What is going on with the other team involved in the Eagles' acquisition of quarterback Sam Bradford?
The St. Louis Rams own the No. 10 overall pick and addressed the quarterback position by getting Nick Foles in exchange for Bradford. However, head coach Jeff Fisher said at the NFL Annual Meetings last month that it is the Rams' "intention to draft" a quarterback. It doesn't seem like St. Louis will use the No. 10 pick here so let's go in another direction.
The Rams used the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft on Greg Robinson, who started the season at left guard before shifting over to his permanent left tackle position midway through the season. That shouldn't prevent them from using another top-10 selection on the line to help protect Foles. With the first offensive lineman off the board in our Fan Mock Draft, as Brandon Scherff was selected by the Giants at No. 9, does a run begin on the position group and, if so, who is next?
The Rams re-signed their top wide receiver from last season in Kenny Britt, who had 48 catches for 748 yards and three touchdowns. The leading receiver in terms of receptions was tight end Jared Cook, who had just four more grabs than Britt. Former second-round pick Brian Quick is coming back from an extensive shoulder injury that cost him the second half of the 2014 season. At this point, the Rams are simply hoping that Quick will be ready for Training Camp.
Well, the Rams can alleviate those concerns by taking the next wide receiver in the draft. Louisville's DeVante Parker is outstanding at winning contested catches while Central Florida's Breshad Perriman has an intriguing blend of size and speed.
Last season, the Rams had a second first-round pick and used it on defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a disruptive force who had 9.0 sacks in his first season and won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The Rams were projected to lead the league in sacks and while they came up short of that goal they could add another pass-rush talent to mix in with Donald and ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long. Randy Gregory's boom-or-bust potential has been well-documented, but Fisher took a chance on a similar prospect in cornerback Janoris Jenkins back in 2012 and it paid off for the Rams.
St. Louis struck big late in the draft a year ago with cornerback E.J. Gaines, a sixth-round selection who started all 16 games. The Rams have two good starting cornerbacks with Gaines and Jenkins, but if Trae Waynes is the best player on the board ... will they pull the trigger?
To summarize, the Rams have talent, but are stuck in one of the NFL's toughest divisions. They humbled the Denver Broncos, posted back-to-back shutouts and beat the NFC champion Seahawks. However, they entered the final three-game stretch of the season with a chance for a .500 record or better and lost all three games - Arizona, New York Giants and Seattle – to finish 6-10.
They have a new quarterback in Foles, who guided the Eagles to a playoff appearance two years ago. Foles won't have to worry about being the subject of more quarterback rumblings in this Fan Mock Draft. If not a quarterback, then who will be the Rams pick? You decide. !
- 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: QB Jameis Winston
- 2. Tennessee Titans: DL Leonard Williams
- 3. Jacksonville Jaguars: LB Dante Fowler, Jr.
- 4. Oakland Raiders: WR Amari Cooper
- 5. Washington Redskins: LB Vic Beasley
- 6. New York Jets: QB Marcus Mariota
- 7. Chicago Bears: WR Kevin White
- 8. Atlanta Falcons: LB Shane Ray
- 9. New York Giants: T/G Brandon Scherff
