Av's 2012 Rams Draft Board (Version 1.0)

[AvengerRam]

A few weeks ago, I provided a list of my overall top 10 (anticipated) draft prospects for 2012. Now, with the underclassmen declared and the Rams' HC in place, here is my first Rams draft board for 2012.

As this is a board for the Rams only you won't see any QBs, DEs, MLBs or lower value positions (FB, TE, C, MLB, K, P) on the list. I've also eliminated 3-4 NTs and pretty much all ILB prospects.

I'm going to go 25 deep in consideration of the possibility that the Rams might trade down and obtain additional premium picks. Truth is, even if the Rams stay at Nos. 2 and 33, they'd probably have a chance to take two of the players in my Top 25.

With that, here is my preliminary list:

The Top 10

1. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Measurables will be important in the evaluation season, but anyone who saw Blackmon play in the last two years understands that he's a great football player.

2. Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Unlike some, I doubt I'd ever have him jump to the top spot for the Rams. That said, if the Rams were to move down a couple of spots and miss out on Blackmon, he'd be a great addition.

3. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
With the health of the Rams' starting CBs a question mark, a Blue Chip CB prospect like Claiborne is tempting.

4. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
You have to like Richardson's ability to run inside and out, and to catch the ball. I'll be curious to see just how much breakaway speed he has when timed.

5. Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
The man responsible for keeping Andrew Luck's jersey clean could do the same for Sam Bradford.

6. Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
With Reiff declared, the OT spot is much deeper at the top than the WR position, where Blackmon is the only elite and complete prospect I see.

7. Devon Still, DT, Penn State
DT is a bigger need than some might realize, and Still is my top 4-3 DT prospect.

8. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
He'd probably be in my top 5 or 6, but his recent arrest will require a lot of due diligence. Jeff Fisher will want to make sure he's not another Pacman Jones (probably an unfair comparison, but you get my point - and yes, all this applies x2 for Janoris Jenkins).

9. Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama
His 40 time will be key, as he is a big LB (260 lbs) for a 4-3 system in the NFL.

10. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
Another player with some off the field question marks, Floyd is a physical specimen who had great production in college.

The Rest (11-25)

11. David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
12. Janoris Jenkins, CB, N.Alabama
13. Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina
14. Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina
15. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
16. Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
17. Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
18. Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska
19. Almeda Ta'amu, DT, Washington
20. Kelechi Osemele, OT/OG, Iowa State
21. Zebrie Sanders, OT, Florida State
22. Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State
23. Mark Barron, S, Alabama
24. Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
25. Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

[richtree]

Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State will probably end up higher than Reiff....

[Bald_81]

You wouldn't even move Kalil up to the top spot if the Rams signed someone like Vincent Jackson or Marques Colston in free agency? I know we need more than just one of them, but if we got a bonafide WR1 then I'd think the situation would certainly change.

[Rambos]

Good list... not sure why Center is not a need or a lower value position.

I would think a center could be a position of need if we traded back.

If we traded with the Browns and at 4 took Blackmon and then at 22 took Peter Konz C Wisconsin. Would fill a need...

[AvengerRam]

You wouldn't even move Kalil up to the top spot if the Rams signed someone like Vincent Jackson or Marques Colston in free agency? I know we need more than just one of them, but if we got a bonafide WR1 then I'd think the situation would certainly change.

Both of those players are in the 30 year old range. I don't think signing a guy that old would change my desire to add Blackmon.

[AvengerRam]

Good list... not sure why Center is not a need or a lower value position.

I would think a center could be a position of need if we traded back.

If we traded with the Browns and at 4 took Blackmon and then at 22 took Peter Konz C Wisconsin. Would fill a need...

How many centers are taken that high? Not many (Nick Mangold comes to mind, but few others).

[codeman123]

Alex Mack at 21, and the two Pouncey's come to mind. How is center not more important that guard? In the top ten there's no chance of us picking a lineman without the acronym OT, but after that if Konz of DeCastro is the best player he should be the pick.
By contract Mike Pouncey (Miami) has a 4 year 9 million contract. Very fair for a starting center and a first round pick.

[AvengerRam]

Alex Mack at 21, and the two Pouncey's come to mind. How is center not more important that guard? In the top ten there's no chance of us picking a lineman without the acronym OT, but after that if Konz of DeCastro is the best player he should be the pick.
By contract Mike Pouncey (Miami) has a 4 year 9 million contract. Very fair for a starting center and a first round pick.

Mack was more of a C/OG coming out of school, while Mike Pouncey was arguably over-drafted due to his bother's success.

I'm not saying a C could never be worth a Round 1 grade, I just don't have any that make my Top 25. DeCastro is an unusually good prospect at OG, and Osemele is a OG/RT prospect. Beyond that, I don't have any interior linemen on my list.

[general counsel]

Av, curious why you dont think OG cordy glenn from georgia is a top 25 guy as an interior lineman. Also, while i agree not a top 25 guy, any opinion on the georgia center as a round 2 guy.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[THOLTFAN81]

Good list, thanks for the info.

[AvengerRam]

As a general rule, I don't think OGs and centers are likely targets for Top 50 picks. I have a couple of possible exceptions listed but, beyond these players, I'd probably wait to Round 3 to consider these spots.

[punahou]

How many centers are taken that high? Not many (Nick Mangold comes to mind, but few others).

pouncey.

Id actually like to see blackmon and reif rd 1 and Miller Rd 2.

[HUbison]

Id actually like to see blackmon and reif rd 1 and Miller Rd 2.

Where's that extra 1st round pick coming from?

[punahou]

Where's that extra 1st round pick coming from?

trade with Browns=P

[HUbison]

trade with Browns=P

Yea, that's what I thought. Only problem is that Reif probably doesn't get past the #12 slot, much less #22. But, you never know.