Av's FINAL Rams Draft Board

[AvengerRam]

Here is my final top 50 prospects. I figure that two of these players will be Rams by the end of the day on Friday of draft week:

1.Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2.Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3.Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4.C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
5.Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
6.Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
7.Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
8.Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
9.Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
10.Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
11.Joe Haden, CB, Florida
12.Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
13.Earl Thomas, S, Texas
14.Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
15.Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
16.Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State
17.Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
18.Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
19.Everson Griffen, DE, USC
20.Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
21.Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
22.Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
23.Sergio Kindle, OLB/DE, Texas
24.Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
25.Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
26.Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
27.Jahvid Best, RB, California
28.Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
29.Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan
30.Vladimire Ducasse, OT, Massachusetts
31.Brian Price, DT, UCLA
32.Patrick Robinson, CB, FSU
33.Lamarr Houston, DT, Texase
34.Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
35.Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
36.Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
37.Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
38.Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
39.Donald Butler, OLB, Washington
40. Tyson Alualu, DT, California
41. Daryl Washington, LB, TCU
42. Damian Williams, WR, USC
43. Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
44. Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
45. Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina
46. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
47. Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
48. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
49. Brandon McGhee, CB, Wake Forest
50. Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern

[mde8352gorams]

Interesting that you didn't have Daryl Washington from TCU on your list and Donald Butler on it. Any rationale you care to share?

I still hope we get fortunate that Sean Weatherspoon falls to us at #33. I know, "dreaming"

What are your thoughts on Alex Carrington from Ark St, he had a good Senior Bowl outing. You had us taking him in Round 3 of your mock draft.

Go Rams!

[AvengerRam]

Interesting that you didn't have Daryl Washington from TCU on your list and Donald Butler on it. Any rationale you care to share?

Sure. Washington is a good prospect, and would probably make my list if I went 45 or 50 deep. However, I prefer Butler's size (245 lbs.) to Washington's (230 lbs.) because I think the Rams need bigger front 7 players (they are almost the same height at a hair under 6'2). I project Butler as a SLB, while Washington is a pure WLB.

I still hope we get fortunate that Sean Weatherspoon falls to us at #33. I know, "dreaming"

Yeah, I think that's unlikely, particularly considering how shallow the LB pool is in this draft (I have Weatherspoon ranked as the top OLB).

What are your thoughts on Alex Carrington from Ark St, he had a good Senior Bowl outing. You had us taking him in Round 3 of your mock draft.

I like Carrington a lot, but I think he might be a bit of a reach as #33. I would definitely grab him at #65 if he is still there.

[TheBritishRam]

Sure. Washington is a good prospect, and would probably make my list if I went 45 or 50 deep. However, I prefer Butler's size (245 lbs.) to Washington's (230 lbs.) because I think the Rams need bigger front 7 players (they are almost the same height at a hair under 6'2). I project Butler as a SLB, while Washington is a pure WLB.

Wouldn't you expect the Rams to take Washington over Butler though. Obviously you want to take the BPA but if there is not a lot between them then, then the Rams should fill a need at WLB. I think Vobora it solid at SLB but there is no one at the moment on the Rams' roster who fills me with confidence at WLB.

Also I just looked up their pro day results, Washington weighed in at 229 lbs and Butler was in at 235 lbs.

[AvengerRam]

Wouldn't you expect the Rams to take Washington over Butler though. Obviously you want to take the BPA but if there is not a lot between them then, then the Rams should fill a need at WLB. I think Vobora it solid at SLB but there is no one at the moment on the Rams' roster who fills me with confidence at WLB.

Also I just looked up their pro day results, Washington weighed in at 229 lbs and Butler was in at 235 lbs.

Interesting weight measurements... different from what I've seen at DraftCountdown.com, but who knows?

If the Rams ended up taking Washington over Butler, I wouldn't exactly be upset about it. I just think that Butler, who is (and, from what I've read) plays bigger would be preferable.

I'll say this as well... these are guys I rate in the 40-50 range as prospects, so I don't know that I'd rush to take either with the 33rd pick. Rather, they are options I'd consider if the Rams trade down in the second round.

[thickandthin]

Why only Jermaine Gresham? IMO Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham are right up there with him.

[AvengerRam]

Gronkowski is a major health risk with his back issues.

Graham has huge upside, but I see him as more of a Round 3 prospect.

[AvengerRam]

*UPDATE*

Because I'm thinking more and more that the Rams might trade down from pick #33, I've expanded my board to my top 50 prospects.

I've also dropped one player, Corey Wootton, because I've read a few concerning reports about his recovery from his knee injury in 2008.

[Nick]

Overall, it looks like a very good list for the Rams. A couple of notes...



1.Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2.Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3.Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

-Personal preference obviously, but I'd put Suh ahead of Bradford. Might even put McCoy ahead of him, but that's a tougher call.


4.C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

-I just can't put Spiller that high when we already have Steven Jackson on the team. The Rams have a big need at the back-up RB position, but it's tough to put a guy that high when you'd be drafting him to be a back-up.


5.Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
6.Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
7.Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

-I like Derrick Morgan and I think our need at DE outweighs our need at tackle or safety, but I have a hard time ranking him above Okung and Berry.


8.Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
9.Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
10.Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
11.Joe Haden, CB, Florida

-I like Dan Williams, but I view him as more of a nose tackle prospect than a three technique player. For that, I'd probably drop him down the list a bit since we have Clifton Ryan on the nose. For instance, I'd probably put all three of the players after him above him.


12.Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
13.Earl Thomas, S, Texas

-You're a bit higher on Wilson than I am; I'd probably prefer Thomas, especially with Atogwe still not signed long-term. But the Rams do need someone to start opposite of Bartell, and who knows if Fletcher can be that guy.



14.Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
15.Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State

-I like Thomas a lot, but I have a hard time putting him above Bryant. Maybe the off-the-field stuff tips the scales for you, but if I had a choice, I'd probably go Dez, hoping our locker room is strong enough to keep him in line.


16.Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State
17.Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

-This is a good spot on the board to start considering #2 running backs, I think. As for Clausen, I'm more with you than against you on this ranking. The attitude scares me, but also I'm just not blown away by his tape.


18.Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
19.Everson Griffen, DE, USC
20.Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
21.Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri

-Keeping in mind that this is for the Rams specifically, I'd probably put Griffen, Graham, and Weatherspoon above Iupati. All of those positions are needs, but guard strikes me as the lowest of the three and the one of least positional importance.


22.Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
23.Sergio Kindle, OLB/DE, Texas
24.Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
25.Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

-I like this, though I'd actually think about putting Trent Williams a bit higher. If the Rams believe Jason Smith is their left tackle of the future, and all indications are they do, then Williams could lock down that right side with him.


26.Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
27.Jahvid Best, RB, California
28.Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

-I like this, but maybe not in this order. I'd give Gresham the nod with McCoy following, then Best since he'd be drafted as a back-up.


29.Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan

-I like LeFevour as a third round option; I'd have to disagree about putting him this high.


30.Vladimire Ducasse, OT, Massachusetts
31.Brian Price, DT, UCLA
32.Patrick Robinson, CB, FSU
33.Lamarr Houston, DT, Texase
34.Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
35.Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
36.Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State

-I agree with most of this section of the ranking, though I'm not quite as high on Houston.


37.Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
38.Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
39.Donald Butler, OLB, Washington
40. Tyson Alualu, DT, California
41. Daryl Washington, LB, TCU
42. Damian Williams, WR, USC
43. Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
44. Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
45. Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina
46. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
47. Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
48. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
49. Brandon McGhee, CB, Wake Forest
50. Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern

-Looks pretty good. I'm higher on Wootton and Williams than some, and I wonder if guys like Hughes, Cody, and Norwood are 3-4 specific. Otherwise, looks good to me.


I know you'd said earlier that you left McClain off since the Rams already had their MLB, but a couple of guys whom I noticed were missing were...

Taylor Mays
Charles Brown
Maurkice Pouncey
Rob Gronkowski

Any specific concerns about these four that would cause you to leave them off your list?

[AvengerRam]

First... thanks for the comments!

I know you'd said earlier that you left McClain off since the Rams already had their MLB, but a couple of guys whom I noticed were missing were...

Taylor Mays
Charles Brown
Maurkice Pouncey
Rob Gronkowski

Any specific concerns about these four that would cause you to leave them off your list?

Sure...

Taylor Mays: I think his coverage skills are a concern, and will limit him to the SS position. I can't imagine using a Top 50 pick on a SS.

Charles Brown: Given his size (he weighed 303 at 6'5 at the Combine, but reportedly played at 285-290 last year), I see him as more of a LT, particularly in a zone blocking scheme. At RT, I want someone with a bit more size.

Maurkice Pouncey: I think he is a very good prospect, but we don't need a center. I recognize that he could potentially play OG, but that is not a need spot for us. The only OG I have on the list is Iupati. He seems to me to be an elite OG prospect, and could potentially play RT.

Rob Gronkowski: I'm scared off by his back injury. Maybe he'll be fine, but back injuries are big red flags for me.

[Nick]

Sound like very reasonable points to me. Excellent job on the board!

[AvengerRam]

Updated (players remaining are in bold):

1.Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma
2.Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
3.Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
4.C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
5.Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
6.Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State
7.Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
8.Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
9.Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
10.Brian Bulaga, OT, Iowa
11.Joe Haden, CB, Florida
12.Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
13.Earl Thomas, S, Texas
14.Demaryius Thomas, WR, Georgia Tech
15.Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State
16.Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State
17.Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame*
18.Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho
19.Everson Griffen, DE, USC
20.Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
21.Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
22.Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
23.Sergio Kindle, OLB/DE, Texas
24.Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
25.Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
26.Colt McCoy, QB, Texas*
27.Jahvid Best, RB, California
28.Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
29.Dan LeFevour, QB, Central Michigan*
30.Vladimire Ducasse, OT, Massachusetts
31.Brian Price, DT, UCLA
32.Patrick Robinson, CB, FSU
33.Lamarr Houston, DT, Texase
34.Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
35.Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
36.Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State
37.Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
38.Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
39.Donald Butler, OLB, Washington
40. Tyson Alualu, DT, California
41. Daryl Washington, LB, TCU
42. Damian Williams, WR, USC
43. Jared Veldheer, OT, Hillsdale
44. Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama
45. Eric Norwood, LB, South Carolina
46. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
47. Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse
48. Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
49. Brandon McGhee, CB, Wake Forest
50. Corey Wootton, DE, Northwestern

*Off the Board Due to Drafting of Sam Bradford

[TheBritishRam]

Is it too late to put Saffold on your board?

[AvengerRam]

I didn't have him on my board because I viewed him as more of a pure LT prospect, and the Rams are set there with Jason Smith.

After the Rams selected him, I read several more reviews on him, and it seems that many think he would be a good fit at RT, or even OG.

So, yeah, I missed on that one.