Mock Draft: Blackmon or Claiborne for Rams? Jim T. Mel Kiper & more ..

[MauiRam]

COMPILED BY THE POST-DISPATCH Posted: Sunday, March 25, 2012

Following the NFL Combine and many individual pro day workouts, draft boards are moving. We offer our first in a series of mock drafts leading up the NFL’s draft April 26-28.


JIM THOMAS, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

1. Indianapolis Colts

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams)

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings

Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

4. Cleveland Browns

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

8. Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

9. Carolina Panthers

Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

10. Buffalo Bills

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

11. Kansas City Chiefs

Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

12. Seattle Seahawks

Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

13. Arizona Cardinals

Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

14. Dallas Cowboys

Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

16. New York Jets

Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers

David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19. Chicago Bears

Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

20. Tennessee Titans

Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

21. Cincinnati Bengals

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)

Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

23. Detroit Lions

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers

Cordy Glenn, G/T, Georgia

25. Denver Broncos

Mark Barron, S, Alabama

26. Houston Texans

Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

27. New England Patriots (from Saints)

Devon Still, DT, Penn State

28. Green Bay Packers

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

29. Baltimore Ravens

Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco *****

Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

31. New England Patriots

Nick Perry, DE, Southern California

32. New York Giants

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State



* * *

MEL KIPER, ESPN.com

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

8. Miami Dolphins: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

10. Buffalo Bills: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

12. Seattle Seahawks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

13. Arizona Cardinals; Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

16. New York Jets: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

19. Chicago Bears: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio St.

20. Tennessee Titans: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Lavonte David, LB, Nebraska

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama

25. Denver Broncos: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

27. New England Patriots (from Saints): Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

28. Green Bay Packers: Nick Perry, LB, USC

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco *****: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

31. New England Patriots: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford



* * *

CHARLEY CASSERLY, NFL Network:

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

8. Miami Dolphins: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

9. Carolina Panthers: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

10. Buffalo Bills: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

12. Seattle Seahawks: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, T, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

20. Tennessee Titans: Devon Still, DT, Penn St.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio St.

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St.

26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

27. New England Patriots (from Saints): Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

28. Green Bay Packers: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

30. San Francisco *****: Brandon Thompson, DT, Clemson

31. New England Patriots: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.

32. New York Giants: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College



* * *

ROB RANG, CBSsports.com

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

4. Cleveland Browns: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

8. Miami Dolphins: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

10. Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

11. Kansas City Chiefs: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

13. Arizona Cardinals: Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina

14. Dallas Cowboys: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

16. NY Jets: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

19. Chicago Bears: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

20. Tennessee Titans: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Rueben Randle, WR, LSU

28. Green Bay Packers: Kendall Reyes, DT, Connecticut

29. Baltimore Ravens: Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

30. San Francisco *****: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

31. New England Patriots: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California

32. NY Giants: Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson



* * *

TODD McSHAY, ESPN.com

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (from Wash.): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

10. Buffalo Bills: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Riley Reiff , OT,Iowa

12. Seattle Seahawks: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

16. New York Jets: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

20. Tennessee Titans: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

23. Detroit Lions: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

25. Denver Broncos: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

28. Green Bay Packers: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco *****: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

31. New England Patriots: Devon Still, DT, Penn State

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford



* * *

BUCKY BROOKS, NFL.com

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (from Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

8. Miami Dolphins: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina

9. Carolina Panthers: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

10. Buffalo Bills: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College

12. Seattle Seahawks: David DeCastro, G, Stanford

13. Arizona Cardinals: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

14. Dallas Cowboys: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.

16. New York Jets: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, T, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

20. Tennessee Titans: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

23. Detroit Lions: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio St.

25. Denver Broncos: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

26. Houston Texans: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

27. New England Patriots (from Saints): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

28. Green Bay Packers: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse

29. Baltimore Ravens: Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama

30. San Francisco *****: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

31. New England Patriots: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama

32. New York Giants: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

[DE_Ramfan]

Pretty interesting. I think JT's makes the most sense to me out of all of these when I look at all 32 picks. McShay's is pretty solid too.

Rang looks like he's hoping for the upset special at #4 (the ol' one in a million shot but you look like a genius if you get it right).

Casserly has the Dolphins and Panthers confused I think.

Seems like there's no consensus on what to make of Floyd. He's all over these boards.

[tomahawk247]

I'd be very surprised if the Rams took Claiborne with Blackmon still on the board

[Fortuninerhater]

I'd be very surprised if the Rams took Claiborne with Blackmon still on the board

I wouldn't be, because I think Jeff Fisher would rather have a dominant defense over a dominant offense if he could only have one.

[MauiRam]

I wouldn't be, because I think Jeff Fisher would rather have a dominant defense over a dominant offense if he could only have one.

If he could only have one (dominance on O, or dominance on D), you're probably right. However, I'm hoping he prefers both. The longer our O can stay on the field, the more our D rests, while the opposing team's O is riding pine and therefore not scoring. Consistent three & outs by any team's offense, will result in wearing said team's defense no matter how good their players are. Eventually they'll be worn to a frazzle, and start giving up big plays and points ..

At this particular time, we don't have much on O except for Sam and Steven. I'd say acquiring skill players for our O is certainly a huge priority. Compared to our offense, I'd venture that our D is currently more dominant. (Long, Quinn, Mikell, Finnegan, James L. etc,)

The criteria (IMO) for the Rams (i.e. Fisher and Snead) should be which player at #6 represents the most value for the Rams overall. Since we don't know how the Rams' board is stacked, no one can be sure where any particular position on O or D will be addressed. For all we know L&F (Les & Fish) may really like some of the receivers projected to go in later rounds, and be content to wait until the 2nd or 3rd rds to address that position. If Blackmon & Claiborne were still available at #6, then we'd know for sure, but the odds of that happening are probably 100 to 1.

[Aussie Dave]

I wouldn't be, because I think Jeff Fisher would rather have a dominant defense over a dominant offense if he could only have one.

im still not sure we'd have a 'dominant' defense if we took claiborne.
surely the FO can see we'd be better off with Blackmon if he's there at 6.

[punahou]

I wouldn't be, because I think Jeff Fisher would rather have a dominant defense over a dominant offense if he could only have one.

All I can say is that I hope if Fisher learned ONE thing while out of football for a year, is that the current NFL is much more offense oriented than ever before.

That being said if he looks at his current roster and had to make a choice between what the true team needs are-- how can he not see that WR doesnt take presidence over any other position?

[laram0]

I'd be very surprised if the Rams took Claiborne with Blackmon still on the board

I would be very surprised as well. Fisher knows where his bread is buttered and that's at the QB position. He knows he has an elite QB that needs help ie blocking and weapons. So with that in mind if both Claiborne and Blackmon are available when it's our pick I would be very surprised if we passed on Blackmon.

[shower beers]

I think at this point, looking at the available talent for the WR position projected to go at the top of round 2, I would prefer Claiborne if he were available at no.6.

To me, the CB crop this year seems to be a bit shallow, certainly more so than the WR position.

[TekeRam]

I'm tending to go that way as well, Beers. There's not a lot of late 1st round quality corners, but there seems to be a glut of receivers who could be there at #33. I think it ends up coming down to what we want in a receiver. Do we want a speed threat on the outside, a big target, or a sure handed, quick receiver? Blackmon gives up a couple inches, as well as pure speed, to some of the guys who will be there at the end of the first, but he has had a history of making huge catches and using his quickness to get big plays after the catch.

It all depends on what we want.

[tomahawk247]

Guys, remember we need two starting quality WRs. Taking a WR in the first (Blackmon) doesn't mean we won't take a WR at the top of round 2

[shower beers]

Guys, remember we need two starting quality WRs. Taking a WR in the first (Blackmon) doesn't mean we won't take a WR at the top of round 2

We also (seemingly) need about 13 or 14 corners on this roster

[tomahawk247]

We also (seemingly) need about 13 or 14 corners on this roster

Good point!

[Fettmaster]

Barring another team trading up (which I can't picture), Blackmon will fall to us @ 6. It seems that Kalil is a lock for Minny @ 3, and I don't see Mike Holmgren taking a receiver that high. That dude never drafts receivers that high, and I don't think he will pass on Richardson for Blackmon. Tampa has their #1 WR and they need too much help to get another one. After the Bucs select Claiborne or Richardson, Blackmon will be all ours.

Look at my sig. That's what we used to have. Other than when we rented Brandon LLoyd for 10 weeks, we haven't had half the talent that either one of those men possessed since they left. Enough is enough. We have a pristine Cadillac sitting in the garage, now let's go out and get some quality parts for it.

Give Bradford a true #1 receiver already.