2012 NFL Mock Draft: A New Direction For The St. Louis Rams

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 30, 2012 1:00 PM CST in 2012 NFL Draft

The St. Louis Rams own an attractive piece of real estate in the 2012 NFL Draft. Teams vying for a quarterback could get into a bidding war to move up and draft Robert Griffin III, especially with Peyton Manning looking like a real iffy option for 2012. In the most recent 2012 NFL Mock Draft at SB Nation, I gave the Rams a different trading partner than the Browns.

Trading down with the Washington Redskins would fetch the Rams more than enough draft picks in exchange. Unlike Cleveland, Washington only has one first-round pick to give in this year's draft, which could really make for some surprising circumstances in St. Louis.

In this mock draft, the Rams, picking sixth, take Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

Ideally, Justin Blackmon would be available to them, but the equally incompetent Browns already drafted him in this mock. New head coach Jeff Fisher and his offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer have made it pretty clear that they intend to run the ball, pairing another runner with the 29-year-old Steven Jackson. Richardson is the top back in this draft, and could replace Jackson if he gets injured or the team starts eyeing his $7 million contract for other things.

Blackmon was picked by the Browns in the fourth spot in this scenario. Leaving the Rams little choice. As I said, Fisher and Schottenheimer have both stated a preference to fix the running game. Shotty even expressed his plans for a complementary back.

Richardson would certainly complement Jackson. But they might find a complementary running back in another draft spot. The top pick of the second round would certainly give them a chance at one of the top four backs, including Doug Martin and Lamar Miller.

Pick #33 and a second round pick that might be had from the Redskins, could give the Rams more ammo for trading. They could move up into the first round.

Don't forget that Fisher's draft history includes mostly defensive players in the first round.

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Comments

I think you still go o-line with #6

One of the big 3 tackles will still be around, and Martin and Reiff are both considered very good run blockers, with Reiff actually jumping Kalil in some mocks. Fisher has stated that he wants to improve the run game and protect the QB. In my opinion, picking a RB this high would be a mistake. There is plenty of talent available in later rounds. With Blackmon gone, no receiver in this draft is worth a pick this high. In all honesty, it wouldn’t break my heart if they traded down again and accumulated even more picks.

by David5264 on Jan 30, 2012 1:20 PM CST reply actions

No, Hell No, Fuck No, just... NO!

I know its annoying but if this scenario happened and we picked him, is lose faith in the Rams..

Bradford + Blackmon = Secondaries Beware

by RG31 on Jan 30, 2012 1:21 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I would*

Bradford + Blackmon = Secondaries Beware

by RG31 on Jan 30, 2012 1:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Does this come with

Barry Cofield?

by DCRamFan on Jan 30, 2012 1:27 PM CST reply actions

Redskins

Shanahan may go after Manning so I’m not sure that they’ll want to trade up. How about Reiff at #6, Zach Brown at #33 if available and Doug Martin with the Skins #2 and Vincent Jackson as a free agent. Have SJAX and Jason Smith restructure their contracts so that the Rams can also resign Brandon Lloyd.

by Mister T on Jan 30, 2012 1:49 PM CST reply actions

Manning is finished

He ain’t going anywhere.

by Sggladden on Jan 30, 2012 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

Correct

Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS

by King Sam Rules! on Jan 30, 2012 2:13 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

No, no, get it in your heads you mock draft people

On a team like this, you don’t draft a RB with a pick higher than or anywhere near where Adrian Peterson was picked with

Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS

by King Sam Rules! on Jan 30, 2012 2:12 PM CST via mobile reply actions

if Richardson is the pick

I will cry and cry and cry.

Would everyone then say I was right and Fisher has let the league pass him by and help me get him ousted? Lol

http://brotherspork.wordpress.com/

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by Infemous on Jan 30, 2012 2:22 PM CST via mobile reply actions

What if Richardson turns into Ray Rice 2.0?

Join my Google+ circle

by Douglas M on Jan 30, 2012 2:32 PM CST up reply actions

i'd still be disappointed with where he was picked

Ray Rice was a 3rd rounder. I’d rather we got Ray Rice 2.0 at the same spot the Ravens got Ray Rice 1.0 tbh.

With so many more glaring needs taking a HB would be the definition of stupid, even if he becomes a HoF player.

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by Infemous on Jan 30, 2012 2:40 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Ray Rice was a 2nd round pick but still

I agree that you can’t take a RB this high, when you still have an established back, and the fact that the passing game in the NFL has become easier. I do however think that Richardson will be a great RB, but I wouldn’t take him in the top 10 unless I didn’t believe in the RB I already had. When the Vikings took Peterson, they had Chester Taylor, who barely had a 1000 yd season averaging 4 ypc. When the Raiders took McFadden they had Justin Fargas as a starting RB who had a decent year, but still Justin Fargas. However after McFadden in the 2nd and 3rd rounds, the follwing were drafted: Matt Forte, Ray Rice, Jamaal Charles.

You can’t draft Richardson when you have Steven Jackson. If I was Cleveland or Tampa Bay I’d consider it but its just a terrible pick for the Rams.

by nick-the-greek on Jan 30, 2012 3:18 PM CST up reply actions

precisely.

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by Infemous on Jan 30, 2012 3:24 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

From 2006-2008, the Jeff Fisher lead Titans

picked running backs in the first or second round all 3 seasons

Just sayin

by Rick Siegel on Jan 30, 2012 2:52 PM CST reply actions

And that's when they needed a rb, then they got Chris Johnson

Now he’s hoot SNax

Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS

by King Sam Rules! on Jan 30, 2012 2:58 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

IF that is the pick me and 3k will shoot each other

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

by Brick Top on Jan 30, 2012 2:59 PM CST reply actions

Count me in..

Bradford + Blackmon = Secondaries Beware

by RG31 on Jan 30, 2012 3:01 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

that sounds like there might a huge circle jerk if he's picked

Haikus are easy,
but sometimes they don't make sense.
Refrigerator.

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by sergey606 on Jan 30, 2012 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

I don't see the need

Steven Jax is healthy, Cad williams great backup….Norwood was hurt…whats he got when healthy…grab LaMichael james late 2nd round. He returns punts and kickoffs. Great NFL 3rd down back.

by fearsomefoursum on Jan 30, 2012 3:28 PM CST reply actions

Cad Williams a great backup?

Maybe if you are a Giant fan since his blunderous move against the Giants in Week 2 helped them win that game which they ultimately needed to win to make it to the playoffs. Now look at them? LOL!

by RamTeaPartier on Jan 30, 2012 4:31 PM CST reply actions

The only trade

That makes sense for the rams is with cleveland. The rams top 2 needs are receiver and o-line, why give up the chance to get the best players available at one of those two positions. Trading any lower theyll miss out on both.

by SeanG on Jan 30, 2012 4:42 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Take a RB with the first pick of the 4th round.

Cyrus Gray would look real nice behind SJAX. Change of pace back as well. What do you guys think?

by jgillentine7 on Jan 30, 2012 4:49 PM CST reply actions

RAMS 2013 DRAFT PICK.

Trade number 2. Go for

A run stopper.
A O.T. that can open up some holes.
#3. Doug Martin
#4. Another Run stopper
#5. Another D.T. that can stop the run and pass rush.
#6. A D.B. that can tackle, tackle, tackle and can cover.
#7. A 6 foot 5 T.E. that can run a 4.6 40 has hands and can catch. Grankowski type.
#8. Sign Welker
#9. Sign Lloyd.
Draft a kick-off and punt returner.

by California Mobile CPR on Jan 30, 2012 5:31 PM CST reply actions

No way

There’s just no reason to take RB that high, especially with proven commodities already on the team. MAYBE if SJax was out for the season or something.

by betterthanzero on Jan 30, 2012 6:28 PM CST reply actions

If we trade down with the Skins they will overpay

We should wind up with additional picks in the second and third or fourth round. We can waituntil day two or three to take a backup running back. We need an OT, DT, OG, #1WR, and two OLB’s. I am very curious to see who we can pick up in free agency to see if our early round picks can become luxury picks.

I'm suffering from an extreme case of laurinaitis!

by NachoD on Jan 31, 2012 2:18 AM CST via mobile reply actions

I don't like this latest mock-draft senario and think it's out of the real of possibility.

I would rather the Rams draft a good OT and a good OG if they are not going to be in a position to get Blackmon.

"We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just not a very good football team right now." --- Bruce Coslett, New York Jets Head Coach circa 1990s

by Nbr1RamFan on Jan 31, 2012 4:35 PM CST reply actions