Harry How - Getty Images
8 months ago: LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: Matt Kalil #75 of the USC Trojans speaks to reporters after his blocked field goal in the final seconds of the game preserved a 17-14 win over the Utah Utes at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 10, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
My new 2012 NFL Mock Draft is out over at SB Nation. I'm fending off hate mail as we speak. As for the St. Louis Rams, there are really only a few ways things could go in the draft this year, with trading down looking like the preferred option at this point.
All of that depends on what the new head coach, Jeff Fisher, thinks. He can get an impact player with the second overall pick, and the team doesn't have to pay an arm and a leg like they used to for drafting in that spot. For an example of how costly the second pick can be, look no further than the albatross that is Jason Smith's contract.
For this mock draft, the Rams went with...
I'm already getting angry responses on this one, and I understand. I myself prefer the idea of drafting a wide receiver here, given just how miserable the Rams have been at that position since Torry Holt left.
But this season exposed a pair of needs for the Rams. If they have any hope of getting Sam Bradford's career back on track, they need to find wide receiver AND offensive linemen. Right now, the Rams have a mediocre Rodger Saffold and Harvey Dahl, who can be a guard or a tackle. Jason Smith suffered his third concussion, and there was no difference in play when Adam Goldberg took over for Smith on the right side. Let me put that in mathematical terms:
Adam Goldberg($810K million salary) = Jason Smith($10 million salary + pro rated bonus money).
Drafting Kalil gives the Rams a player who projects as a top-tier left tackle at a rate well below what they would pay in free agency. Over and over again people tell me that the Rams should just find line help in free agency, but that costs money, money that the Rams don't have this season (the $40 million cap figure comes into play in 2013).
There's a ray of hope that they could re-sign Brandon Lloyd, based on his comments about the Fisher hire and New England's tight financial situation with Wes Welker likely to get the franchise tag ($9 million+) or a contract extension. If the Rams do keep Lloyd, they still to add receiver talent, preferably the best they can get/afford.
That's what trading down is really the preferred option ... if only it's possible. Remember, some team wanting Robert Griffin III can box the Rams in and make a deal with Minnesota at #3.
We'll see what happens.
0 recs | 59 comments
"Remember, some team wanting Robert Griffin III can box the Rams in and make a deal with Minnesota at #3."
This presumes that exactly 1 team is willing to trade for RG3. I don’t buy that.
TheBirds - January 17, 2012
$810K-mil?
Mark Jaramillo - January 17, 2012
There's your cap problem
ramdude - January 17, 2012
I doubt it will be only one team wanting a good QB theres the red skins, seahawks,
possibly the cardinal and a few additional team’s,browns being one of them.
Freewheeler2 - January 17, 2012
Making the statement of boxing the Rams in and making them keep the
rambro4ever - January 17, 2012
The way I look at it
Kalil is someone we need, Blackmon is someone we want. In FA you can’t find good O-linemen. You can find familiar names but the best tackles don’t come available. I also don’t think we’d be talking about this if Smith hadn’t busted. Our O-line is getting too much of our payroll but that in itself is not reason enough to not pick the guy who, for the next 10 years , could protect our even more expensive quarterback. I’d love to have a guy like Blackmon, but maybe we can get someone like him next year. I’m beginning to think I don’t even want to trade out of picking Kalil unless we get a very good offer. I wouldn’t take a compromised offer, and lose Kalil, but that’s just me.
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
I tend to agree here.
Sure we need more picks, but if Kalil is truly elite, don’t pass on him.
Midasknight - January 17, 2012
+1
btw I still have no idea when the first MTD community mock is going to be…
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
Hey Buckeye
I think they start after the superbowl. They usually don’t do one before the final order is set, but we have before. It always starts with a general inquiry via fanpost, soliciting interest. Then they build like a snowball, damn things are addicting, huh?
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
yeah that's pretty much all I've been looking forward to
since like week two lol
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
Maybe when the time comes try lobbying for no mock drafts without trades.
Those are a waste of time but seem to be always the first one, just ‘to get warmed up’. I hate those though, there monotonous. Trades aren’t that difficult if everyone stays patient. People need to be patient anyways.
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
they're
shit
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
oh we are going to be trying to pull of trades like crazy
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
we're sitting on RG3
the first pick of the second day of the draft and the first pick of the third day of the draft.
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
Yeah it's interesting to see what other armchair GMs will do
some of them are tighter than hell, like it’s something serious. Some, like me, will try anything once in a while just to see what happens.
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
yeah
I still think that if all of the people in our war room last year (just us, plus will not be defeated (uk) and abrantes) would have been in charge of the actual draft, we would have done a hundred times better lol
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
We don't
have a good track record with O-line picks…meanwhile other teams who take the top talent 1st and O-line later in the rounds seem to put up tons of points on us……pick Blackmon and pay BL the $ to keep him! with talent and Fisher FA O-line will be more apt to come to us for a chance at something big…..you don’t win it all cause you have 1 of the best O-lineman.
Jas the Mace - January 17, 2012
agree with you dcouver
completely, and it’s how I did my mock draft. I think the staff will know about Smith before the drafts starts. The only scenario I’d be ok with is if the browns trade happens and we can get Blackmon at 4. Otherwise, take Kalil. I also hate the argument that because you miss on one position, you shouldn’t draft it again. The Rams have missed on almost every position in the last 10 years. That means we shouldn’t draft any position?
The reason we spent so much on oline is because it’s that important. The wrong people made the wrong decisons.
RamHock - January 17, 2012
if a team wants to box is in id rather we give them the middle finger and draft whatever qb they want
profoundnotions - January 17, 2012 via Android app
Matt Kalil, OT, USC
It may not be a sexy pick,but its the right pick.
RAMIFICATION - January 17, 2012
Thats exactly how I described the pick
Blackmon is the sexy pick. Yes, he’d probably help, but if Kalil is the real deal and he can perform to a level of another high pick lineman (i.e. jake long), that will go a long way to improving the overall offense as opposed to a playmaking/#1 receiver. If Kalil is drafted, and the Rams can somehow keep Lloyd, that would be the best case scenario in my opinion.
mb44 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Maybe we could turn Smith back into a TE
Put him on Jenny Craig and run him through agility drills for about 6 months. Anyhow we could use another blocker if his concussions can be repaired.
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
couldn't be worse than bajema
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
If he can catch I say do it
Who knows? We might have a guy who can actually hang onto the ball, even if his head is made out of jelly.
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
I actually think you're on to something with this
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
Well he was a TE before, what the hell
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
yeah it's worth a shot
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
I'll give Fish a call right now
I got him on speed dial, he never picks up though. Seriously I think it beats cutting him, and that has to be what some are thinking.
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
tell him he's taking a massive pay cut
and he’s going to get try-outs at guard and TE and just see what happens
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
yup and draft Kalil if we don't get a good trade offer
maybe a backup in the later roundsor UDFAs
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
totally agree
we HAVE to go bpa this draft and Kalil is far and away bpa
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
hey presser's on gotta go
dbcouver - January 17, 2012
Honestly depends on the system we got to
If we got to Shottys then Blackmon is the pick, he’s more of a 2-3 step drop offense and if I remember right the WCO made our line look better.
If we go to Hues then Kalil is the answer because Blackmon isn’t the fastest guy and we need speed with that offense, then throw the money at DeSean Jackson and hope he takes it..
RG31 - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Draft....
Drafting Kalil at number 2 makes sense to me. Kalil is the BEST offensive lineman coming out of college this year. In terms of wide receivers. Blackmon is good but he’s not head and shoulders above Michael Floyd from Notre Dame or Alshon Jeffery out of South Carolina.
During the Rams GSOT years they had Orlando Pace at left tackle. He was drafted before the Rams got Holt. It’s worked before it’ll work again. Go after the left tackle that just may be a pro-bowler for years. Then find the WR either through free agency or in the 2nd round. Just my opinion.
Ricksome - January 17, 2012
I agree it has to be kalil (reiff or martin in a trade down)
Ram_Redemption - January 17, 2012 via mobile
I agree it has to be kalil (reiff or martin in a trade down)
As ppl have said, you can’t get lt’s in free agency.would much rather take fuller in round three. Besides if filter doesn’t work out we have 40 million next year in cap room to get a wide reciever
Ram_Redemption - January 17, 2012 via mobile
filter?
diehardram87 - January 17, 2012
40 million in cap room, wow, no wonder Fish signed.
RenoRammin - January 17, 2012 via mobile
Kalil and Blackmon are 6 in one hand and one half dozen in the other.
We need both. But I"d still prefer to trade down and get more picks if possible.
If I had to pick at #2 I’d take Kalil. Games are won in the trenches and our offensive trench sucks.
Pekka for Predator Pontiff - January 17, 2012
I still like to play Madden 06 because Holt, Bruce, and Faulk are all on the team still
Reminds me of happier days
Notorious PSC - January 17, 2012
and Bulger was still like a 90 overall lol
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
I know. Seems kinda funny now
Notorious PSC - January 17, 2012
that was back when people didn't laugh at you for picking the rams
most of the friends I play madden with are steelers fans so it’s always a challenge to win playing with the rams lol
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
My friends and I always try to take fairly even teams
Latest edition I have is 09 and I can still run a good offense with the Rams as long as I pass the ball quickly
Notorious PSC - January 17, 2012
yeah I've just started picking better teams recently
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
Take RGIII
at #2. That way, the teams who need him will be forced to deal with us!
JD70-79 - January 17, 2012
I agree
Dont blink. Worked for the Chargers with Manning.
STLRambler - January 17, 2012
And so it begins(PFT)
The Browns need a quarterback badly. They own the No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 draft.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur already made some positive comments about Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, so it was only a matter of time before a report emerged connecting the Browns to Griffin with something more tangible than speculation.
As part of NFL.com’s ridiculously early mock draft party on Tuesday, Steve Wyche projects the Browns will trade up with the Rams for the No. 2 overall pick to take Griffin.
"Cleveland needs Griffin — and wants him, according to league sources," Wyche writes.
He points out that the Browns have the most ammo of any team looking to move up, and the Rams would probably like to move down but stay in the top five.
This is all way too early, but it makes a lot of sense. It makes so much sense that we expect to hear some variation of this rumor on a regular basis until late April.
RAMIFICATION - January 17, 2012
How awesome would it be
if we traded down to 4 and the Vikings took Blackmon?
douchiedude - January 17, 2012
I'd be ecstatic if that were to happen..even more so if we were able to pick up Michael Floyd or DeCastro with that other pick
diehardram87 - January 17, 2012
Kalil AND Decastro?
uhhhhhh yes please
Josh Wehrle - January 17, 2012
+1111111
Douglas M - January 17, 2012
Our Oline would be nasty if it did happen
diehardram87 - January 17, 2012
What round do you guys think Michael Floyd would go?
Floyd and Lloyd wouldn’t be bad.
I’m going to be pissed if Lloyd leaves us and we don’t draft Blackmon. We’ll be back to the same shitty WR corp that we have had to deal with the past couple of years.
Horcrux7 - January 17, 2012
I think Floyd will sink into Round 2
There may be a team that would throw a 1st round pick at him, but I think that’s a reach
Douglas M - January 17, 2012
I see Floyd going in that 18 to 30 range of the 1st round
diehardram87 - January 17, 2012
IF we cut Smith during training camp we would only owe him any bonus/guaranteed $$ due.
His base salary is not held against our salary cap whether he signs with another team or not. That still leaves us on the hook for ~10$M I believe if we release him this year. If he signs we owe nothing. Now, if he’s not able to play due to injury; best case scenerio for us, he recieves an injury settlement prior to his release and I don’t believe this counts against our salary cap.
IMO, his concussions have been strong enough to keep him off the field for a long time. I don’t see him playing again, or at least playing until he’s injured again. At that point, injury settlement. We need him & Brown off our books & team.
RamsFan1979 - January 17, 2012
Yes cut Smith!!!!
we can’t afford to pay that much for play like that.
No not Kalil!!!!!!!
How well have we done picking O-line high?
How many teams pound us who pick skill 1st then O-line in later rounds?
Jas the Mace - January 17, 2012
Would it be too big of a risk
to draft RGIII and auction him off? Then if a team wants him bad enough they gotta go through us. My only issue with is if we can’t get the compensation we want then we have 2 QBs.
jmo53 - January 17, 2012 via Android app
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