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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...7-players-rising-or-falling-on-st-louis-board
Rams Draft Stock Watch: 7 Players Rising or Falling on St. Louis' Board
By Steven Gerwel, Featured Columnist Mar 26, 2015
With the NFL combine now complete and the college pro days underway, the St. Louis Rams can get a better understanding of where the prospects stand. The team can now determine which players are rising or falling on its draft board.
There's still time remaining to evaluate and mix up the big board. Over the next month, the players' stock will continue to fluctuate, and it will continue to do so until St. Louis is finally on the clock.
This article will look at several possible Rams targets and determine if their stock is rising or dropping. We'll determine this by reviewing recent headlines, team needs, workout performances and more.
Rising: T Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press
The Rams have failed to find any significant offensive line help in free agency, which puts the team in a desperate position. There's still a chance that could change, but Rams are pretty much forcing themselves to go with an offensive lineman in Round 1.
Brandon Scherff is as talented as any offensive lineman in this draft class and has the ability to play multiple positions. Scherff's versatility makes him a good fit for the Rams, who need help at multiple positions on the line.
Scherff is also an excellent run-blocker, which fits head coach Jeff Fisher's run-first philosophy.
Barring an injury or scandalous headline, expect Scherff to remain high on St. Louis' board. He's a safe pick and fills a position of great need.
Falling: WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Dorial Green-Beckham spent his college career just two hours west of St. Louis off I-70 at the University of Missouri. He spent his high school years three hours southwest of Rams Park off Interstate 44 in Springfield.
The Missouri prospect has surely been on St. Louis' radar for a while now. He's certainly been on the radar of local fans. But his in-state ties and enormous potential won't be enough to save his draft stock.
Green-Beckham's multiple off-field incidents, as reported by Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com, have been well-documented and eventually forced Mizzou to part ways with the talented but troubled receiver. Maturity is obviously the most glaring issue associated with Green-Beckham.
His combine performance was also discouraging. He didn't do anything to hurt himself in a major way, but his 4.49-second 40-yard-dash time and his 13 reps on the bench hardly blew away the competition. A world-class athlete such as Green-Beckham should have produced a more eye-popping combine performance.
He failed to deliver.
He didn't reach his full potential in college, he didn't meet his full potential at the combine and he certainly hasn't met his full potential as an off-the-field role model.
Unless he falls to the third round or later, there's no reason the Rams should have Green-Beckham anywhere on their draft board.
Rising: G Laken Tomlinson, Duke
David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Few second-round targets should be higher on St. Louis' list than Duke's Laken Tomlinson. He's a Day 1 starter at guard, which happens to be a desperate need for the Rams.
Tomlinson is an intelligent player. As a four-year starter at Duke, he should be less raw than many prospects from this class. He's not the most athletic specimen, but he more than makes up for it with his intangibles.
His pass blocking is his biggest strength, and that's a welcomed asset for a team that has struggled to protect its quarterbacks in recent years. However, Tomlinson's run blocking needs work, which might scare Fisher away.
Keep an eye on Tomlinson leading up to the draft. He would be a steal with any Day 2 pick.
Falling: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Ryan Kang/Associated Press
It's not that Marcus Mariota has done anything to drop off St. Louis' board, but the acquisitions of Nick Foles and Case Keenum suddenly make the quarterback position a less pressing need for the Rams.
That's not to say the Rams won't target someone such as Colorado State's Garrett Grayson in the middle rounds as a developmental project. That's still a possibility. But it would seem unwise to not give Foles at least one year as the unquestioned starter. Adding a quarterback like Mariota will create controversy at the position the moment Foles makes the slightest error, and that's not good for team chemistry.
If the Rams decide to shock the NFL by drafting a first-round quarterback, it's a clear sign that the team sees Foles as a one-year Band-Aid rather than a long-term solution. But given Foles' past production and potential, that shouldn't be expected.
Rising: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
The Rams are loaded with potential at the receiver position, which fools some people into believing it's a spot they can ignore. That's not necessarily the case.
The Rams are desperate for offensive production and big-time playmakers. While the current St. Louis receivers have the potential to become players in this league, none of them has been able to break out in a big way. That's a sign that the Rams should keep feeding talent into the position to raise the pressure and increase the amount of training camp competition.
Several first-round options are available, such as West Virginia's Kevin White or Alabama's Amari Cooper, but the Rams can also upgrade the receiver position by grabbing Arizona State's Jaelen Strong in the second round.
Strong lacks the deep-ball speed of Cooper and White, but he has excellent size at 6'2" and 217 pounds. He's a strong, tough player and an ideal prospect for any team in need of a possession receiver.
While it's certainly possible the Rams will pass on receivers and give the current group a chance to develop, don't be surprised if St. Louis ultimately adds a talented pass-catcher to replace Chris Givens and push for playing time.
Falling: C Reese Dismukes, Auburn
Julio Cortez/Associated Press
The center position is a glaring need in St. Louis, which means the Rams need an answer other than a mid-rounder with modest potential. For once, general manager Les Snead must ignore his obsession with all things Auburn.
It would be one thing if the team had a capable starter in place and drafted Reese Dismukes merely as depth, but that's not the case. The team needs a Day 1 starter in the worst way, and Dismukes can't offer that.
The Auburn center posted modest combine numbers. He ran the 40-yard dash in just 5.31 seconds and lifted an average 23 reps on the bench. And according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Dismukes was a disappointment physically at the Senior Bowl.
Overall, Dismukes offers nothing that the Rams don't already have in backup centers Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney. He should be falling on St. Louis' board.
Rising: C/G Cameron Erving, Florida State
David J. Phillip/Associated Press
The Rams are in desperate need of a starting center. Since Florida State's Cameron Erving (6'5", 313 lbs) is the only center of this class worth betting on as an immediate impact player, that should make him rather valuable in the eyes of St. Louis.
Erving's pass blocking and comfort with identifying NFL blitz packages will need a lot of work, but he's an excellent prospect physically. He's a powerful run-blocker and should make an immediate impact in that department.
The primary concern is that Erving's current stock could easily land him in the late first round. He's a total reach at No. 10 overall and likely won't drop to the Rams in Round 2, which means St. Louis might have to trade up with its second-rounder to secure him.
If St. Louis fails to upgrade the center position in free agency, that's a trade scenario the Rams might be forced to explore.
Rams Draft Stock Watch: 7 Players Rising or Falling on St. Louis' Board
By Steven Gerwel, Featured Columnist Mar 26, 2015
With the NFL combine now complete and the college pro days underway, the St. Louis Rams can get a better understanding of where the prospects stand. The team can now determine which players are rising or falling on its draft board.
There's still time remaining to evaluate and mix up the big board. Over the next month, the players' stock will continue to fluctuate, and it will continue to do so until St. Louis is finally on the clock.
This article will look at several possible Rams targets and determine if their stock is rising or dropping. We'll determine this by reviewing recent headlines, team needs, workout performances and more.
Rising: T Brandon Scherff, Iowa
Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press
The Rams have failed to find any significant offensive line help in free agency, which puts the team in a desperate position. There's still a chance that could change, but Rams are pretty much forcing themselves to go with an offensive lineman in Round 1.
Brandon Scherff is as talented as any offensive lineman in this draft class and has the ability to play multiple positions. Scherff's versatility makes him a good fit for the Rams, who need help at multiple positions on the line.
Scherff is also an excellent run-blocker, which fits head coach Jeff Fisher's run-first philosophy.
Barring an injury or scandalous headline, expect Scherff to remain high on St. Louis' board. He's a safe pick and fills a position of great need.
Falling: WR Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press
Dorial Green-Beckham spent his college career just two hours west of St. Louis off I-70 at the University of Missouri. He spent his high school years three hours southwest of Rams Park off Interstate 44 in Springfield.
The Missouri prospect has surely been on St. Louis' radar for a while now. He's certainly been on the radar of local fans. But his in-state ties and enormous potential won't be enough to save his draft stock.
Green-Beckham's multiple off-field incidents, as reported by Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com, have been well-documented and eventually forced Mizzou to part ways with the talented but troubled receiver. Maturity is obviously the most glaring issue associated with Green-Beckham.
His combine performance was also discouraging. He didn't do anything to hurt himself in a major way, but his 4.49-second 40-yard-dash time and his 13 reps on the bench hardly blew away the competition. A world-class athlete such as Green-Beckham should have produced a more eye-popping combine performance.
He failed to deliver.
He didn't reach his full potential in college, he didn't meet his full potential at the combine and he certainly hasn't met his full potential as an off-the-field role model.
Unless he falls to the third round or later, there's no reason the Rams should have Green-Beckham anywhere on their draft board.
Rising: G Laken Tomlinson, Duke
David J. Phillip/Associated Press
Few second-round targets should be higher on St. Louis' list than Duke's Laken Tomlinson. He's a Day 1 starter at guard, which happens to be a desperate need for the Rams.
Tomlinson is an intelligent player. As a four-year starter at Duke, he should be less raw than many prospects from this class. He's not the most athletic specimen, but he more than makes up for it with his intangibles.
His pass blocking is his biggest strength, and that's a welcomed asset for a team that has struggled to protect its quarterbacks in recent years. However, Tomlinson's run blocking needs work, which might scare Fisher away.
Keep an eye on Tomlinson leading up to the draft. He would be a steal with any Day 2 pick.
Falling: QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Ryan Kang/Associated Press
It's not that Marcus Mariota has done anything to drop off St. Louis' board, but the acquisitions of Nick Foles and Case Keenum suddenly make the quarterback position a less pressing need for the Rams.
That's not to say the Rams won't target someone such as Colorado State's Garrett Grayson in the middle rounds as a developmental project. That's still a possibility. But it would seem unwise to not give Foles at least one year as the unquestioned starter. Adding a quarterback like Mariota will create controversy at the position the moment Foles makes the slightest error, and that's not good for team chemistry.
If the Rams decide to shock the NFL by drafting a first-round quarterback, it's a clear sign that the team sees Foles as a one-year Band-Aid rather than a long-term solution. But given Foles' past production and potential, that shouldn't be expected.
Rising: WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
The Rams are loaded with potential at the receiver position, which fools some people into believing it's a spot they can ignore. That's not necessarily the case.
The Rams are desperate for offensive production and big-time playmakers. While the current St. Louis receivers have the potential to become players in this league, none of them has been able to break out in a big way. That's a sign that the Rams should keep feeding talent into the position to raise the pressure and increase the amount of training camp competition.
Several first-round options are available, such as West Virginia's Kevin White or Alabama's Amari Cooper, but the Rams can also upgrade the receiver position by grabbing Arizona State's Jaelen Strong in the second round.
Strong lacks the deep-ball speed of Cooper and White, but he has excellent size at 6'2" and 217 pounds. He's a strong, tough player and an ideal prospect for any team in need of a possession receiver.
While it's certainly possible the Rams will pass on receivers and give the current group a chance to develop, don't be surprised if St. Louis ultimately adds a talented pass-catcher to replace Chris Givens and push for playing time.
Falling: C Reese Dismukes, Auburn
Julio Cortez/Associated Press
The center position is a glaring need in St. Louis, which means the Rams need an answer other than a mid-rounder with modest potential. For once, general manager Les Snead must ignore his obsession with all things Auburn.
It would be one thing if the team had a capable starter in place and drafted Reese Dismukes merely as depth, but that's not the case. The team needs a Day 1 starter in the worst way, and Dismukes can't offer that.
The Auburn center posted modest combine numbers. He ran the 40-yard dash in just 5.31 seconds and lifted an average 23 reps on the bench. And according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, Dismukes was a disappointment physically at the Senior Bowl.
Overall, Dismukes offers nothing that the Rams don't already have in backup centers Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney. He should be falling on St. Louis' board.
Rising: C/G Cameron Erving, Florida State
David J. Phillip/Associated Press
The Rams are in desperate need of a starting center. Since Florida State's Cameron Erving (6'5", 313 lbs) is the only center of this class worth betting on as an immediate impact player, that should make him rather valuable in the eyes of St. Louis.
Erving's pass blocking and comfort with identifying NFL blitz packages will need a lot of work, but he's an excellent prospect physically. He's a powerful run-blocker and should make an immediate impact in that department.
The primary concern is that Erving's current stock could easily land him in the late first round. He's a total reach at No. 10 overall and likely won't drop to the Rams in Round 2, which means St. Louis might have to trade up with its second-rounder to secure him.
If St. Louis fails to upgrade the center position in free agency, that's a trade scenario the Rams might be forced to explore.
