While we're on the St. Louis Rams and the 2010 NFL Draft, I thought this story abotu Washington QB Jake Locker was worth passing on. Locker's head coach Steve Sarkisian thinks the QB is likely to stay at Washington for one more season.

That's not a huge surprise considering he's tailed off this season, throwing 7 INTs. If Sarkisian can get some talent to play around Locker, he could really up his draft stock. We'll see what happens soon enough.

Hey, wanna talk more about who the Rams might pursue in the 2010 NFL Draft? Then you need to check out Turf Show Radio, tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Central. 3k, otherwise known as Mel Kiper without hair, and myself will be taking your draft and all other Rams QnA, before 3k heads off on a talent scouting mission in Iraq. Do not miss it.

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate...could he be what the Rams are looking for at WR?

Browse more photos »

Over at his NFC West blog, Mike Sando takes a quick look at the St. Louis Rams wide receivers, reviewing some of the surprises and struggles.

We started the season with some glaring question marks at that position, but hasn't been all bad for the Rams at WR this year. Laurent Robinson established a rythm with Marc Bulger right out of the gate. Donnie Avery struggled through the first half, dropping passes and looking unfit for a #1 WR type of role. You notice this week, his best of the season, the Rams used him down the field and played to his strengths. Keenan Burton started to come on recently too, playing hard and catching some balls over the middle. This week also featured the impressive debut of Brandon Gibson, and while it's hard to base an analysis off of one week, he looks to have been a real find.

Now, the rest of the receivers, uh, they leave a little to be desired. But what about next season? Through the first half of this year, finding a true blue #1 WR has been a need fans have agreed upon. For many, that position is in the conversation for a first round pick in the upcoming draft. And then we played the Saints.

In the game thread, someone mentioned that the Rams WR situation got a lot more interesting with Robinson, Avery and Gibson in mix next year. For Avery and Robinson, experience will no longer be lacking. Looking a group that starts with those three makes the debate about a first round WR much more interesting.

One thing to remember about that group. Avery and Robinson have had trouble staying healthy, and adding Burton into the mix as a 4th WR, you get a group that's sat out as many NFL games as they've played, or so it seems. In other words, don't get too comfortable with the idea that the Rams can sacrifice the chance to take a WR in the first round, especially if they end up winning a few more games and getting out of Suh territory.

The Rams still need a receiver next season. I can't concede that point. Gibson looks like a nice complement to Avery, but we still need some time to really get a sense of what we've got in him. The Rams have lots of needs to fill, but we've seen what happened through the first 8 games with the offense because of the WR issue (of course, some of that's on the QB too).

We do have a little more room to see what kind of player becomes available in the second or third rounds. Maybe someone like an Eric Decker or Golden Tate. Thoughts? Do we still need a solid #1 WR?

by Carlos Osorio - AP

Which NFL team will have the first overall pick in the 2010 draft?

View full size photo »

It's a Saturday morning and the St. Louis Rams are off this week. With a full day of college football, it's a great time to look at the second half of the NFL season and see who's in contention for the top draft picks. Lots more can happen in 8 more games, and 3k's mock draft generated just as much discussion for his final NFL results as the picks. So, let's take a look at the teams at the bottom of the league and see who could end up with their choice of talent come draft time.

Included here is a look at the average DVOA of each team's remaining opponents and rank of future schedule based on that number from Football Outsiders. We're also looking at individual games of note for each team.

0- and 1- win teams

It's not unthinkable that Tampa Bay could be the NFL's second winless team in two seasons. They still have to play New Orleans twice. Their remaining home games are against Green Bay, New Orleans, NY Jets and the Falcons. The weakest team they have remaining on the schedule is Seattle, but they're playing them at Qwest Field. Cleveland has games left against Detroit, Kansas City and Oakland, which should keep them out of contention for the #1 pick. To me, the Titans seem to be getting their act together, so a schedule against average opponents, and a game against the Rams, could net them a few more wins. The Rams have some nice homes games yet to play, and I like their chances against a Seahawks team reeling from injuries. Detroit could struggle too, but you have to think a healthy Stafford and Calvin Johson could do some damage to the Browns. I think KC can squeak out another win or two as well, maybe at home against the Bills and at Oakland.

2-win teams

Don't be surprised is Washington doesn't win any more games this season. They have two more games against the Cowboys and one more each with the Eagles and Giants. Those are just their division games. They also still have to play New Orleans, Denver and Atlanta. Their softest game is at Oakland, but I think the Raiders will likely win that one too. Speaking of the Raiders, they have games left against the Browns and the Chiefs to go with their Washington game. All three of those are toss ups. Seattle should pick up a home win against the Lions this week, and a home game against Tampa Bay should put them at 4 wins and out of top three pick range.

All of this could easily change. An injury here or there or even a fluky bounce could give one of these teams an extra win or two. Right now, I think you'll see Tampa Bay, Detroit, Washington and St. Louis in the top four picks of the draft, in that order. Don't be surprised if the coin flip has something to say about draft order though with so many teams struggling this year.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

This is often all you see of Ndamukong Suh - his arms and legs wrapped around the QB as the fumble he just caused goes bouncing away. Will he be the #1 overall pick? Will he be the Rams next 1st round D-lineman? Will he both?!

Browse more photos »

  I dropped a quick mock draft after the 2009 draft, but quite a bit has changed.  After the fold, I've got my second mock draft.  Join me, shall you not?

Continue reading this post »

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

Am I the future of the St. Louis Rams?

Browse more photos »

This could be a number of teams in the NFL right now, but since the St. Louis Rams are expected to be looking for a quarterback, I think it stimulates some disucssion. From Mocking the Draft:

ESPN senior NFL writer Chris Mortensen reported on his Twitter page that one of the teams that could be looking for a quarterback has Locker tops on their early draft board.

That's Washington junior QB Jake Locker, btw. Locker has become the "hot" name in draft talk. Let's see how he fares against Cal and UCLA before we pin our future on him. I am curious as to whether or not it's the Rams who have Locker atop their draft board.

Russell Okung, a senior offensive tackle for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, is considered one of the top tackles in the college ranks.

View full size photo »

  Well, the 2009 NFL Draft is over...which means the 2010 NFL Draft is right around the corner!

  Since 2010 mocks are already springing up (including Todd McShay's), I might as well throw mine out with some Ram-specific comments.

  My first 2010 NFL mock draft below the fold.

Continue reading this post »