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Shane Gray provides special Rams commentaries on 101sports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ShaneGmoSTLRams.
Round 1 (6) Sammy Watkins, WR
Following a mock trade with the Atlanta Falcons – a team that recently expressed open interest in potentially trading up, which possesses intense interest in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and one with distinctive ties to St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead – St. Louis selects the top wide receiver on the board in Clemson’s Sammy Watkins.
Some may suggest that Watkins has no chance of being on the board at No. 6, but many draft analysts suggest otherwise. CBS Sports’ Rob Rang, for example, had Watkins going seventh to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as of April 1. In short, any and all of the following prospects could realistically go ahead of the aforementioned receiver: quarterbacks Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and David Carr; DE Clowney, outside linebacker Khalil Mack; and offensive tackles Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews.
At 6-foot-1, Watkins has plenty of size to thrive in the NFL, particularly when considering his loaded skill set. If you don’t think so, please refer to the resumes of former All-Pro six-footers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, among others.
The Rams utilized a No. 1 overall pick on quarterback Sam Bradford in 2010. The St. Louis front office insists that Bradford is their man going forward. With that said, it makes sense to provide him with the top pass-catching weapon on the market.
With a run game that looks ready to roll behind starting back Zac Stacy and a defense that should excel under the tutelage and aggressive approach of Gregg Williams, the Rams can help ensure that they are as well-rounded as possible by equipping their quarterback and passing game with a prospect who has Pro Bowl written all over him – one who is being lauded by some notable draft evaluators as the top receiving prospect since Julio Jones.
Some may balk at this selection, but when your top returning wideout caught only 40 passes (albeit in a run-heavy offense and with a backup quarterback much of the year), it seems within reason that the receiving corps continue to be fortified. Yes, the Rams are young at the position and do possess some nice talent there, but passing on Watkins when considering the lack of proven commodities in place seems silly, especially with the likes of Clowney and Robinson off the board already.
As for free-agent acquisition Kenny Britt, his one year deal worth just over $500,000 in guaranteed money equates to a prove-it-or-move-on contract. Those types of deals do not and should not impact the top end of the first round and a team’s big board, and won’t impact that of the Rams. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner served up an excellent column dealing with this topic here.
With St. Louis entering year five of Bradford’s tenure, it is time to arm him with the best option available at receiver and find out once and for all if No. 8 is the quarterback the Rams’ brass believes that he is.
Alternate selection: Jake Matthews, LT
Matthews has probably the highest floor of any player in this draft class and, thus, the lowest bust potential. St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher maintains a long relationship with the Matthews family, and the Rams have shown obvious interest in the former Texas A&M standout.
In addition to his pick-and-play ability at left tackle, Matthews is well-equipped to start and succeed at right tackle or either guard spot.
(For the full seven round mock, please click the following link to 101sports.com. Hope each of you enjoy it):
http://www.101sports.com/2014/04/06/st- ... ition-one/
Round 1 (6) Sammy Watkins, WR
Following a mock trade with the Atlanta Falcons – a team that recently expressed open interest in potentially trading up, which possesses intense interest in defensive end Jadeveon Clowney and one with distinctive ties to St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead – St. Louis selects the top wide receiver on the board in Clemson’s Sammy Watkins.
Some may suggest that Watkins has no chance of being on the board at No. 6, but many draft analysts suggest otherwise. CBS Sports’ Rob Rang, for example, had Watkins going seventh to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as of April 1. In short, any and all of the following prospects could realistically go ahead of the aforementioned receiver: quarterbacks Blake Bortles, Johnny Manziel and David Carr; DE Clowney, outside linebacker Khalil Mack; and offensive tackles Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews.
At 6-foot-1, Watkins has plenty of size to thrive in the NFL, particularly when considering his loaded skill set. If you don’t think so, please refer to the resumes of former All-Pro six-footers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, among others.
The Rams utilized a No. 1 overall pick on quarterback Sam Bradford in 2010. The St. Louis front office insists that Bradford is their man going forward. With that said, it makes sense to provide him with the top pass-catching weapon on the market.
With a run game that looks ready to roll behind starting back Zac Stacy and a defense that should excel under the tutelage and aggressive approach of Gregg Williams, the Rams can help ensure that they are as well-rounded as possible by equipping their quarterback and passing game with a prospect who has Pro Bowl written all over him – one who is being lauded by some notable draft evaluators as the top receiving prospect since Julio Jones.
Some may balk at this selection, but when your top returning wideout caught only 40 passes (albeit in a run-heavy offense and with a backup quarterback much of the year), it seems within reason that the receiving corps continue to be fortified. Yes, the Rams are young at the position and do possess some nice talent there, but passing on Watkins when considering the lack of proven commodities in place seems silly, especially with the likes of Clowney and Robinson off the board already.
As for free-agent acquisition Kenny Britt, his one year deal worth just over $500,000 in guaranteed money equates to a prove-it-or-move-on contract. Those types of deals do not and should not impact the top end of the first round and a team’s big board, and won’t impact that of the Rams. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner served up an excellent column dealing with this topic here.
With St. Louis entering year five of Bradford’s tenure, it is time to arm him with the best option available at receiver and find out once and for all if No. 8 is the quarterback the Rams’ brass believes that he is.
Alternate selection: Jake Matthews, LT
Matthews has probably the highest floor of any player in this draft class and, thus, the lowest bust potential. St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher maintains a long relationship with the Matthews family, and the Rams have shown obvious interest in the former Texas A&M standout.
In addition to his pick-and-play ability at left tackle, Matthews is well-equipped to start and succeed at right tackle or either guard spot.
(For the full seven round mock, please click the following link to 101sports.com. Hope each of you enjoy it):
http://www.101sports.com/2014/04/06/st- ... ition-one/
