With Jake Long gone, and the probability of the Rams drafting DT Glenn Dorsey seeming even more likely, Rams fans and draftniks seem of the opinion that the Rams should and will fill that defensive end or offensive line need in round two.
That might make sense, but then again, that 33rd pick is damn near a #1, so should the Rams, or any team, start thinking need that early over clearly better players who might fall out of round one ?
This is a team truly without a real strength area, where no help is necessary, with perhaps the exception of tight end, and also at defensive tackle, with Dorsey safely on board in round one. And really, with Adam Carriker becoming at least a DE half the time, doesn't that lessen the need there already?
Looking at the talent pool, can the Rams afford to pass up a guy like Brian Brohm if he falls. This guy was on a bad team, but still threw for 4000 yards and 30 TD last year, completing over 65% of his passes.
Brohm is far better than guys like Kevin Kolb, who went early to the Eagles, or John Beck, who was taken by Miami. Last year he would have been a top 15 pick had he come out, and the fact is, the Rams may not get a chance to draft a better young passer the next few years without using a #1.
And what about a back like Ray Rice, who ran for over 2000 yards and scored 24 TDs his junior year? He looks to be this year's Maurice Jones-Drew, and is of similar build. He is certainly a better prospect than his former teammate Brian Leonard, and the Rams took him in round two.
Leonard needs to just concentrate on playing fullback, which leave the Rams with no backup behind
Steven Jackson. With the team looking to run more, a change of pace guy like Rice would be a great addition. There are a few other good looking backs in the second round area, but they are not coming from a program like Rice did, or have his stats.
Those two alone seem to be far better prospects than Calais Campbell, Lawrence Jackson, Gosder Cherilus, or Sam Baker, who play those so called "need positions" of defensive end and offensive tackle. None of them, especially the O-linemen, could play near as big a part of winning in 2008 as Rice could.
And if you are looking just for the future with that pick, then why not Brohm, who in two years could be the starter at the most key position.
None of the cornerbacks or wide receivers that will be there at #33 are close to those two either, and may not be better than the large group going in round three at both positions.
The same goes for linebackers, which could include a couple good ones, most notably Dan Connor out of Penn State and Jared Mayo.
The Rams may not be able to justify taking Darren McFadden or Matt Ryan in round one, but if the best guys on the board in round two play those positions, the Rams should not let so called need blind them to who the best player is.
That pick, not the #1, will probably be the real key to this draft for the Rams, along with that high #3 that will be on day two now, giving the team a night to restack their board and see if any trade downs can be done without losing the guy you want. There are always big offers for that first or second pick on day two, and this year will be no exception, and there could be more interest now that it is a top 65 pick.
Fans may moan and groan if the Rams take a halfback or a quarterback in round two, but that pick may be the real test for the new Rams GM, and the rest of the organization's ability to draft wisely.