I've said it before, I am a Miami Dolphins fan, but I've also lamented that it's difficult to follow a team that isn't the Patriots, Saints, or Giants from 1,200 miles away. So, I like to follow the entirety of the NFL, and I immerse myself in local sports just about every day. By virtue of living in St. Louis, I get a lot of information about the St. Louis Rams. The talk around here, of course, is centered around what the Rams will be doing in this weekend's NFL Draft, most notably with their 6th overall pick tomorrow night.
The Rams have a litany of glaring needs. I could list them here, but I think that it's a better use of my time and yours to talk about what they don't need. The Rams still believe in their quarterback Sam Bradford, despite a dismal injury-filled second season, and I find it hard to disagree with the team at this point. Steven Jackson is the captain and the star of the team, though he's beyond the most productive years of a typical NFL running back and a change of pace back to help Jackson rest more frequently might be useful. Defensive end Chris Long has made strides every year of his young career and is on the verge of becoming a star. Similarly, linebacker James Laurinaitis is a key component to the defense and a star on the rise. The Rams also addressed the need of filling out a disappointing defensive backfield by signing free agent corner Cortland Finnegan.
But that's about it for the positions the Rams will likely not be looking to improve before the beginning of the 2012 regular season. The team is desperate for play makers on offense, particularly wide receivers and tight ends that Bradford can throw to. The performance of the offensive line, despite the presence of recent high draft picks Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold, has to be improved as well. Long could use another pass rushing threat on the other side of the defensive line, and Laurinaitis can't be the only effective linebacker if the Rams' defense is going to be effective. And just the same, the defensive backfield needs more than Finnegan.
So, where do the Rams go with the #6 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft? The overriding feeling I have is that if they don't get a player that can contribute significant performance in 2012 and beyond after earning every bit of the #2 pick and then trading it, the team will be in a holding pattern once again and not take a necessary and significant step forward for yet another year.
Most talk in this area has focused on the team addressing the black hole at the wide receiver position, and the player most people crave is Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon. But there's also talk of Blackmon being coveted by the Minnesota Vikings at #3 and the Cleveland Browns at #4, so if Blackmon isn't available for the Rams, where do they go with the #6 pick? The possibility remains that they could trade the pick if they don't like the remaining options at that slot, but the further they go, the less likely they get a player than can be a star to help for the coming year and beyond. If wide receiver is still the Rams' first priority, they could target Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, whom some experts rate at better than Blackmon.
The Rams could use LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne, but him slipping past the Buccaneers to the Rams isn't likely. Alabama running back Trent Richardson would be a benefit to Steven Jackson and his longevity, and he would be the dynamic offensive weapon the Rams could use. But Richardson is also not likely to fall to #6 and he does nothing to solve a high priority, immediate need of the Rams. USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil is an option for the Rams, but they've already invested high draft picks, tons of money, and roster space to the offensive line; to me, throwing more resources at the position with already rostered players that could help would be inadvisable.
Assuming that Andrew Luck goes to the Colts, Robert Griffin to Washington (both of which is almost a certainty), and Claiborne, Kalil, and Richardson are off the board, my expectation is that Blackmon is the way the Rams use their first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and if he's not available the team could then turn to a just as talented wide receiver in Michael Floyd. Then, the next challenge for the Rams is to figure out how to use the #33 and #39 picks.
By the way, as a Dolphin's fan, I have also perked up when NFL Draft talk comes around to the Dolphins. It seems the Dolphins have their mind set on Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill. Miami needs a long-term plan at QB for sure, but Tannehill, a former wide receiver, is a developmental work-in-progress. I just wish there would be a more immediate solution for the Dolphins, but without Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin in play, the best option remains Tannehill.
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