UPDATED: Sources say Kalil going pro

[Tampa_Ram]

2012 NFL Draft: OT Matt Kalil Will Return To USC For Senior Season

by Ryan Van Bibber on Dec 8, 2011 8:19 AM PST in 2012 NFL Draft

This has been a rough morning for St. Louis sports fans. After news broke that Albert Pujols will sign with the Anaheim Angels, a later report from Rob Rang at CBS revealed that USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil will return to school for his senior season, meaning he is out of the running for the St. Louis Rams in the 2012 NFL Draft.
St. Louis' inspired play under head coach Steve Spagnuolo this season will likely earn the Rams the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the fourth time in five years that the Rams will be picking in the top two spots. Kalil would most certainly have been in consideration for that pick. Matt Barkley's blind side protector is considered one of the best players in the draft, a blue chip talent and one of the top tackles in the draft since Jake Long in 2008.
Offensive tackle wasn't supposed to be a need for the Rams in 2012. They drafted Jason Smith second overall in 2009 to be a cornerstone for their offensive line. Last year, General Manager Billy Devaney eschewed trade offers for the first pick of the second round in order to draft Rodger Saffold who earned the left tackle job as a rookie.
Smith is on injured reserve, shut down for the second time in his career with a serious concussion. His future was in doubt before that, as three years in he never developed the consistency and in-the-trenches mentality required of an NFL offensive lineman. Saffold had a good debut season, but struggled with consistency this year. He was playing better before a torn pectoral, which happened while he was lifting weights, shut him down for the season.
Drafting Kalil would allowed the Rams to move Saffold to the right side or somewhere else, and take the next steps with Jason Smith and his massive contract.
Now, the team can consider other players, such as wide receiver Justin Blackmon from Oklahoma State or cornerback Morris Claiborne from LSU, with the second pick. Trading down might be the best option, and the available quarterbacks and rookie wage scale might be all it takes to make trading more viable. Rams COO Kevin Demoff told TST in a recent interview that he believed more teams would be willing to trade into the top ten picks of the draft thanks to the new salary scale.
The 2012 NFL Draft just got more interesting. Stay tuned.



Well dang, guess its WR or trade down now. Maybe we can get him next year XD

[Tampa_Ram]

Hes returning to USC next year.


Can delete this mods if you like or move to Draft section, just figured id let everyone know who might not go there or of seen.

This changes things up a bit.

P.A.S.S.

[Rambos]

Do you have a source?

[Rambos]

Only thing I can see is this.... Dec 8, 2011 - USC Trojans left tackle Matt Kalil is "leaning toward" returning for his senior season, according to CBS Sports' Rob Rang, who cites a NFL scout. Kalil, along with quarterback Matt Barkley, has been widely projected as a top-10 pick, with some putting Kalil as high as No. 2 behind Andrew Luck.

[Tampa_Ram]

True, should've put possibly returning. Jumped the gun a bit

[sosa39rams]

Thank the Lord! Welcome Justin Blackmon!

[Agrajag]

And that was when he found out he might be drafted by our Rams

[eric2810]

Kalil 2013 it is! ugh..

[Nick_Weasel]

Not so fast, looks like that story was just made up.

A website reported that Kalil, who is weighing whether to turn pro or return for a final season with the Trojans, was “set to return,” citing a source close to the situation.

"I woke up to mayhem," Kalil said. "I guess it was kind of a glimpse of what’s going to be happening."I'm not close to making a decision. That will probably happen in the next couple weeks. No decision has been made. I just started thinking about the process I’m going to go through to make the decision.

[RockinRam]

I actually hope he returns back to school. Makes our decision this year much easier, and we might have a chance to pick him up next year.


To me, it's Blackmon vs. Richardson.

[Nick]

Kalil claims no decision has been made; with underclassmen, sometimes it goes right up until the deadline. But it wouldn't be surprising to see him and Barkley stay one more year now that their post-season ban is over.

As for other options, obviously Blackmon is up there, but I don't know that the Rams would consider a RB with a Top Three pick given their circumstances. I think as it stands right now, the better candidate to be the "other guy" would be LSU CB Morris Claiborne, given the uncertainty of Bartell's and Fletcher's recoveries from season ending injuries and the lack of quality depth behind them.

[Rambos]

If he does stay Blackmon would be my first choice followed close by Trent Richardson, RB.
Both these guys are playmakers. Would not mind trading back a few spots and getting Alshon Jeffery, WR, if a team wanted Matt Barkley, QB bad enough.

[1980RAMS]

Your wrong and your source is also wrong...

Both Matts will be going to the draft....

[Tampa_Ram]

Your wrong and your source is also wrong...

Both Matts will be going to the draft....

And how do you know this?

[1980RAMS]

And how do you know this?

Heard it hear first.... cant tell...