NFL mock drafts change daily, sometimes by the minute, and as the calendar month of February leaps into March, mock drafts start to take a more serious tone leading up to the actual NFL draft April 30. That’s why I personally enjoy them. They add more anticipation to the NFL draft.
Not only that, but that same weekend sports fans get to overindulge themselves with the most anticipated boxing match in recent history: Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather.
I came across a mock draft from NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah, and he had the St. Louis Rams selecting Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota. If that were to happen, he’d become the third Heisman winner to play for the Rams; the others were Eric Crouch (2001, University of Nebraska) and Sam Bradford (2008, University of Oklahoma). If the Rams and Bradford agree on a contract, it would mark the first time in team history that they had two Heisman trophy winners that played quarterback.
But, there is another caveat to this possible scenario, and that is the Nick Foles trade rumors will resurface again.
The Philadelphia Eagles were rumored to want to move up in the draft so they can acquire Mariota. Both the Rams and Eagles denied these rumors, as expected. The Rams are sitting at the number 10 position and need help in the worst way at offensive line and quarterback. I don’t see how Foles is an upgrade at quarterback. Not very fleet of foot, his numbers came back down to earth, proving gravity is real. Mariota is a good talent; however, the Rams’ biggest focus should be fixing all the holes on the offensive line. It’s time to put the duct tape away and form a cohesive group of five men to protect the leader of the offense.
The Rams look to hold leverage in this situation since the Eagles pick 20th in the first round and 52nd in the second round. I couldn’t see Rams just swapping spots straight up. They could use an extra pick or two because they gave up two picks for safety Mark Barron last season in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rams have the 41st pick, so a trade scenario like this gives the Rams a chance to add at least three of the top 52 picks in this year draft.
Let’s just say in a perfect world the Eagles and Rams make such a deal: the Rams swap spots in the first round and the Eagles throw in their second-round pick and Foles. The Eagles’ 52nd pick in the second round could put the Rams in position to draft a quarterback for the future, either Brett Hundley (UCLA) or Garret Grayson (Colorado State).
Walterfootball.com has the Rams selecting the enigmatic Dorial Green-Beckham. And before anyone frowns, the Rams are thin at wide receiver too. He’s a high-risk player, and the Rams have shown that they’ll take a chance on those types of players, such as cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson.
Brian Quick got off to a torrid start. But, I’m interested how he makes adjustments because the league will make adjustments to you as a player. Just like the league made adjustments against Chris Givens, and he’s not the same threat he was a rookie in 2012.
Moving down in the first round would definitely move the Rams away from one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft; however, they can still find themselves a starter for the offensive line. Offensive tackle Andrus Peat (Stanford) could slide down in the draft closer toward the end of the first round.
There will also be a couple of other guys near the tail end of the first round to watch for if you’re the Rams. T.J. Cummings (Pittsburg) and La’el Collins (LSU) can start right away. Or if the Rams decide to go with defense, then maybe Eric Kendricks (UCLA) at inside linebacker because the Rams need more speed and athleticism. As good as James Laurinaitas has been, third year outside linebacker Alec Ogletree has reset the bar to what the Rams defense needs at that position.
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