2011 NFL Mock Draft: Sneaking wide receivers into the picture

by Ryan Van Bibber on Apr 22, 2011 12:59 PM CDT in 2011 NFL Draft

What the 2011 NFL Draft lacks in sure-fire first round wide receivers, it more than makes up for with potential mid-round sleepers. Teams and draftniks are chasing the next Mike Williams, Tampa Bay's 4th round sleeper that made a good case for Offensive Rookie of the Year last year. Sports writing loves cliche, and you won't find one more popular than "the next Mike Williams" right now. Who are we to buck a trend?

Over in Mock Three, there are several of those "next Mike Williams" types still on the board as the fourth round drags on. (Boise State S Jeron Johnson was the St. Louis Rams' 4th round pick, btw). That seems like as good a starting point as any to take a look at a handful of those sleeper wide receivers who could meet a big need for the St. Louis Rams.

Austin Pettis, Boise State
He's a big guy with good hands that runs routes very well. He would make a nice red zone target for Sam Bradford. The question the Rams would have to ask is whether or not he has enough speed and ability to expand the field...or possibly allow Donnie Avery to do that.

Vincent Brown, San Diego State
I promise these won't all be Mountain West guys. I like Brown because paired with Donnie Avery he would give the Rams two guys that are threats because of their speed. He's not a pure burner, but a guy who can separate himself from DBs. Two speedsters in a four receiver set...not bad in my opinion.

DeAndre Brown, Southern Mississippi
He has size, separation ability and runs a great vertical route...he's also raw and has character questions. Probably not a big rookie contributor, but could be a real key piece of the offense.

Cecil Shourts, Mount Union
An amazing athlete, but faces a big learning curve in the NFL. He's kind of a poor man's Randall Cobb. If Avery still has his speed, this is another WR that would be a nice downfield pairing that would really make the Rams passing attack a multi-dimensional arsenal.

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Comments

I wouldn't want any of these guys

because we already have 6 wide receivers just like them. Our WRs are all good 2 or 3 guys but we need a number 1 to put them over the top. I don’t want us to waste a pick on a player who in essence we already have. We should spend the pick on a position of need such as OG, OLB, S, and RB.

I AM SAMACUS!!!!!!

by Brick Top on Apr 22, 2011 1:13 PM CDT reply actions

Agreed

I say use picks on those and take a WR in first Round next year, there will prolly be one we can get. I would

by zachmann21 on Apr 22, 2011 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

alshon jeffery ftw

by diehardram87 on Apr 22, 2011 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

ricardo lockette

i like him as a possible 4th round option in the case we dont take one earlier. He can definitly stretch the field, a vertical threat

by caliramsfan1 on Apr 22, 2011 1:51 PM CDT reply actions

just wondering but how old is Lockette?

by diehardram87 on Apr 22, 2011 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

We already have this guy:

DeAndre Brown, Southern Mississippi
He has size, separation ability and runs a great vertical route…he’s also raw and has character questions. Probably not a big rookie contributor, but could be a real key piece of the offense.

This is where Gilyard is. Is it not? Why waste a draft pick to get somebody we already have? He’d be a year behind on the learning curve.

by LARams1968 on Apr 22, 2011 1:54 PM CDT reply actions

not sure

22? 23? He went to auburn and transferred to a small school.he didnt put up big numbers but has all the physical abilities

by caliramsfan1 on Apr 22, 2011 1:56 PM CDT reply actions

Good God

do you have a man crush on Avery, Clayton is by far the better WR.Avery can’t even get open most of the time.I dont give a shit about his great speed ,Heyward Bey is fast too but the man couldn’t catch a cold.Give Clayton one side and your WRs the other other side,he was the only one that stretched the field that you could count on.

by chndlr54 on Apr 22, 2011 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

wait n see

Irs called not having a good qb offensive scheme and no recievers next to him once he has a breakout year I c u being all over his nuts and cheerin him on WAIT N SEE BUD

by Ew-Whip11 on Apr 22, 2011 3:52 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

chndlr54 +10000

I’m laughing so hard right now because your right, I think if he doesn’t show up this season, he’s gone. God God we could have had Jackson.

Get some impact players!!

by RG31 on Apr 22, 2011 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I think we're falling into a cognitive trap

by thinking of WR’s in terms of “#1” guy’s and “#2” guys. What really matters is the role the X/Y/Z receivers (or flanker, split end, slot) play in a given system. But since we don’t really understand McD’s new system yet, it’s harder to speculate.

If we were running the Shurmur playbook still, I think it’s clear we’re in need of a big receiver with good hands who could get decent YAC on the all too frequent short dumpoffs.

If I had to guess, we seem to have two good (albeit injury prone) deep threats in Alexander and Avery. Clayton is more of a reliable mid-range target (also injury prone). I can’t be sure what McDaniel’s system utilizes, but we still seem to be lacking the big possession type guy for 3rd down, etc..

by jdstl on Apr 22, 2011 2:41 PM CDT reply actions

I think that's what made the

Greatest Show on Turf receivers so great together. You had two great route runners with solid hands in Holt/Bruce (both fast, but not true blazers), an Avery style speedster in Az Hakim, and a good possession guy in Proehl.

by jdstl on Apr 22, 2011 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Az was also a very good punt returner

plus a 3rd WR.

by chndlr54 on Apr 22, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

So long as he remembered to catch the ball before running.

We always held our breath whenever the other team punted, wondering of Az would catch it or not.

by andyhawk on Apr 22, 2011 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I like the 4th rnd pick!

Watch this QB get layed out…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5533esi2js&feature=player_embedded

He’s a pefect Spags type player, IMO.

by RamsFan1979 on Apr 22, 2011 4:35 PM CDT reply actions

Though I wouldn't have passed on

Lawrence Wilson as I believe he has much better value to our team. I’d think Jeron could be had in rnd 5-6.

by RamsFan1979 on Apr 22, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions

i like jaqwaun jarrett better...now that kid can hit!!

by Mark Jaramillo on Apr 22, 2011 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions

nope

he had Holt and Bruce beside him and even in declining skills they showed him up.And sorry I don’t swing that way.I’ll leave it all up to you.

by chndlr54 on Apr 22, 2011 4:49 PM CDT reply actions

Well seeing how West Texas A & M has been a pipeline for us

Why not look at their huge wideout that most people have moving up on draft boards with his 6’3+ size and his sub 4.4 speed.

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no PLAYOFFS."
Winston Churchill

by SMASH44 on Apr 22, 2011 5:32 PM CDT reply actions

who?

by diehardram87 on Apr 23, 2011 5:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Stephen Burton

well he’s 6’1 and runs a 4.5

"Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no PLAYOFFS."
Winston Churchill

by SMASH44 on Apr 24, 2011 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

take no wr this draft

we have enough already beef up the defense and the o line and we can do some damage this season on madden cause it wont happen till 2012 with this whole union crap.

by RAISEtheDEAD on Apr 22, 2011 6:06 PM CDT reply actions

Glad you ended up taking Brown.

Easily my favorite out of this group, and though he gets knocked for slow Combine times, the guy is extremely savvy when it comes to getting separation, and that’s what really matters. The TST crew from the last MTD live mock will attest that I was pushing for him, hah.

by Abrantes on Apr 22, 2011 11:04 PM CDT reply actions

Just do this and we’ ll be fine….

1. Draft Julio
2. In the second round get Paea(or whatever his name is)…or any other good DT or DE
3. Later in the draft get Quizz Rogers or Taiwan
4. Get a OG somewhere between steps 1 and 2

by JordansDad on Apr 23, 2011 1:04 AM CDT via mobile reply actions