Rick Gosselin's mock draft: Rams pick RB Mark Ingram

by Ryan Van Bibber on Apr 28, 2011 9:50 AM CDT in 2011 NFL Draft

Dallas Morning News draft guru Rick Gosselin's mock draft is out, his last one before the big show tonight, and it is packed with surprises. Most notable is a run on quarterbacks. As for the St. Louis Rams, Gosselin has them going offense, picking Alabama RB Mark Ingram.

It's a little shocking. Quite frankly, it's more surprising to me than Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph would be. Here's Gosselin on the pick:

The Rams would love to draft a wide receiver for Sam Bradford, but there are none worthy of this selection. St. Louis will continue to give Bradford weapons, though - the best running back in this draft.

Like it or not, here's the thing to remember with Gosselin: he's frighteningly accurate with his mock drafts. In fact, his final mock is known as sort of a Delphi of mock drafts. Which makes some of his other picks that much more interesting, like the QB run.

1. Carolina - Cam Newton
2. Denver - Von Miller
3. Buffalo - Marcell Dareus
4. Cincy - A.J. Green
5. Arizona - Patrick Peterson
6. Cleveland - Julio Jones
7. San Fran - Blaine Gabbert
8. Tennessee - Jake Locker
9. Dallas - Tyron Smith
10. Washington - Christian Ponder
11. Houston - Aldon Smith
12. Minnesota - Andy Dalton
13. Detroit - Nick Fairley
14. St. Louis - Mark Ingram
15. Miami - Mike Pouncey
16. Jacksonville - Ryan Kerrigan
17. New England - Cam Jordan
18. San Diego - Corey Liuget
19. New York Giants - Nate Solder
20. Tampa Bay - Robert Quinn
21. KC - Gabe Carimi
22. Indy - Anthony Castonzo
23. Philly - Jimmy Smith
24. New Orleans - Adrian Clayborn
25. Seattle - Prince Amukamara
26. Baltimore - JJ Watt
27. Atlanta - Phil Taylor
28. New England - Danny Watkins
29. Chicago - Marvin Austin
30. New York Jets - Derrick Sherrod
31. Pittsburgh - Cameron Heyward
32. Green Bay - Aaron Williams

Some bullet points.

Lots of experts, including Mike Mayock, are predicting a record number of trades, throw in the confusion of the league year and it's tough to predict a draft. If the QB run holds true, that could call for some big trades by team in the back of the round wanting a QB and had previously been banking on Dalton, Ponder, etc. being available there.
New England picking Watkins would mean Logan Mankins is available, I would think.
That's a big fall for Amukamara. I'd want the Rams to give him some strong consideration. Ditto Robert Quinn.
There's Marvin Austin in the first round. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if he went higher, like we talked about on TSR last night.
I'm still not buying the Rams picking Mark Ingram. Partly I'm biased because I think they can get better value further down in the draft. Also, with Julio off the board and no trade, why pass up on one of those defensive linemen? Spagnuolo loves to stockpile those guys, and this would be a good opportunity to get a top talent.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter to keep up with lockout new and draft action as it happens. The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft starts at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, April 28th and SB Nation has everything you need to prepare for it - NFL mock drafts, draft projections, scouting reports, the full NFL draft schedule and more. Check it all out at SB Nation's NFL Hub and our NFL Draft blog Mocking the Draft.

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Comments

this guys a moron

by markg1127 on Apr 28, 2011 10:00 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Hardly.

Not only one of the most knowledgeable draft analysts in recent history, but also one of the most accurate. You’d get a lot more from his mock by considering the possibilites, rather than dismissing them outright.

by Abrantes on Apr 28, 2011 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

No way dalton goes that early

by beer me on Apr 28, 2011 10:09 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

damn it

I’m all giddy with excitement

by beer me on Apr 28, 2011 10:14 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Hahaha, I hear ya

Just gotta keep your mind busy for a few more hours.

by Abrantes on Apr 28, 2011 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Ay, 3k, any thoughts on Goose's prediction?

Hope you don’t need to reach for the Woodford Reserve too early.

by Abrantes on Apr 28, 2011 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

I'm useless @ Work

Just sitting here posting to TST, Twitter and reading analysis.

Only 4.5 more hours of office time to get through.

by JTPirate on Apr 28, 2011 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

I have 6.5 hours…

by beer me on Apr 28, 2011 10:21 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Hah, I have about 20 minutes left of work to do, but it's just been sitting there as I mess around with draft stuff.

by Abrantes on Apr 28, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

We will get A.J Green just watch

Is that great man formally known as Tevin T. Broner, also I'm on twitter T_bron

by Tevin Broner on Apr 28, 2011 10:24 AM CDT reply actions

Preach it

by Abrantes on Apr 28, 2011 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

If that happens beers are on me

by beer me on Apr 28, 2011 10:26 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I’m kind of surprised not to see mallet. A pure pocket passer, could he end up in indy?

by beer me on Apr 28, 2011 10:25 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

He is a douche, I hope he ends up in the NFC West

Mallet is a complete ego manic

Is that great man formally known as Tevin T. Broner, also I'm on twitter T_bron

by Tevin Broner on Apr 28, 2011 10:27 AM CDT reply actions

Where is everyone getting this from. Ai the kid did some drugs in college, news flash so do a lot of college kids. Mark my words, best qb of the draft in five years.

by beer me on Apr 28, 2011 10:31 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

The character assassination of Mallett in the past month has been pretty overblown.

That said, my bigger concerns are about his play under pressure and lack of mobility in the pocket.

by Abrantes on Apr 28, 2011 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

I agree with the beer man

Mallet may border the cockiness-arrogance line, but the fact is that he has an incredible arm with accuracy to match. He also played in a Pro style offense under Petrino and does very well reading defenses. Anyone who watched his breakdown on various different routes and hot reads that coach Gruden gave him during situational breakdown (extended version), would have seen how the kid excells in the preparation for opponents.
Oh yeah, and when asked he can make a complicated play call that he made in college (unlike Cam Newton…“Uh, you put me on the spot”)

by CaliRamMan on Apr 28, 2011 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

You don't have to be Michael Vick

But you have to be able to move in the pocket.

Can’t wait to see Chris Long destroy this guy. Spags will blitz the hell out of him and he won’t be able to use his “cannon” arm.

by JTPirate on Apr 28, 2011 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I hope this is not true

The Rams have way too many needs in the draft to take a QB. I don’t think Devaney and Spags will take the sexy pick of a RB like Martz did (remember he had full control!). My prediction:
1) No trades. Too many needs will have the Rams either take Bowers or Liuget. Liuget will be the man.

However, I can foresee the Rams passing back in the draft to grab Quinn or Clayborn. They should be able to get Cofield from the Giants during FA.

by 81 Witness on Apr 28, 2011 10:32 AM CDT reply actions