I figured I have spent enough time critiquing all the other Rams mocks on TST, so here is my attempt at one. In advance, I decided not to mock a trade because they're so fickle and hard to predict at any time let alone 3 months in advance. Assuming we resign SJax, Amendola, Mikell (smaller contract), and cut Dahl. Final assumption is that every player's draft stock stays the same between now and the draft (lol).

This is a cut and dry mock draft, about as simple as I can make it for now; I'll do more in depth ones with better explanations, projections, pictures and the whole 9 yards a bit down the stretch, tell me what you think!

1.16: Chance Warmack, G, Alabama. He will be a top 5 G within 2 years, and with our O-line problems, can we afford not to take him?

1.22: Kenny Vaccaro, F/SS, Texas. Heir to the spot Craig Dahl has abused played for a few years, he has great cover skills and can also play the run when asked. Complete package as a safety, will upgrade our defense by letting FinneJenks do what they do in attacking the ball, with the comfort of a real safety to back them up.

2.16: Barret Jones, LT/LG/C/RG/RT/Kitchen Sink, Alabama. Not an elite prospect, but he is greater than the sum of his parts. A solidly above average player at every O-line position, he is a godsend for a team like the Rams who have an injured revolving door at near every spot on the line. Jones can be trusted to fill them all with the technique and size to man each at the NFL level. May even be able to start his rookie year without injuries shuffling the depth chart.

3.16: Chase Thomas, OLB, Stanford. He can adequately play as a rush LB and a run defender similar to Dunbar. He has displayed excellent leadership, a great football IQ, and a high-performance, aggressive motor which more than make up for his lack of natural athleticism.

4.16: DJ Swearinger, F/SS, Scar. But Rams78110, you have the Rams resigning Mikell! Why would they draft a second safety? Mikell turns 33 at the beginning of the 2013 season, he's no spring chicken. His play has slowly started to degrade and we should get 1-3 more seasons from him, which is great because it will take Swearinger a season or two to get used to NFL ball. Something you will notice about the best defenses in the NFL is that they have 2 feared safties patrolling the middle. Swearinger can lay the lumber and has developed a reputation as a big hitter already. Ed Reed in the making? I think so.

5.16: Kenjon Barner, RB/KR/PR, Oregon. Drafted for his ridiculous speed and shiftiness, he will be the returner we have lacked for years. Suddenly Greg the Leg isn't the only threat on our special teams unit. Pead disappointed mightily as a returner and a runningback, Barner can take his spot easily. Barner has never especially struggled with ball security, a big issue with Pead.

6-7: It is very difficult to say who will still be on the board here, who will fall, who will be reached for, and who will rise. The plan for these last 2 picks is BPA with emphasis on depth at both d-line and possibly QB.



This will leave our line as: Saffold/Warmack/Wells/Dahl/Jones or another RT with Jones being second string at every spot. Trumaine Johnson will play second string at both safety spots as well as corner behind FinneJenks on the bigger WR targets.




Let me know what you think! I've done extensive research, watching games, taking notes, and studying prospects all season and I feel like this is the best case scenario for us. Don't be afraid to tear it to pieces, it will only help me make a better one!

Short version:
1a: Warmack
1b: Vaccaro
2: B. Jones
3: C. Thomas
4: Swearinger
5: Barner
6-7: BPA, possibly a QB to play behind Bradford if one slips

GO RAMS!