Av's Rams Draft Board - **FINAL VERSION**

[AvengerRam]

FINAL VERSION

I've made some final changes, the most important being my upgrading of the need rating on CB, whichs puts Revis and Hall in the top 15.

Every year, I do a Rams draft board based upon a numerical rating of 1 to 10. Each rating consists of two scores, a "skill" rating, and a "need" rating. Here's what the ratings indicate:

Skill Rating
5 – Blue Chip prospect. Likely a top 10 pick. Should be an instant starter and a potential Pro Bowl Player.
4 – First round prospect. Should compete for starting job as a rookie.
3 – Marginal first rounder. Could go in late first or early second. Might start for team that has a true need at position.
2 – First day pick/non-first rounder. Likely to go in second or third round.
1 – Second day pick.

Need Rating
5 – Immediate need. Expected to start as a rookie.
4 – Secondary need. Expected to compete for starting position in first 2 years.
3 – Future need. Expected to merit playing time early and eventually compete for starting role.
2 – Depth pick. Long term starter in place. Depth needed.
1 – Luxury pick. No immediate need for starter or depth.

Need Ratings by Position: QB 1.0; RB 2.0; WR 2.0; TE 1.5; OT 2.0; OG 3.5; C 3.5; DE 4.5; DT 4.5; OLB 4.0; MLB 3.0; CB 3.5; S 4.0

In the event of a tie score, rankings based on: (1) higher skill rating, (2) my perception of how well player would fit with Rams.

I have also eliminated players who fall into the category of non-need Blue Chips. They are: Calvin Johnson, Brady Quinn, JaMarcus Russell and Adrian Peterson.

So, that's the system and, without further adieu, here is my current:

2007 Rams Draft Board

Name/Position/School Total Rating (Skill Rating/Need Rating)

1. Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas 9.5 (5.0/4.5)
2. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson 9.5 (5.0/4.5)
3. Amobe Okoye, DT, Louisville 9.0 (4.5/4.5)
4. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska 9.0 (4.5/4.5)
5. LaRon Landry, S, LSU 8.5 (4.5/4.0)
6. Patrick Willis, OLB, Mississippi 8.5 (4.5/4.0)
7. Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State 8.0 (4.0/4.0)
8. Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee 8.0 (3.5/4.5)
9. Alan Branch, DT, Michigan 8.0 (3.5/4.5)
10. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh 7.5 (4.0/3.5)
11. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan 7.5 (4.0/3.5)
12. Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida 7.5 (3.0/4.5)
13. Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia 7.5 (3.0/4.5)
14. Reggie Nelson, S, Florida 7.0 (3.0/4.0)
15. Lawrence Timmons, OLB, FSU 7.0 (3.0/4.0)

[BigGame]

I generally like the board.

My only concern is that you haven't ranked Alan Branch or LaRon Landry as Blue Chippers.

Now I know you don't like Branch's apparent work ethic issues, but I don't think you can deny that these guys are still projected almost everywhere as top 10 picks.

Landry may be the best free safety prospect in combine history.

[txramsfan]

I think you are missing one player that should be on that board despite his injury and that is Adrian Peterson. This guy is going to be a stud in the NFL.

BTW.....Great Blue North has Okoye going 9th to Miami and Carriker dropping to the Rams at 13

[AvengerRam]

Peterson is one of my excluded players. He'd probably have a score of 6.5 or 7.0, depending on whether you give him a 4.5 or a 5.0 on the Skill Rating, but since there's pretty much no chance that he would drop to the Rams and no chance that the Rams would take a RB with the 13th pick, I've kept him off the board (along with Calvin Johnson and the top QBs).

[laram0]

9 of the 15 on the list play either DE or DT...Love it!!!

[txramsfan]

That makes sense. Tell you what, if Houston pulls off a trade to draft Peterson in Rd 1 I think what they did last year getting Mario Williams and passing on Bush may have turned out to be genius.

[cfh128]

Eh... genius might be too strong a word. I don't think they planned on playing so poorly that they would be in the position to possibly draft Peterson this year.

That being said, with the signing of Ahman Green and the possible return of Dominick Williams, I am not sure if RB is their most pressing need right now.

[txramsfan]

Ahman Green and Dominick Williams Davis aren't top flight backs anymore. Mario played pretty well at the end of the year.

Oh what the ......

[general counsel]

I expect the Human Toenail to have a great second season.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[AvengerRam]

After Carriker's pro day workout, I've bumped him into a tie for 3rd with Okoye.

[BigGame]

There is no way Carriker should have a higher skill rating than Landry.

And I believe you have DE's as a 4.0 need, making him, at best, an 8.5 on your scale.

[AvengerRam]

I have DE at 4.5.

Landry is a very good prospect, but even if you had him at 5.0 on skill, he'd still be below Carriker.

Carriker is 6'6, 291, and runs a 4.7 and change. He was very productive at Nebraska, particularly against the run, which is the Rams' primary need.

[BigGame]

Hey Av,

That makes more sense to have DE at 4.5, but just so you can make the change, that would bring Adams, Anderson, and Charles Johnson up a half point.

As far as Carriker vs. Landry goes, I do agree that Carriker is incredibly talented. Though I am baffled by your personal love of his "workout warrior" numbers, h has put on a coule good performances so far. Beating Stewart Bradley, a lineback, in the 40 is impressive for a dude that big.

I guess my beef comes more with the fact that you only have Landry a 4.0 talent. Is there some reason you disagree with the so-called draft experts who have pegged him as one of the best safety prospects to come along?

[laram0]

Hey Av,

That makes more sense to have DE at 4.5, but just so you can make the change, that would bring Adams, Anderson, and Charles Johnson up a half point.

As far as Carriker vs. Landry goes, I do agree that Carriker is incredibly talented. Though I am baffled by your personal love of his "workout warrior" numbers, h has put on a coule good performances so far. Beating Stewart Bradley, a lineback, in the 40 is impressive for a dude that big.

I guess my beef comes more with the fact that you only have Landry a 4.0 talent. Is there some reason you disagree with the so-called draft experts who have pegged him as one of the best safety prospects to come along?

Bottom line is that we need a DE or DT desparately.:r

[snowbozo21]

I don't think Carriker is a good fit for us. Just my opinion, he will do well in a whiners uniform though bc they run a 3-4 D.