Mel Kiper released his latest NFL mock draft today. His pick for the St. Louis Rams should look very familiar to those of you who saw his last mock draft. Suffice it to say that Kiper thinks Alabama WR Julio Jones will be off the board by the time the Rams pick at #14. His pick for the Rams:
Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois
From The Hair:
A selection I'm sticking with from the previous mock, Liuget is a relentless player who displays leverage, power and the ability to locate the ball well against both the rush and the pass. He fills an immediate need at defensive tackle. I said before that if a receiver were to fall to this position, I think St. Louis would jump, but their position of biggest need doesn't offer a sensible value matchup right here. I also can see the Rams going for an outside linebacker at this spot. If they're that intent on a pass-catcher with their first pick, the Rams could also move off this spot.
Nothing really new here. It's essentially what Kiper said last time. I don't think anyone doubts the Rams need at DT, though you can make the case between that position and defensive end.
Kiper's mock this time around includes a second and a third round pick. The Rams' second round pick is Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami. I like Hankerson, but according to some, the Rams aren't sold on him. But that kind of talk could easily be draft smoke screen.
As for Jones, he has him going to Cleveland at #6, closely following A.J. Green to the Bengals at #4.
Kiper echoes the thought that Jones' draft stock is in the same area as Green's, and he also says that some teams have Jones above Green on their boards.