Intrigue mounts as Rams approach draft day

[RamWraith]

By Jeff Gordon
STLTODAY.COM SPORTS COLUMNIST
Tuesday, Apr. 22 2008

So what will the Rams do Saturday afternoon?

That depends on what other teams have in mind. The Rams hold the much-coveted
second overall pick in the NFL Draft. The intrigue is mounting.

They will have enviable options as their selection time nears. “For the first
time since 2003, a trade involving a top-seven pick could happen,” ESPN expert
John Clayton predicted.

Coach Scott Linehan would love to land cornerstone offensive tackle Jake Long.
But if he goes to the Dolphins with the first overall pick -– and the Palm
Beach Post reports Long is close to agreeing to terms with Miami -- the Rams
would choose between defensive end Chris Long and defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.

Unless . . .

* The Falcons, sitting with the third overall pick, elect to move up one to
secure either Dorsey or quarterback Matt Ryan. The most recent buzz has general
manager Tom Dimitroff coveting Ryan -– who, coincidentally, is also the
preferred choice of owner Arthur Blank.

Previously, there was speculation that the football side REALLY wanted Dorsey.
And some experts still believe the team would take Ryan only if Dorsey is off
the board.

Would Atlanta offer the Rams a later ’08 pick to move up a spot and get the
player it wants? Perhaps, since other teams would like to move up to No. 2.

* The Ravens, at No. 8, also like Ryan. With quarterback Steve McNair retiring,
Baltimore’s need at that position is even more glaring.

This team realizes that Atlanta could take Ryan to turn the page on Michael
Vick. The Ravens should also be aware that the Jets could grab Ryan at No. 6
should Atlanta let him slide.

Also, ESPN notes that the Falcons could draft Dorsey at No. 3 (if the Rams pass
on him) and send three second-round picks (34, 37 and 38) to New England for
the No. 7 pick if Ryan is still on the board.

So Baltimore, too, has motivation to move up. This jump would cost the Ravens
their second-round pick and more -– although a high ’09 pick may not entice
Linehan, who is in the final year of his contract.

At No. 8, the Rams might still have a shot at defensive end Vernon Gholston or
defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis. Odds are, Jake Long, Darren McFadden, Ryan and
either Ryan Clady or Branden Albert (to the Chiefs, who need an offensive
lineman, at No. 5) will also go in the top eight.

* The Saints, at No. 10, also covet the No. 2 pick -– which they would use to
take Dorsey. But do they have enough to lure the Rams out of the top eight? At
No. 10, the Rams would likely miss out on all the top defensive linemen:
Dorsey, Long, Gholston and Ellis.

New Orleans is also working the trade front hard, looking at deals for
cornerback Lito Sheppard and tight end Jeremy Shockey. The Saints will be one
of the teams to watch closely this week.

* If Jake Long unexpectedly fell to No. 2, the Chiefs would want to move up.
Interestingly, Kansas City is willing to lose pass rushing defensive end Jared
Allen. He has the team’s franchise tag and the Chiefs aren’t working on a
long-term deal for him.

Any team signing Allen would have to pay two first-round picks, but Kansas City
appears willing to trade him for less. Minnesota seems eager to spend the 17th
overall pick for Allen and Tampa Bay would jump in if that falls through.

This creates another wild-card situation for the first day of the draft. Rams
fans want their team to get involved in this mix, but that seems like a long
shot.


* The bottom line: If I’m Linehan, Billy Devaney, Jay Zygmunt and Co., I take
Chris Long and stick him at right defensive end. Why fool around? Draft a great
prospect, fill a glaring need and move on.

Or, if all the football people insist that Dorsey is the more dominant player,
then I take him, move Adam Carriker into a flex role and trust James Hall to
provide some passing down pressure at right defensive end.

Either way, the defensive line improves measurably.

To move away from these two options, I would need an opportunity to draft a top
defensive lineman AND help the team at two additional positions right away.

Could such a deal exist? We’ll see. Operations are standing by as you read
this.

[laram0]

The only way I would trade the number 2 pick is if I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse. I say keep the pick and draft a DE, whether it be C. Long or Gholston.

[Mooselini]

The only way I would trade the number 2 pick is if I was offered a deal I couldn't refuse. I say keep the pick and draft a DE, whether it be C. Long or Gholston.

Exactly laram0. We do need a DE, and we obviously can't trust Little or Hall seeming they put up next to no sacks.

We improved our DT's with last years draft, this year should be DE.

[moloch41]

I'm not knocking Dorsey, but I'm hestitant about taking a chance on another DT and just think that DE is more of a need at this point. Can we count on James Hall- who's to say? He didn't impress anyone last year and isn't getting any younger. Perhaps it was due to injury, but he didn't do much in Detroit the year before that either. I say take Chris Long- he's a better all around DE than Gholston is at this point.

[eldfan]

"So Baltimore, too, has motivation to move up. This jump would cost the Ravens
their second-round pick and more -– although a high ’09 pick may not entice
Linehan, who is in the final year of his contract."

Please don't get cute rams make a pick at 2 spot.

[txramsfan]

You know, trading down a few slots is very intriguing to me. Go ahead and take a Philip Merling, get multiple picks in Round 2 and really build this team up. I'm not as sold on Chris Long as the rest of you. I think he'll be a good player, but is he being touted as the 2nd player picked due to need or skill? Not sure. Dorsey is, but the Rams are going into this draft more about need than what's out there and most of the time when teams draft like that, they get burned.

[mde8352gorams]

I know the Rams will talk up Glenn Dorsey to entice other teams to offer a trade into the #2 spot. No one is looking to trade-up for Chris Long. That says something to me. If other teams feel so strongly about Dorsey maybe he's the better choice over C. Long, who I've been hoping for with many of my fellow Clanner's.

My hope given this situation is that Atlanta feels compelled to offer one of their 2nd round picks along with the #3 pick for the chance to get Dorsey. That way we still get C. Long and add some high quality talent with 2 second round picks. If we don't get Dorsey at least we fill more holes for better chance at a better record this year. You know Linehan will subscribe to that philosophy as his neck is on the line this year.

I am worried about Dorsey's injury potential despite Devaney's remarks, which are likely a smokescreen.

Go Rams!:r

[RAMarkable]

I know the Rams will talk up Glenn Dorsey to entice other teams to offer a trade into the #2 spot. No one is looking to trade-up for Chris Long. That says something to me. If other teams feel so strongly about Dorsey maybe he's the better choice over C. Long, who I've been hoping for with many of my fellow Clanner's.

Man, I think you just nailed what I've been thinking for awhile now. Why are no other teams out there talking up Chris Long? Is there anybody that is willing to trade up for him? Could it be that he just isn't as good a prospect as Glen Dorsey? And let's not accuse the Rams of "blowin' smoke" on Dorsey when it appears that the rest of the league is far more excited about him than C. Long.

WHAT SAY YE?

[bruce4life]

I'm loving this rumor about trading with the Jets.

JETS
6th overall pick
Dewayne Robertson
2nd round pic

Rams
2nd overall pick
4th round pick

I AM THROWING THIS TRADE IDEA OUT... I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE JETS ARE OFFERING US

[harrydog]

Man, I think you just nailed what I've been thinking for awhile now. Why are no other teams out there talking up Chris Long? Is there anybody that is willing to trade up for him? Could it be that he just isn't as good a prospect as Glen Dorsey? And let's not accuse the Rams of "blowin' smoke" on Dorsey when it appears that the rest of the league is far more excited about him than C. Long.

WHAT SAY YE?

I think the Rams are blowing smoke with Dorsey but at the same time they are actually considering taking him. I think they may really feel he's the better prospect than Chris Long and I think he is. Chris Long is easy to fall in love with due to his great attitude and work ethic. He'd be an asset to any team. But I think, as some others do, that he's a slightly better version of Grant Wistrom and may have already come close to maxing out his potential. To me that means he'll be solid in the NFL but not really a game changer, and if you have the opportunity to get a real game changer with the 2nd overall pick, I think that's what you should do. Dorsey and Gholston may both have more potential in that respect, with Gholston definitely being more of a question mark. So I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the Rams selcted Dorsey. They actually may prefer trading down a few spots and still be able to select Long or Gholston, but if they stay at #2 they may very well take Dorsey. They could address Little's replacement next year or possibly in the 2nd round this year.
So, while they may be blowing smoke with Dorsey to get someone to trade up, they may also think he's their best choice if they stay at #2.

[RAMarkable]

I think the Rams are blowing smoke with Dorsey but at the same time they are actually considering taking him. I think they may really feel he's the better prospect than Chris Long and I think he is. Chris Long is easy to fall in love with due to his great attitude and work ethic. He'd be an asset to any team. But I think, as some others do, that he's a slightly better version of Grant Wistrom and may have already come close to maxing out his potential. To me that means he'll be solid in the NFL but not really a game changer, and if you have the opportunity to get a real game changer with the 2nd overall pick, I think that's what you should do. Dorsey and Gholston may both have more potential in that respect, with Gholston definitely being more of a question mark. So I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the Rams selcted Dorsey. They actually may prefer trading down a few spots and still be able to select Long or Gholston, but if they stay at #2 they may very well take Dorsey. They could address Little's replacement next year or possibly in the 2nd round this year.
So, while they may be blowing smoke with Dorsey to get someone to trade up, they may also think he's their best choice if they stay at #2.

Well said, Harry. I think you have made a cogent and compelling case as to why the Rams will, infact, draft Glen Dorsey this weekend.

WHAT SAY YE?

[BEER]

This one is easy. We trade down. We have to many needs, and for good
players not Kennedys and Alston's. I say we go down as far as 7 and maybe 4 to the raiders.

[Bar-bq]

I'm loving this rumor about trading with the Jets.

JETS
6th overall pick
Dewayne Robertson
2nd round pic

Rams
2nd overall pick
4th round pick

I AM THROWING THIS TRADE IDEA OUT... I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE JETS ARE OFFERING US

Not likely.

Robertson has been a bum, and has huge salary. Trading down to six basically means that there's a strong chance we miss on Chris Long, and on Dorsey and on Gholston.

No thankyou.

[BEER]

Lets put it this way people, We have the #1 pick right now. That means
we can start contract talks RIGHT N0W. If we dont, it means we
are trading down!.....

[Fat Pang]

I don't think the Rams can afford to trade much past pick 4 or 5. The draft would seem to tail off remarkably in terms of talent after the Longs, Dorsey, McFadden and Gholston and this makes it unlikely that the Rams have much leeway for a trade. As someone else made clear even falling to #6 isn't really an option despite picking up another 2nd round pick.

We have to be at #2,3 or 4 to be guaranteed of getting some sort of blue-chip prospect and teams outside of Atlanta aren't really interested. So the intrigue, as far as I'm concerned, is largely manufactured. If the Rams can convince the Falcons that they might well take Dorsey they can pick up another 2nd rounder and get Long. That's the best scenario they can hope for.

Either Dorsey or Long would be good.