2011 St. Louis Rams Draft Needs
Written by Jack Jones
After a forgetful 1-15 campaign in 2009, the St. Louis Rams finally got back to respectability in 2010. Second-year head coach Steve Spagnuolo got the most out of his team last year, as the Rams fell just one game short of making the playoffs with a 7-9 record in the weak NFC West. St. Louis struck gold with top pick Sam Bradford in last year’s draft class, who appears poised to lead this team for many years to come.
The Rams had one of the better drafts of any organization in the league last April. They had 11 picks in all, and three of those rookies played in 16 games while six played in nine games or more. Second-round pick Rodger Saffold started all 16 games at left tackle and should still be protecting Bradford’s blind side for many seasons as well.
Below I’ll go over the biggest needs the Rams face heading into the 2011 NFL Draft. While they have a lot fewer needs this offseason, St. Louis will be looking to improve their team with seven draft picks. It starts with the No. 14 selection in the first round. Find out who they’ll take with our 2011 NFL Mock Draft.
Top 5 Team Needs
1.) Wide Receiver – The Rams receivers simply have not been able to stay healthy. With a QB like Bradford, this team needs to surround him with weapons. Mark Clayton, Danario Alexander and Donnie Avery make for a decent trio when they are on the field. But Clayton and Avery suffered season-ending injuries last year. Alexander has had five knee operations and cannot be trusted, especially after dropping a couple passes in their season-ending loss to Seattle last year. Laurent Robinson has some decent potential, but he and Clayton are both free agents. Obviously the Rams would love to trade up to get either Julio Jones from Alabama or A.J. Green from Georgia, because both will be gone if they don‘t. St. Louis may have to wait for the second round to get a receiver, and they also might be looking to snag a tight end at some point.
2.) Defensive Tackle – Free-agent signee Fred Robbins gave the Rams more than expected in 2010, but it’s doubtful he can play that well in 2011 now that he’s a year older. Gary Gibson and Clifton Ryan each split time alongside Robbins, but both are free agents. Reserve DT Darell Scott took a step back last season and isn’t a long-term solution. I like the Rams to target Corey Liuget from Illinois with their No. 14 pick in the first round.
3.) Safety – After cutting O.J. Otogwe, the Rams are clearly in need of another safety. Otogwe has since signed with the Washington Redskins. Rookies like Jaiquawn Jarrett from Temple or Jeron Johnson from Boise State could be good fits in the later rounds.
4.) Running Back – Steven Jackson is perhaps the biggest workhorse in the NFL. For three years now, the Rams have simply ignored the need for a change-of-pace back who can handle third-downs. After Jackson led the league in touches in 2010, they almost certainly won’t ignore this need any longer. Shane Vereen from California may just be on their radar.
5.) Offensive Guard – St. Louis is set at tackle, but the interior of their offensive line was certainly a big weakness in 2010. The team has two finess blockers in Jacob Bell and Adam Golberg, and need to add bulk and toughness to the guard positions. Goldberg is a free agent who would make for a solid reserve, just not a starter in this league.
Individual NFL Team Mock Drafts
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