FanPost

Insomniacs October delight..a mock draft..already

As a Rams fan, the season always starts out with so much hope and enthusiasm, but usually come week 5 or 6 its become customary to start to see mock drafts. This tradition maybe coming to an end and hopefully so. We have accumulated a lot of talent in the last 2 years, its just a matter of time before they figure out how to play together. That being said, I was bored so I put together a full 3 round draft and put a wish list together for our 4th round, you will understand why when you see what happened.

A good mock has lots of trades, and there are always a lot every year, but I remained calm and only mocked one trade. Another tough aspect of a mock draft done in October is that no underclassmen have declared their intentions and injuries haven't really derailed anyones value yet. My first round started out pretty easy, I had the Rams finish with the 12th worst record in the league, and the skins finish with the 7th. I will put the picks out 10 at a time and discuss my theories and explanations on why I chose what I chose.

1) Jax -Teddy Bridgewater (QB) Louisville
2) TB -Brett Hundley (QB) UCLA
3) NYG -Jadeveon Clowney (DE) South Carolina
4) Pit -Jake Mathews (T) Texas A&M
5) Atl- Anthony Barr (OLB) UCLA
6) Car -Marquis Lee (WR) USC
7) STL via Was -Taylor Lewan (T) Michigan
8) Oak -Mike Evans (WR) Texas A&M
9) Min -Sammy Watkins (WR)
10) Cle - Tajh Gibson (QB)

We address a huge issue of need here as the top player on our board falls to us at 7.

11) Bufflo - Cyrus Kuoandjo (T) Alabama
12) Hou via STL -Johnny Manziel (QB) Texas A&M
13) Ten -Marcus Marriota (QB) Oregon
14) STL via Hou -Lucheiz Purifoy (CB) Florida
15) SD -HaHa Clinton Dix (S) Alabama
16) Ariz - Kevin Hogan (QB) Stanford
17) NYJ - CJ Watson (LB) Alabama
18) DAL - Kyle Van Noy (LB) BYU
19) Det - Bradley Roby (LB) Ohio State
20) Mia- Khalil Mack (LB) Buffalo

Houston finally makes a play for a Texas qb, and gives up their second (46) and fourth (110) round picks to move in front of Titans to get their man…Johnnie Football will be a Texan. Houston had to move up knowing that Jake Locker is not the answer for the Titans. We end up addressing another issue of need and a wonderful compliment to JJ on the outside. The Cards get their future franchise qb in Ben Hogan as well.

I am going to skip to the second round, because if I go pick by pick, this may become an epic novel of a fan post. We now possess picks 44 and 46. We have enough ammo to move back into the end of the first round, but because we have addressed some glaring holes, we stand pat knowing that the level of talent in this draft class is very deep and we will be able to get some more pieces. I will now place the second round up to our two picks.

33) Jax -Lache Seastrunk (RB) Baylor
34) TB - Eric Ebron (TE) NC
35) NYG -Aaron Colvin (CB) Oklahoma
36) Pit - David Yankey (T) Stanford
37) Atl -Gabe Jackson (G) Mississippi ST
38) Car - Ryan Shazier (LB) Ohio ST
39) Was - Colt Lyeria (TE) Oregon
40) Oak - Antonio Richardson (T) Tennessee
41) Min - Cyril Richardson (G) Baylor
42) CLE - Bishop Sankey (RB) Washington
43) Bills - Brandon Coleman (WR) Rutgers
44) STL - La'el Collins (G) LSU
45) Ten - Ka'dem Carey (RB) Ariz
46) STL via Hou - Tre Jackson (G) FSU
47) SD - D'Anthony Thomas (RB) Oregon

We miss out on the running backs we wanted and the top guards on our board, but we decide to take the next two guards on our board. La'el Collins (6'5 321) has moved to tackle this season for LSU but will be asked to play guard for the newly departed Harvey Dahl. Collins is a mauling run blocker who will find his home on the right side next to Taylor Lewan in our new right side of the line. Then we take Tre Jackson (6'4 327) a former basketball player who is massive and even more athletic to come slide right in next to Jake Long for the next decade. With Barret Jones taking over for Scott Wells our line can now grow together by eliminating age and big contracts and replacing them with youth, athleticism and more importantly versatility. With the top running backs off the board, we are now resigned to waiting until next year to address the need. Zach Stacy has another year to prove he should be the long term solution.

Our next Selection comes at pick 76, we have already had one heck of a draft and addressed some huge issues, its time for Snead and Fish to do what they do best and roll the dice.

65) Jax - Scott Crichton (DE) Oregon ST
66) TB - Jared Abbrederis (WR) Wis
67) NYG - Jackson Jeffcoat (DE) Texas
68) Pit - Daniel McCullers (DT) Ten
69) Atl - Jace Amaro (TE) Texas Tech
70) Car - Cody Hoffman (WR) BYU
71) Was - Andre Hal (CB) Vanderbilt
72) Oak - Zach Mettenberger (QB) LSU
73) Min - Odell Beckham (WR) LSU
74) Cle - Josh Huff (WR) Oregon
75) Buf - Zack Martin (G) Notre Dame
76) STL - Dri Archer (RB) Kent ST

We really have no dire need for another midget speedster playmaker, but what Dri Archer offers us is a classic third down running back change of pace to Zach Stacy who will become Sam Bradford's new best friend. He will also help us out on Special Teams and allow Austin to take a break from return duties. I would like to say that I was torn here, I want to take another corner or safety with this pick, but Archer's sub 4.3 combine forty makes it very difficult to pass up here (you cant teach speed). I ended my Mock Madness here, but I did put together a few prospects who I would like to see us get with both our fourth round picks, well we were awarded a fourth round compensatory pick for the Danny Amendola free agency deal. With our pick:

108) STL - Nickoe Whitley (S) Mississipi ST

110) STL via Hou - Ego Furguson (DT) LSU

130) compensatory STL - Aaron Lynch (DE) USF

Nikoe Whitley is a nice compliment to TJ, Whitley is a ball hawking safety who has 10 career picks at Mississippi State. He will be our center fielder, and he isn't afraid of contact. Ego Furguson is another raw defensive tackle from LSU, at 309 pounds and still growing he will be Micheal Brockers clone. They will clog up the middle leaving JL55 a clean jersey to be able to seek and destroy. Aaron Lynch had a big future at Notre Dame before he got home sick and ran back to Florida. That cost him all of 2012, but he joined University of South Florida. His decision to de-commit from a prominent school hurt him on draft day, this man is a beast and a steal in the fourth round. He needs to put on some weight to play defensive end in the NFL,but will get some situational pass rush chances. The Rams like to put 4 defensive ends on the field on known passing downs, Lynch will get most of his chances when this happens. He will join the rotation with William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Gerald Rivers.