It's that time of year where NFL trade rumors start heating up as teams get ready for the draft and free agency. The St. Louis Rams hold a key piece of real estate in the 2012 NFL Draft with the second pick, and talk about the potential to trade that pick is already gaining steam. Today, Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network reports that the Washington Redskins are expected to be suitors for the Rams' second pick.
LaCanfora spilled the news in a Tuesday report focused on the future of Peyton Manning. He said that Manning is unlikely to end up in Washington after the Colts give him the expected boot. Washington lacks the skill players and offensive line to help him win a championship in his waning years.
NFL executives, says LaCanfora, expect Washington to trade up to the Rams' spot in the draft.
Such a trade would likely fetch the Rams another first-round pick in return and more picks in later rounds. In the meantime, we can assume that trading down with Washington would give St. Louis the Redskins' sixth pick in the first round.
Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon would surely be the first target in that spot, but there's no guarantee that he would fall that far. Other names that might appeal to the Rams there if Blackmon is not available include: LSU CB Morris Claiborne, Iowa OT Riley Reiff and Alabama RB Trent Richardson.