel Perryman has the nastiness and run-stopping power that fans have been dying to see from Laurinaitis.

Perryman is vicious. He sniffs out the ball-carrier in the backfield, explodes through the gap and delivers the bone-crunching hit.

He's not an elite athlete, which is why he'll fall to the third or fourth round, but his game offers virtually everything that Laurinaitis lacks.

Taiwan Jones, Michigan State

Taiwan Jones is similar to Perryman in many ways, but he's less athletic and will surely fall to Day 3.

Like Perryman, Jones is capable of making big tackles and colliding with ball-carriers in the gap. Unfortunately, his lack of speed (4.95 40-yard dash) could hurt him at the NFL level. He's not excellent at patrolling side-to-side and will likely get burned from time to time.

As a late-round project, Jones is a promising prospect.

Defensive Back
hi-res-d08b8a2b99093f3f0fb2fef32220b169_crop_north.jpg

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Rams have talented players at each starting position in the secondary, but the group has yet to break out. Despite the talent, something just isn't clicking, and that needs to change.

One way to fix the issue is by adding more talent. This increases the level of competition and ensures that every player is putting forth his best effort.

The most obvious need in the secondary is at free safety. The team has been doubling up on strong safeties since Fisher took over, so it's finally time for St. Louis to locate a true coverage safety.

Damarious Randall, Arizona State

Damarious Randall didn't earn a starting job at Arizona State until his senior season, but he stepped up in a big way and surprised a lot of people.

It's a bit of a stretch to call Randall a "coverage safety" since he's a willing tackler and capable against the run, but he certainly has better potential as a coverage guy than anyone currently on the roster.

Don't be surprised if Randle catches Fisher's eye. He can defend the run while remaining competent in coverage, and that's something this team has been pursuing for some time.

Jermaine Whitehead, Auburn

Jermaine Whitehead was a three-year starter at Auburn and had an excellent combine. He finished as a top performer among safeties in three different events (broad jump, three-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle).

Whitehead is better in coverage than any of the current St. Louis safeties, and he has the tools and athleticism to be a total steal in the sixth or seventh round. And as we know, Snead is crazy about Auburn players, so helps his cause as well.

It's worth noting that Whitehead was suspended from Auburn for four games for locker room turmoil, according to Greg Ostendorf ofESPN.com. It's likely a minor issue, but scouts will certainly make note of the incident.

Quarterback
hi-res-394f758b016adace6ce1a153a6bbcc37_crop_north.jpg

Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Nick Foles is now the starting quarterback in St. Louis. The team also traded a 2016 seventh-round pick for Case Keenum, according to the official Rams' website.

Austin Davis, who had his ups and downs during his time as St. Louis' starter in 2014, will also be returning and competing for a job.

However, don't assume the Rams are done with the quarterback position. It's possible that Foles will fail to impress. Even if he does, he's on the last year of his contract, and there's no guarantee he'll re-sign.

Unless Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston miraculously falls to the Rams at No. 10, it's unlikely St. Louis will draft a quarterback high. Although, finding a mid- to late-round prospect to groom is certainly still an option.

Garrett Grayson, Colorado State

It's hard to assess where Colorado State's Garrett Grayson will fall in the draft. He likely belongs in the third or fourth round, but there's always the possibility that a quarterback-needy team will overreach.

Grayson is slightly undersized (6'2", 213 lbs) and lacks elite arm strength, but there's not a lot to dislike otherwise.

He has excellent accuracy, throws a nice deep ball and has underrated mobility. Not to mention, his experience in a pro-style offense gives him a nice advantage over many of the other quarterback prospects from this class.

Bryce Petty, Baylor

Like Grayson, there's no telling when Bryce Petty will have his name called. He's been mocked all over the place and could literally end up anywhere between Round 2 and Round 6.

Petty has better size than Grayson (6'3", 230 lbs) and fits the mold of a starting NFL quarterback. His deep-ball touch is phenomenal, his accuracy is acceptable and he can make plays with his legs.

Petty does not fill an immediate need for the Rams, but it'll give the team a lot to think about if his name is still on the board by the fourth round.

Brett Hundley, UCLA

Brett Hundley has as much raw talent as any quarterback in this class. He has great speed and decent scrambling abilities, and his size is ideal (6'3", 226 lbs).

He's a pure athlete. He knows how to run around the pocket and escape pressure, which could be a valuable asset given St. Louis' horrendous offensive line.

Hundley isn't exactly renowned for his pinpoint accuracy or his throwing mechanics. He requires some development, but a little patience could pay major dividends.



Steven Gerwel is the longest-tenured Rams Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and served as the Rams' game-day correspondent in 2014. You can find more of Gerwel's work by visiting his writer profile or by following him on Twitter.