For the St. Louis Rams, most of the 2011 NFL Draft speculation revolves around whether or not Julio Jones would be available for them to pick at #14. Conventional wisdom says that he'd be their man were he still out there. Surely they wouldn't pass on him, not given how badly their need for a wide receiver was exposed last year? Right?
Not so fast. Former Rams personnel man Tony Softli warned listeners on the Bernie Miklasz show that the Rams could indeed pass on Jones in favor of a defensive lineman with their 14th pick. Anything could happen, and everything is possible at this point in the process. Personally, I have a hard time seeing it, unless a prospect like Robert Quinn or Nick Fairley fell that far.
As for Jones, he'll be happy wherever he ends up playing. NFP has an interview with Jones, dripping with the kind of humility that makes Jones the kind of four pillars player and competitor that would make it impossible for the Rams to pass on him.
Check out Jones' off-field goal:
I want to be financially stable, first of all. I don't want to be one of those guys that's broke after they leave the league. I want to take care of my mom. She has done so much for me and my brother growing up. She works at KFC. Before that, she worked at Church's Chicken for a long time. It's time for her to take a break.
They'd have to make a pretty big splash to pass on Jones at this point. Leaving him on the board might incite riots, causing mass looting at Buffalo Wild Wings' locations across the metro area, and untold damage throughout the neighboring strip malls.