The crew over at Walter Football updated their mock draft over the weekend. Who did they project the Rams to pick at #2?
This time around they projected the Rams to draft Virginia OT Eugene Monroe with the second overall pick. Last time, looking back at our mock draft database, they had Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree to the Rams. Why the change?
For the past few weeks, I've stated that either Michael Crabtree or Eugene Monroe could be taken here. I've been making a case for the former, but after Day 2 of the 2009 NFL Combine, I'm beginning to lean toward the latter.
Crabtree not running at the Combine was always a slight concern of mine. However, Crabtree, listed at 6-3 at Texas Tech, measured in just a bit over 6-1 in Indianapolis. While I don't think this will drop him out of the top five, the Rams could be a bit more shy about taking him with the No. 2 overall selection.
The foot injury is a non-starter for Crabtree. It's a minor injury; he'll heal and be the same great player. I wondered about the height thing with Crabtree when that news broke this weekend. The tall, physical receiver - aka the prototypical elite #1 WR - was a factor in Crabtree's favor. The tapes don't lie, as Billy Devaney will tell you, and those missing two inches don't suddenly mean Crabtree's not still packed with potential. Height is clearly a factor, but how much of a factor is the difference between 6'3" and 6'1" for Crabtree?
As for Monroe, he rocked the Combine, and shortened the debate about who's the best OT in the draft to him and Jason Baylor.
Updated mock draft database coming this week, post-Combine edition.