RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Notes by position

QB
Rams outlook: Rams aren’t doing anything here. I wouldn’t even add a camp arm; Austin Davis can use all the reps he can get if he’s to be a legit QB2.
Sleeper: Colby Cameron, Louisiana Tech. Big arm and threw some of the prettiest deep balls at the Combine, perfect deep corners and go routes. Shrine Game exposed his decision-making, though.
Please avoid: Landry Jones, Oklahoma. Awful in the Senior Bowl. Scared of the pass rush, bailed out on every throw, poor accuracy, poor everything. What’s he going to do in front of a real pass rush?
Favorite name: Steele Jantz, Iowa State. Think I have a new name for the main character of that noir detective novel I’m going to write someday.

RB
Rams outlook: Steven Jackson’s move to Atlanta leaves a hole 10,000 yards wide in the Ram offense. Who’s getting the ball on 3^rd-and-1 now? The most proven power back is Quizno’s sandwich artist Terrance Ganaway. Daryl Richardson flashed potential early in the season but disappeared after Thanksgiving, and 2^nd-round pick Isaiah Pead’s season was just depressing; just ask him. Jeff Fisher is whistling past the graveyard if he thinks he’s got enough here for an NFL running game. The Rams at a minimum need to add a big back to give at least 15 carries a game.
Sleeper: LeVeon Bell, Michigan State. A 2^nd-3^rd round prospect’s not exactly a “sleeper,” but I have a feeling the Rams could go to him in the 3^rd if they haven’t already taken a RB. Strong power runner with surprising agility and also a good receiver out of the backfield. A lot of Steven Jackson in his game.
Please avoid: Robbie Rouse, Fresno State. Too damn small. Not even 5’6”. He couldn’t get out of the backfield in the Senior Bowl, then barely ran his height (4.8 40) at the Combine.
Worst name: Christine Michael, Texas A&M. A young man with a woman’s first name (no, pronouncing it “Kristin” doesn’t help) and a first name for a last name.

WR
Rams outlook: The Rams’ need at WR continues to be high and dire with the free agency departure of Danny Amendola to New England. Besides the miracle of Brian Quick developing into a pro-quality WR, the Rams also need a slot receiver, an outside-the-numbers deep threat and depth, and somebody who can also return kicks would be nice.
Sleeper: Tavarres King, Georgia: runs 4.47, averaged 19 yards a catch against SEC DBs, looked unstoppable at times Senior Bowl week. Conner Vernon, Duke: Great hands, has everything you’d want from a slot receiver. Aaron Dobson, Marshall: big (6’2” 215) WR got off press coverage better than anyone at the Senior Bowl. Impressive moves and elusiveness, ran solid routes, can beat people deep.
Please avoid: Chris Harper, Kansas State: I’m still waiting for him to separate from anybody. Da’Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech: multiple substance violations and didn’t show very good hands at the Combine.
Favorite name: Rodrick Rumble, Idaho State. And now I have the name for the gangster thug character of my noir detective novel. Or the first champion of my indy wrestling promotion.

TE
Rams outlook: The Rams can stand on a pat hand here after signing Jared Cook. Lance Kendricks improved by leaps and bounds as a blocker last season and may yet blossom as a receiving threat as a 2^nd option to Cook. There’s also nice blocking depth with Mike McNeill and Cory Harkey.
Sleeper: Luke Willson’s not even the #1 TE in this draft from Rice, but in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, he showed soft hands, strong route-running and catching fundamentals and the ability to get open at all three levels.
Please avoid: Marquies Gray, Minnesota: combo QB/WR trying to convert into TE for the pros. There aren’t enough failed TE projects littering the NFL, I suppose.
Favorite name: Zach Ertz (Stanford), Jake Stoneburner (Ohio St) and Kurt Hammerschmidt (Iowa State) all have awesome names for tight ends, even though I don’t know what kind of stone actually burns.

OL
Rams outlook: The Rams look set at four starting positions and have at least three candidates for LG but depth wouldn’t be unwelcome. Rodger Saffold’s in his walk year and unhappy the Jake Long signing moved him to RT. Scott Wells was rarely healthy last season. Are Joe Barksdale and Tim Barnes ideal backup options at tackle and center? Can Rokevious Watkins, Shelley Smith or Chris Williams be a reliable NFL starter?
Sleeper: Hawkinson Tanner, Kansas. Lost the war to Devin Taylor at the Shrine Game but won some battles. Mauling run-blocker, uses his hands well in pass pro, can flatten people. I think he has the foundation to be good in the pros.
Please avoid: Ricky Wagner, Wisconsin: the way Ziggy Ansah destroyed him at the Senior Bowl, would you really want him lined up on Aldon Smith or Cliff Avril? Edmond Kugbila, Valdosta State: my Combine notes describe his kick-slide as “like a dog trying to run and pee on a hydrant at the same time.”
Favorite name: Mike Golic, Notre Dame. Someone PLEASE sign young Golic so ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” show talks about another team EVER besides the Jets.

DL
Rams outlook: Defensive line is as set a unit as there is on the team. Chris Long, Robert Quinn and re-signed William Hayes should be one of the league’s most dangerous DE rotations. The Rams could always improve on Eugene Sims, but that’s not a high priority. They really only rotated 3 DTs last year and could use a 4^th, though Matt Conrath does come off the IR to join Jermelle Cudjo as backup to Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford.
Sleeper: Devin Taylor, South Carolina. Huge (6’7” 266) DE dominated the Shrine Game with two sacks, two forced fumbles, several pressures and even outran a QB trying to bootleg on him. Only a 5^th-6^th rounder, huh? Poor man’s Ziggy Ansah; very poor man’s Michael Johnson.
Please avoid: Michael Buchanan, Illinois. Blocked a FG in the Senior Bowl but mostly spent his week in Mobile getting owned by Eric Fisher, Lane Johnson or Justin Pugh. Looked a step slow, looked like he was thinking too much, slow to make counter moves.
Favorite name: Darrington Sentimore, Tennessee. Now I have a name for the rich-guy antagonist of my noir detective novel.

LB
Rams outlook: The Rams’ struggle to get James Laurinaitis enough outside help continued last season. Jo-Lonn Dunbar filled one side very well, but the other side was a rotating mess again, with Mario Haggan, Rocky McIntosh and even Justin Cole all washing out. Plenty of opportunity again this year for a youngster to step into a starting role or add depth.
Sleeper: Travis Johnson, San Jose State. 3-4 OLB flashed in both big all-star games. Was excellent against Collin Klein and the read option, a good skill for an NFC West LB to have, in the Shrine Game.
Please avoid: Manti Te’o, Notre Dame. Let’s just leave it at that.
Worst name: Storm Klein, Ohio State. Seriously? This draft could have players named Christine, Star and Storm? Is this the NFL Draft or a strip joint? And yes, there is at least one player named Dallas.

DB
Rams outlook: The Rams are very raw and very understaffed at safety, where free agency has left them with just Darian Stewart and two of last year’s rookies, Rodney McLeod and Matt Daniels, and Stewart and Daniels were out most or all of the season to boot. They have a need for an immediate starter and also depth. The corners look great talent-wise, but Trumaine Johnson’s recent off-field troubles and Janoris Jenkins’ (who has gone a full year without getting in trouble with the law) reputation for them would make an upgrade on Quinton Pointer at CB4 welcome.
Sleeper: Robert Alford, Louisiana Tech. The way Alford broke up short routes at the Senior Bowl, nearly returned a kick for a TD, ran 4.37 at the Combine, how is he only a 3^rd-4^th rounder? I’d consider him starting late in the 1^st.
Please avoid: Tyrann “Honey Badger” Mathieu, LSU. Do we really want this guy and Janoris Jenkins hanging around one another? And unlike Jenkins, who was able to transfer after getting kicked out at Florida, Mathieu didn’t even play in 2012, suspended at LSU for “substance abuse” and then getting multiple marijuana arrests after that. If Honey Badger don’t care, well, he better.
Favorite name: Bacarri Rambo. Sounds like he was born to be a Ram to me.

ST
Rams outlook: With Amendola gone, the Rams have even less at the return positions than ever. Jenkins would be a lock to return punts if you can trust his ball security. The Rams’ big rookie legs from last season shouldn’t have any trouble keeping their jobs, but Johnny Hekker needs to quit shanking punts, and I honestly don’t think he’s ever going to. I’d bring in competition despite his very strong leg.
Sleeper: Marquise Goodwin, Texas. Another excuse for me to bang the table for Goodwin. He’s got a little kick return experience, had one TD runback for the Longhorns, and with 4.27 speed, you have to figure the 2012 Olympic long jumper would be kind of hard to catch.
Please avoid: NEVER DRAFT A KICKER. Greg Zuerlein’s successes last year don’t change RamView’s philosophy. After all, Legatron was only the third-best rookie kicker in ’12. And sure, rookie Pro Bowl kicker Blair Walsh was also drafted, but Justin Tucker of the Ravens is also better (ask the Broncos), and he was an undrafted free agent.
Favorite name: South Dakota punter Cole Zwiefelhofer, who’s not even the last punter alphabetically in this year’s draft! He can thank Stanford punter Dan Zychlinski for that.

And that will do it for RamView’s 2013 draft preview. Let’s get the Chiefs on the clock already!

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Rams micro news, 4/23: Get your cotton candy here!

thekitchn.com

Not draft related:

- The Rams gained $4.5 million in cap space Monday by restructuring Chris Long's contract. (Didn't they structure it right the first time? Long just got this contract last year.) He was paid $6 million of his 2013 salary as a roster bonus. The pro-rated part of that reduced the cap. The Rams should now have enough space to sign the draft class they're about to add this weekend, but not much else.

- As reported on the University of Cincinnati website, last season depressed the hell out of Isaiah Pead. Well, it should have; he just wasn't very good, but it sounds like he took it too much to heart. I like that Pead isn't blaming anybody else for his rookie season and expect him to be driven to succeed in 2013.

- Here's ESPN.com contributor Gregg (TMQ) Easterbrook taking potshots at (who he thinks is) Rams ownership: Rams owners Stan and Ann Kroenke, net worth estimated by Forbes at $4.4 billion, are trying to graymail local taxpayers into providing $700 million in public funding for stadium upgrades. Then they will keep almost all revenue. This plan would have embarrassed [convicted Ponzi schemer Bernie] Madoff, whose marks handed over money of their own free will. 

Sigh. Maybe someday, Easterbrook will get something right about the Rams. Ann Kroenke is worth $4.5 billion by herself according to Forbes, and she doesn't own any part of the Rams. Stan is worth $5 billion by himself. So Easterbrook gets Rams ownership wrong, and shortchanges the Kroenke family in the bargain. I'm eagerly awaiting the corrections section of Easterbrook's next column.

Stan's the Rams' majority owner, but Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez still own 30% of the Rams if my homework is right. When Stan took over, it was on a buy half, buy the other half later plan. I've never heard when "later" was supposed to be. If I'm wrong about that, then so are the Rams, whose website and media guide list Stan, Chip and Lucia as owners.

- Finally, the Rams freaking pump the scent of freaking cotton candy into the stadium on gamedays? Who the hell made that decision? This is football! You either pump in the smell of beer, cigars or the smell of grilling brats if you're going to pump in a smell. Preferably all three. And hey, wait a minute. I can't smoke in the Dome (Note: I don't smoke), but they can freaking pump in subliminal scents intended to get me to buy concessions? Now which of those two things is more morally suspect? (Note: I myself have never detected the scent of cotton candy in the Dome. I only notice cotton candy in the Dome when the vendors stand at the bottom of our section and block my view with their stupid freaking candy.)

RamView will doggedly pursue this cotton candy scenting issue with fellow season ticket holders. There oughta be a law, I tell ya!

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Rams' 2013 pre-draft visits

Here's the list of players who had a pre-draft visit with the Rams this year. This is the final update; I'm squaring what I've had listed away with the final list that just went up on STLToday. Final corrections are in italics.

It's worth noting that at least four of the Rams' 2012 draft picks - Michael Brockers, Brian Quick, Janoris Jenkins and Chris Givens - had pre-draft visits here. (That may not be all; my list last year only went up to 26 visits.) Let's see which draft prospects the Rams are looking at the hardest:

Oday Aboushi, T, Virginia

Keenan Allen, WR, California

Terron Armstead, T, Arkansas-Pine Bluff (local)

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia (reported by Jim Thomas after the draft)

David Bass, DE, Missouri Western (local)

Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State

D.J. Fluker, T, Alabama

Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA

Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida

Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers

Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois (local)

Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State

Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Kyle Long, T, Oregon

T.J. McDonald, S, USC (reported by Jim Thomas after the draft)

T.J. Moe, WR, Missouri (local)

Sio Moore, LB, Connecticut

Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech

Ace Sanders, WR, South Carolina 

Shamarko Thomas, SS, Syracuse

Hugh Thornton, OL, Illinois

Larry Warford, G, Kentucky

Menelik Watson, T, Florida State

Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern (local)

Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

Ronnie Wingo Jr., RB, Arkansas (local). No, I have no idea.

DeAndre Hopkins is not on STLToday's list, nor mine up till now, but he has worked out for the Rams twice.


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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: seven-round Rams' mock

Building on my very-likely dubious first-round projections, here’s RamView’s annual, even more dubious, attempt to lay out a seven-round draft for the Rams:

1 / 16 – Eric Reid, FS, LSU 

1 / 22 – Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama  

2 / 46 – DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Clemson. Rumors have started that the Rams like Hopkins so much that they’re taking him at 16 if Tavon Austin doesn’t fall to them. He's already gotten the extra-private workout treatment the Rams gave Brian Quick got last year. And since Hopkins is getting about as much mention this year as Quick got last year, he sounds like a reach at 16. Maybe the Rams raised Hopkins on their board after hearing about his hotel room getting trashed at the Combine. 

Or, shame on me for not having a better grasp of what Hopkins brings to the field. Gil Brandt calls him the most pro-ready receiver in this year's draft, and the Rams distinctly need pro-ready in their WR this time around. Nice size at 6'1" 214 and acceptable speed at 4.5. Various draft analysts compare him to Roddy White and Reggie Wayne. He doesn't need a map to the end zone - 18 TDs for Clemson last year. He is lauded for his hands, above-average and improving route running, and quickness and ability to separate. His main flaw is concentration drops; the Rams should have the WR coach in Ray Sherman to help him out with that. Starting to think if I have the right players among the Rams top three picks, I have them in the wrong order. I blame NFL Network's poor Combine coverage.

The Rams could consider LBs here. This is about the bottom of Arthur Brown’s drafting range, and Khaseem Greene and Sio Moore look iffy to last to 78. But they did prioritize offensive skill positions over LBs last year, and as a fan, I certainly do, so WR is the pick.

3 / 78 – Gerald Hodges, LB, Penn State. I’m always taking offensive linemen here, and you can get Travis Frederick or probably Brian Schwenke to get a solid combo guard/center backup and center of the future, but you have to put more emphasis on finding starters than finding backups, so Hodges is the pick. Stedman Bailey’s the best WR usually in range here if they haven’t picked one up yet. This is about the bottom of Terrance Williams’ range.

Proof that we live on a weird planet is that 6'1" 243 Hodges is considered small, and converted safeties can be a roll of the dice, but he's got the quickness and pass coverage skills to be a big plus on the weakside. He gets praise for his ability to cover tight ends and break up underneath routes without interfering. The distinction may not mean what it used to, but you usually can't go wrong taking a Penn State linebacker.

4 / 113 – Tyrann Mathieu, DB, LSU. Sigh. We all know it’s going to happen. I’m not going to fight it. He’s available for the Rams here at the long mock drafts I’ve looked at, so bring on the Honey Badger. I assume he would move into the kick return game right off the bat, and they need the depth in the secondary, too. This looks like the sweet spot for the Rams to make a big roll-of-the-dice pick, whether it’s a major character risk like Mathieu or a major injury risk like Marcus Lattimore. 

5 / 149 – Ace Sanders, WR, South Carolina. He’s the Plan B at slot receiver, assuming they failed to get Tavon Austin at the top of the draft. I think hands are a concern with Sanders; his Combine gauntlet runs were poor and he even got hit in the face with one pass. T.J. Moe showed freakish change-of-direction skills and strength at the Combine, qualities that could make him very effective in that Danny Amendola, make 7 or 8 5-yard catches a game, slot receiver role. He’s also a consideration here in the last 3 rounds; both these WRs were at Rams Park for pre-draft visits. Let's toss Marquise Goodwin in there as a potential late-round pickup for the slot. I thought he had a very high-quality Senior Bowl week, but he hasn't shaken the "track star playing football" vibe. Conner Vernon of Duke's also worth a look.

6 / 184 – Josh Boyd, DT, Mississippi State. A bit of a luxury pick, but the Rams' DT rotation was pretty thin last season. Had about as productive a senior season as former teammate Fletcher Cox did last year, and has upper-round talent, but isn't a productive pass rusher.

7 / 222 – Miguel Maysonet, RB, Stony Brook. Probably wishful thinking to think Maysonet will last this long, but he does in the long mock drafts I reviewed. Buzz is building for the Walter Payton Award runner-up, who ran for 23 TDs and nearly 2,000 yards last year on 7.4 yards a carry. Missed the Combine due to a torn hamstring but showed sub-4.5 speed at his Pro Day. There is NOTHING about the Rams’ RB corps that wouldn’t justify taking this kind of flyer. Same thing at WR if the Rams want to take a run at Charles Johnson of Grand Valley. 6’2”, 215, 4.36 at his Pro Day. That’s given him buzz that should also carry him higher than 222, but you never know.

This draft beefs the Rams up at RB, WR and secondary and also fills the open OLB spot. It gives them a needed safety, power running back, slot receiver and another deep threat. I didn’t do anything on offensive line, where the Rams’ plans will change if they trade Rodger Saffold, but otherwise, their depth there looks sufficient, especially since they’re due for a lot better health up front than they’ve been getting.

Still coming: my annual sleepers, please-avoids (at least one of whom the Rams ALWAYS draft) and favorite names by position.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: the very short version

1. KANSAS CITY - Eric Fisher, OT, Central Michigan.
2. JACKSONVILLE - Ziggy Ansah, DE, BYU.
3. OAKLAND - Dion Jordan, rush backer, Oregon.
4. PHILADELPHIA - Luke Joeckel, OT, Texas A&M.
5. DETROIT - Chance Warmack, G, Alabama.
6. CLEVELAND - Sheldon Richardson, DL, Missouri.
7. BIG DEAD - Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma.
8. BUFFALO - Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina.
9. JETS - Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia.
10. TENNESSEE - Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama.
11. SAN DIEGO - Jarvis Jones, rush backer, Georgia.
12. KANSAS CITY (projected trade with Miami for Branden Albert) -
      Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina.
13. JETS - (actual trade with Tampa Bay for Darrelle Revis) -
      Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame.
14. CAROLINA - Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah.
15. NEW ORLEANS - Barkevious Mingo, rush backer, LSU.
16. ST. LOUIS - Eric Reid, FS, LSU.
17. PITTSBURGH - Matt Elam, S, Florida.
18. DALLAS - D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama.
19. GIANTS - Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia.
20. CHICAGO - Manti Te'o, MLB, Notre Dame.
21. CINCINNATI - Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee.
22. ST. LOUIS (from Washington) - Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama.
23. MINNESOTA - Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida.
24. INDIANAPOLIS - Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State.
25. MINNESOTA (from Seattle) - Keenan Allen, WR, California.
26. GREEN BAY - Kyle Long, OL, Oregon.
27. HOUSTON - Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee.
28. DENVER - Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington.
29. NEW ENGLAND - D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston.
30. ATLANTA - Datone Jones, DL, UCLA.
31. SAN FRANCISCO - Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford.
32. BALTIMORE - Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International.

OK, the Chiefs are on the clock for real now!

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Picks 23-32

23. Minnesota runs to the podium to take Florida DT Shariff Floyd, who I'm the first to admit should have been selected well before now. Hell, there are plenty of mock drafts sending Floyd to Oakland at #3. But the way I'm prioritizing players, one or another of the first-round DTs is going to fall to Minnesota, just probably not Floyd.

24. Indianapolis' lines showed need for a lot of work in their playoff loss at Baltimore. They added Gosder Cherilus as a free agent to try to reduce the beating Andrew Luck's taking early in his career, but I'm not terribly sold on their pass rush yet and think Florida State DE Bjoern Werner would be a heck of an addition. PFW has him ranked the #1 DE, ahead of Ansah. The production is definitely there - 20 sacks his last two seasons.

25. Minnesota returns to the podium to take Cal WR Keenan Allen, a big receiver who can win one-on-one battles, a polished receiver who can be a nice match to Greg Jennings.

26. Green Bay's playoff loss in San Francisco exposed offensive line problems they had all season. Chris Long's brother Kyle, from Oregon, would be a nice addition for them. Excellent athlete they can use at either guard or tackle. I don't think Kyle's limited to just being a guard; every time I've seen him he's shown the footwork and blocking skill in space of a quality tackle.

27. If Houston is going to catch up with the Patriots of the world, they'd better get a quality receiving option opposite Andre Johnson. Justin Hunter, a huge, explosive, fleet WR from Tennessee, gets the call here, and yes, that's two raw Volunteer wideouts I have going in the first round. Clyde Duncan must be going next.

28. Denver showed significant secondary problems getting knocked out of the playoffs. Champ Bailey looked so bad trying to cover Torrey Smith that I think he should be kicked to safety. That way they won't be starting safeties even worse than Craig Dahl while Bailey can help tutor first-round pick Desmond Trufant (Washington) on the finer points of corner play. Datone Jones wouldn't look bad here either, to try to replace Elvis Dumervil.

29. New England needed to get younger at WR, and did by signing Danny Amendola after losing Wes Welker to Denver. They also need to replace the released Brandon Lloyd, but Bill Belichick is actually so terrible at drafting WRs, he might as well not try. Datone Jones would also look good here, but we'll send the Patriots Houston CB D.J. Hayden, who has been flying back up the charts after being cleared as having recovered from a near-fatal blood vessel tear. The Patriots got burned deep way too often, even by the Rams, not to look for additional help to Aqib Talib in the secondary.

30. Needing to improve a pass rush that didn't get anything done for them in the playoffs, Atlanta replaced John Abraham with Osi Umenyiora, but I doubt their work up front is done, so we'll finally give UCLA's Datone Jones a home. He can provide rush from anywhere on the line, and during Senior Bowl week, he held his own against Eric Fisher at times.

31. San Francisco continues to load up, with Stanford TE Zach Ertz to replace Delanie Walker and create another nasty tight end tandem for defenses to have to cover along with Vernon Davis.

32. A last-second tweak for Baltimore, with apologies. I originally gave them a center from Wisconsin when they actually have one already, Peter Konz, to step over into Matt Birk's shoes. Instead of o-line, let's work on rebuilding a secondary that got gobsmacked in free agency and take safety Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International, who really should be off the board by now. ILB also obviously a major need but I have trouble for the Ravens there with Ogletree and Te'o gone.


And that will do it for the RamView 2013 Accu-Draft. I'll throw up the condensed version in a minute, which is where I'll probably find I drafted D.J. Fluker twice, or forgot to draft Luke Joeckel or a QB in the first round or something. I'll probably have more draft nonsense here through the week, including a (just) Rams 7-round mockup, but if I don't get that far, enjoy the draft Thursday thru Saturday this week. One of my favorite times of the year.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #22: St. Louis

AL.com

Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama

Eddie Lacy's popularity has been sinking for a while. Multiple injuries (knee, hamstring, pectoral) kept him from participating at the Combine, and he looked out of shape at his individual workout earlier this month. He kept running out of breath and coaches excused him from running all the scheduled drills. This has led draftniks to question his commitment to the game and his work ethic, and his stock has taken a tumble to the point that some teams say they're now grading Johnathan Franklin as the #1 RB coming out now. Lacy said his conditioning was off because of his recovery from the injuries. Well, he's been to Rams Park. Jeff Fisher has looked him in the eye. If Fisher believes that Lacy isn't a 230-pound slacker, which his college tape certainly does not indicate, he should be one of the Rams' early picks. I considered him very strongly at 16.

I do like Franklin, but he gives up 30 pounds to Lacy, and having just given up the best power runner in team history, the Rams find themselves needing exactly what Lacy can bring to them. He's a strong, sledgehammering runner who breaks tackles, runs through people and can even spin off defenders. He clubbered opponents for 6.8 yards his college career, 6.5 last season. And even at that, he hasn't had a ton of wear and tear as a college back. Critics don't like him as a receiver, don't like his change of direction, don't like him as an edge rusher, to which I say, pffft. Isn't that a lot of what critics didn't like about Steven Jackson? Further, I wouldn't draft Lacy to do any of those things. In the NFL, RBs are specialists now anyway, right? That's what was wrong with the Rams' running game up till now, right? Lacy's here to be a hammer, not a jigsaw.

I may have Lacy's value wrong; several mock drafts have the Rams sneaking away with him in the 2nd round. This will be a brilliant draft if that comes to pass. With teams like the Packers and Broncos looking for RBs later this round, though, I'm not quite willing to take that chance. I'll use that pick to go after a WR with some polish already to his game, though again, the player I'm targeting there, Robert Woods, didn't visit Rams Park.

Meanwhile, the Rams may not draft Eddie Lacy, but they'd better find somebody like him.

The rest of the first round is on the clock!

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #21: Cincinnati

ESPN.com

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Tennessee

Johnathan Joseph locked down A.J. Green for most of last year's Bengals playoff loss in Houston, really exposing the lack of speed the Bengals have in the rest of their offense. Patterson can fly, and that alone should help spread the field for Andy Dalton. Patterson's rawness kept me away from him with the Rams' first pick, but I don't mind pairing him with an accomplished receiver like Green. Even if Patterson does need a while for the light come on, I think the Bengals can run enough simple stuff to him when they need to free up Green that he can be a help straight away.


Returning to the Rams next, with who I doubt will be a completely popular pick.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #20: Chicago

Sporting News

Manti Te'o, MLB, Notre Dame

Well, at least we can get Te'o out of the way in a relative hurry. Fake girlfriend controversy, bla bla, here's what we really need to know here. The Bears more than likely aren't bringing Brian Urlacher back and have a big hole in the middle of their defense. Te'o made a ton of tackles in college and won a ton of awards, nearly winning the Heisman. He plays the exact spot where the Bears have a need. Te'o plays fast, is always in the right spot, doesn't miss a lot of tackles and brings intensity and passion to the field. It's slipped under the radar that Te'o spent a very difficult offseason getting in better shape by losing 15 pounds. With the Bears addressing their other major needs in free agency by signing Jermon Bushrod and Martellus Bennett, they're left a pretty perfect match here with Te'o, one they hope works out a lot better than Manti and Lennay did.

The Bengals are on the clock.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #19: Giants

Associated Press

Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

Stunning how bad the Giants defense was last year. They needed a historically-bad season out of the Saints to avoid being the worst defense in the league. They only sacked the QB 33 times. They were bottom 10 against the run, too, giving up over 100 yards in each of their last 6 games. That's where Ogletree, or dare I say this name for the first time this mock draft, Manti Te'o, come into the picture for the Giants. They've done part of the job by signing a bunch of veteran DTs and should have Ogletree at the top of their board for his athleticism, playmaking ability and ability to be a three-down linebacker. Te'o + NYC, on the other hand, is about as bad a combination as I can think of. The Giants also have o-line as a major need, but much like Jeff Fisher claims he doesn't do on purpose, they DO NOT draft o-linemen in the first round, EVER, knowledge which might have helped me on past mock drafts. Sleeper pick here is Bjoern Werner since they need to fill in the DE rotation after losing Osi Umenyiora.


Da Bears are on da clock.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #18: Dallas

ESPN.com

D.J. Fluker, T, Alabama

Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. Won't take the Cowboys long to get Fluker's name to the podium. Fluker will have Romo scrambling for his life at times, and he moves with all the fluidity of a pile of broken glass, but he's an absolute mauler of a run-blocker, and when he's in the right position as a pass blocker, as PFW puts it, he's "a $50 cab ride to get around". Doug Free is toast in Dallas, and I assume their move here would be to move Tyron Smith to LT and start Fluker at RT. Dallas is, however, talking about signing free agent Eric Winston, and have gotten Free to restructure his contract to allow such a move. If they make a free agent signing before Thursday night, it could free them up to be the third straight team to make a run at safety. But, please, let's call it a safety dance if it does happen.


The Giants are up next with what should also be a very quick pick.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #17: Pittsburgh

USA Today

Matt Elam, S, Florida

The Steeler secondary is getting pretty old, (and for God's sake, they have JUSTIN KING on their roster) especially at safety. If he passes muster for a keg's worth of alcohol violations, Elam stands to be the heir apparent to Troy Polamalu. Same size as Troy, and he's credited for his energy, massive hits, physical and mental toughness, and that he flies all over the field. I considered Vaccaro again, but hearing he was out of shape at the Combine and is kind of a baby, he's not a Steeler draft pick. I also considered Lacy, but the Steelers, who aren't very deep at all at RB, already have a very similar back in Jonathan Dwyer; I'd wait a round and try to get a speedier back. Jarvis Jones is the most popular pick for the Steelers in mocks, but he's already long-gone. Ogletree would be a sensible upgrade on an aging Larry Foote, but again, questions about his dedication to the game make me think he's not a Steeler draft pick. Not a first-rounder, anyway.

The Cowboys are on the clock.

RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #16: St. Louis

Remembering the Rams don't necessarily draft for need, here are the Rams' needs:

1. RB, specifically a power back since they let Steven Jackson go in free agency. Unfortunately, this draft really lacks a blue-chip player who could be used as a feature back. The Rams could well need one. Daryl Richardson disappeared down the stretch last season and Isaiah Pead was invisible most of the season. All indications are the Rams trust these two as the future of their running game, though they had several RBs in for pre-draft visits.

2. WR. The type of WR depends on how you use Chris Givens. They could draft an outside-the-numbers WR to complement another dubious succession plan, making Brian Quick a starter, which would move Givens into the slot in the Danny Amendola role that Danny is no longer here to fill. Or they could draft a pure slot receiver and have Givens work outside. Either way, Givens is the only thing close to a proven weapon in the Rams receiving corps; they need depth and they need guys who can play. My suspicion is they don't have either. The Rams had a lot of WRs in for pre-draft visits.

3. OLB. The Rams are not re-signing Rocky McIntosh or Mario Haggans; the position is basically vacant at this time. I'd say it's Josh Hull or Sammy Brown if the Rams had to play a game today. Like I said, basically vacant. The Rams didn't put much priority when the position was basically vacant this time last year, but several LBs have been in to Rams Park this year.

4. Safety. The safety positions are also barely filled at present with Quintin Mikell unsigned, and Craig Dahl thankfully transferred to the 49ers. For now it's Darian Stewart and Rodney McLeod. Neither is a very proven quantity, and they only have Matt Daniels as depth behind them. If the Rams are worried about their safety situation, they're not showing it. Only one safety was here for a visit. Either they've got a secret fiendish plan, or they're pretty confident they can re-sign Mikell.

5. Others. There's no starter set at LG, but the Rams have plenty of competition there, including 2012 draft pick Rokevious Watkins. Tackle depth could be desirable with Rodger Saffold in his walk year and unhappy about being moved to RT. A reliable backup center would be useful given Scott Wells' injury run last year. Trumaine Johnson's after-hours escapades give a little urgency to get a 4th corner - one bad weekend and that guy's a starter.

Phew. And given that the odds of Trader Les actually using both of the Rams' first round picks are probably about 2:1, the possibilities for the Rams' draft this year are endless. Making things further interesting, the top player on the board is going to be one of the defensive tackles the way I'm seeing things. Snead has said multiple times this offseason that he is determined to add playmakers to this roster. He wouldn't really take another defensive tackle when the Rams already have two starters locked in, would he?

I say no. Here's who else I'm kicking out:
* Fluker. I think he's a guard, not a tackle, and nobody likes him as a pass protector at tackle.
* Eddie Lacy. Undeniable talent and has what the Rams desperately need, but I'm not thinking about him till 22. Too many questions.
* Alec Ogletree. Besides the character issues that are probably drawing Fisher and Snead to Ogletree, it sounds to me like he's more suited to play ILB in a 3-4. Plus, scouting reports question his dedication, intensity, passion for the game - that's not in the profile of a Fisher pick.
* Wide receivers. Patterson's too damn raw when I've already got Quick. I like a lot about Keenan Allen but there's a good chance I can get him or an equally serviceable WR later.

RamView's pick at #16:

ESPN.com

Eric Reid, FS, LSU

Yes, I know I'm breaking a rule again by projecting a pick to the Rams who didn't have a pre-draft visit at Rams Park. And I fussed and puzzled over other mock drafts that projected Reid to the Rams. But there's so much that's so good about him, I find myself unable to pass him up. I like Reid over Kenny Vaccaro for his ball skills. He's got excellent 4.5 speed, excellent size at 6'1" 213, he's a great leaper, a big hitter and an excellent, aggressive run supporter. He's explosive, covers a lot of ground and has a great head for the game. He recognizes routes well and made all the secondary calls for LSU, for those worried about losing the one apparently good part of Craig Dahl's game. Reid's a leader on the field, a young man of great character, and the only flaw I can find about him is that he's not already a Ram. Well, we can fix that.

Eric Reid's not an offensive skill player, but I believe he's the best player the Rams can get in this scenario, and he fills a significant need.

On the clock go the Steelers. I'll try to speed this thing up a little.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #15: New Orleans

CBS Sports

Barkevious Mingo, DE/OLB, LSU

The Saints were the worst defense in the history of the league last season, allowing a whopping 440+ yards per game, nearly 60 yards worse than the next-worst team. They had the worst run defense in the league, allowing over 147 yards a game on 5.2 yards a carry. Logically, they were also among the league's worst for giving up rushing TDs and long runs. But teams didn't run on the Saints because they had to be afraid of their pass defense. That was 2nd-worst in the league, giving up over 290 per game. They lagged near the bottom of the league in sacks but near the top in QB rating against, long passes allowed, and TD passes allowed. Sean Payton had barely returned from his Goodell-imposed exile before becoming unable to bear to look at the Saint defense any more. He ordered the whole thing blown up, canned Steve Spagnuolo and hired Rob Ryan to install a 3-4.

Ryan's got Brodrick Bunkley to man the nose, flanked by Will Smith and up-and-comer Cameron Jordan, but little pass rush threat from his LB corps, which looks like about eight 4-3 LBs who mostly can't get after the QB. I expect they try to salvage their free agency spending from last year by putting Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne in the middle. Junior Galette's got some pass rush game, but they lack an elite edge threat. That's why Mingo is a popular projection to the Saints in mock drafts, and I'm not inclined to vary for a change. He proved effective from the right side or the left side in college, smoked a sub-4.6 40 at the Combine and showed elite athleticism and explosion. If Ryan wants a chance to develop a Demarcus Ware-like superstar, here's your guy.

Drum roll please.... the RAMS are on the clock! And sorry, but this may take a while.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #14: Carolina

ESPN.com

Star Lotulelei, DT, Utah

Finally, after I'd penciled him in about four different times, Star Lotulelei has finally checked out of RamView's green room. Which is, of course, a blue and gold room.

Carolina's a funny team; they were in the middle of the league in about everything last year. About every mock draft I saw last week slotted a DT here, but their overall run defense looked OK, and they're OK in the sack category. The career-long lack of a second WR opposite Steve Smith didn't prevent them from having an OK passing game. Their RBs are crap in fantasy football, but thanks to Cam Newton, their running game is top ten. Everywhere you look, the Panthers are a pretty OK team. Obviously, you want to be better than just OK in every category, that's how you end up 7-9.

So let's do what all football teams fundamentally must be able to do and stuff the run. Carolina's not overflowing with talented DTs, and by not having Lotulelei going earlier than this, I've probably strayed from the philosophy not to reach for need somewhere. The first mock drafts that came out early last fall had Lotulelei as the number one player overall, and Todd McShay still has him at #3; he's going to be considered a blue chip prospect and reside at the tip-top of the majority of draft room boards. He had a heart health scare at the Combine, but he's been medically cleared of that, and is ready to disrupt backfields in the NFL. I don't expect him to be much of a pass-rusher, but he's got the strength and explosion to blow up running plays and demand double-teams, which will improve the Panthers' rushing and passing defense. Pretty good deal for a guy who slipped all the way down to #14.

The Saints are on the clock!

RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #13: Tampa Bay(?)

Associated Press

Tyler Eifert, TE, Notre Dame

Indications are stronger and stronger that the Jets (ugh) are going to end up with this pick as part of a trade sending Darrelle Revis to the Bucs. That's a big move for Tampa, who had to do something to improve the worst secondary in the league last year. (Remember that the Bucs were a team that started Danny Gorrer.)

The Jets added a big speed element to their offense with Tavon Austin at #9; now at #13, they get the replacement for Mark Sanchez' security blanket, Dustin Keller. Eifert's been called the best pass-catcher in the draft, not just at TE. An outstanding athlete, he's really a very big wide receiver - I guess Jeff Fisher and Les Snead would say "in the Jared Cook mode" - and had an excellent Combine. He's a very natural receiver, tracks the ball perfectly over his shoulder, and shows soft hands, excellent technique and excellent ability to adjust to errant throws, which he'll need with Sanchez as his QB.

The fun part of this pick - it would also make complete sense if the Revis trade falls through and the Bucs stay here! I think they'd be reaching to take a corner, and I'm hard-pressed to say they've had a TE who was really any good since Jimmy Giles. You could see in their loss to the Rams how often they lacked a reliable third receiving option to Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams.

One of the most promising receivers in the draft, period, Tyler Eifert is going to open an offense up for somebody.

The Panthers are on the clock! This could be a quick one.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #12: Miami

Wilmington (N.C.) StarNews

Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

Well, did anybody have a bigger free agency period than the Dolphins? Theirs may have been the biggest single-season free agency haul ever. Let's see: they added Dannell Ellerbe, Phillip Wheeler, Brent Grimes, Mike Wallace, re-signed Brian Hartline to a mega-deal, and don't forget Brandon Gibson! They did have some losses. Reggie Bush's departure to Detroit would hurt more if they didn't have Lamar Miller waiting in the wings. The one that really stings, though, was Jake Long defecting to the Rams, which has Miami working on a deal right now to get Branden Albert from the Chiefs.

So this pick is made with both the Dolphins and Chiefs in mind. Miami could easily stay here, reach a little for D.J. Fluker, plug him in at RT and go with Jonathan Martin at LT. But since they're trying to win five Super Bowls in one season this year, I expect they'll get Albert. That would leave K.C. with the #1 pick at LT, and they could also easily go with Fluker at RT, but they have a bigger need that could be filled by a better player, so this pick's going to be a Sly one. The Chiefs have continued to get very little production out of their defensive ends, and Williams jumps over Lotulelei and Shariff Floyd here for his burst, his ability to penetrate, his work ethic and passion for the game and for having actual sack production in college. Williams is much less of a need for Miami if they stay here, since Jared Odrick is reasonably productive opposite Cameron Wake, but Wake's 31 and their free agency haul gives the Dolphins license to think long-term. I'm breaking my rule again and converting a 4-3 DT to a 3-4 DE, which has in particular burned the Chiefs before, but it's a new coaching staff now; maybe they'll get one right for a change.

Up next: the Bucs?

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #11: San Diego

Chattanooga Times-Free Press

Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

The Chargers are in real scramble mode, with more needs than they're going to have picks to fill. New head coach Mike McCoy appears to be catching this team on a hard slide downward. They averaged only 3.6 yards a rush. Phillip Rivers led a passing offense that finished behind Tennessee and Jacksonville. Antonio Gates is a million years old. The offensive line is bad, this mock has the whole top tier gone at that position, and I consider D.J. Fluker too big a reach. The secondary is raw, but Dee Milliner just went off the board. They only list one DT on the entire roster after cutting Antonio Garay and losing Aubrayo Franklin to the Colts in free agency; I had Star Lotulelei teed up and ready to go.

But the Chargers' most critical problem is going to be pass rush. With Shaun Phillips a salary cap casualty, they're returning exactly squat in sack production from a bad linebacking corps. The Chargers have taken their cuts at rush LB in the first round and missed mightily. Larry English, 1.5 sacks last year, 8.5 career sacks. Melvin Ingram, one sack his rookie year. Corey Liuget and Kendall Reyes had nice pass-rushing seasons from the defensive line, but in the 3-4, you've gotta get production from your LBs, and looking at San Diego's roster, I just don't see where they're going to get it. Ingram improving won't be enough.

Meanwhile, Jarvis Jones had 28 sacks his final two seasons in college. Once again, I almost don't need to know anything else about the player to say to take him here. Oh yeah, that was in the SEC. Score!

In real life, San Diego's taking one of the top five o-linemen if they can swing one. And if they're not satisfied that Jones can play at a high level without having his career shortened by neck problems, I imagine they play it safe and take the DT. I think Lotulelei would be higher than Jones on every board, and so far in this mock, I've been pretty careful to draft for value and not reach for need. But if San Diego does draft a defensive player in the first round, I think they're flirting with disaster if they play it safe.

The Dolphins are on the clock.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #10: Tennessee

Toledo Blade

Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama

This should be a defensive pick all the way for the Titans; they were bottom-10 in the league against both the run and the pass and gave up nearly 30 points a game last year. There are nice value players left on the draft board on the defensive line. They could go with an edge rusher like Bjoern Werner, though they're already a top-10 defense in sacks. I don't think they have to use a high pick on the interior, though. With Jurrell Casey, free agent pickup Sammie Lee Hill, Mike Martin and others, there's a good amount of young talent there.

Where I'm seeing the culprit for Tennessee is their secondary. More stats for you: the Titans were 31st in the league in completion rate against, allowing a ridiculous 66.3%; they were bottom 10 in QB rating against and bottom 10 in completions allowed over 20 yards with 55. That's a team crying out for a playmaker in the secondary.

Dee Milliner broke up 20 passes for Alabama last season. 20! I almost don't need to know anything else about him to take him here. Oh, he's also 6'0" 200 and ran a 4.37 at the Combine? Again, almost don't need to know anything else about him to take him here. Confusing as it may be to see more and more experts calling Houston CB D.J. Hayden the #1 CB in the draft now, while Milliner stays a top-5, top-10 player the overall rankings, with no DBs anywhere near him, I'll stick with Milliner, slightly bigger, slightly faster and with proven productivity at a higher level of competition.

The Chargers are on the clock!

RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #9: Jets

Baltimore Sun

Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

The worst thing the New York Jets can do with this pick is actually use it. They need more help just on offense than one pick can yield. They were 30th in total offense, 30th in passing yards, 28th in scoring. Mark Sanchez threw 18 INTs vs. 13 TDs vs. one butt fumble. The offense only finished as high as 30th because Shonn Greene ran for 1,000 yards, and they let him leave, taking 2/3 of their rushing TDs. They had one receiver crack the 30-reception mark, and Sanchez lost the safety blanket he did have, Dustin Keller. They'll get Santonio Holmes back from injury, but unless they do it on defense, I don't see how this team expects to score in 2013. And, of course, who are they looking to get rid of on defense? Darrelle Revis, their best player.

But really, the only theory I have for the Jets if they stay here is to add somebody Sanchez can throw lots of short passes to, and maybe he breaks a few, something their current slot receiver, Jeremy Kerley, isn't very likely to do. And maybe this guy can give you some game-breaking plays on special teams, get you some quick scores and short fields. That's what Tavon Austin's all about. Sub-4.4 speed, 114 catches last season, 12 receiving TDs, 5 career return TDs, that ridiculous game against Oklahoma where he rushed for 344 yards... Tavon Austin is like lightning, both in his speed and in the unpredictability of where he's going to go and where he's coming from, much needed elements for a moribund offense like the Jets'. And with the clueless Tony Soprano out the door at OC in favor of Marty Mornhinweg, maybe the Jets will figure out what to do with a multifaceted offensive weapon, like they never did with that Tebow guy last season.

The Jets would be even better off if they trade down. Let's say they trade this pick to SOMEBODY with two first round picks, a team that really, really needs Tavon Austin. They can cash those picks in for a different WR and a TE. That'll be a big help for Mornhinweg and Sanchez, too. The Jets need a RT, too; maybe they do the swap for a 1 plus a slightly-disgruntled tackle SOME TEAM out there may have.

Yeah, I know, the Rams aren't trading up. You may have noticed the Vikings also have two first-round picks; that's who I expect to trade up to here to take Austin. I think that's more likely than the Jets staying here and taking him. The main point here is that the Rams aren't getting Tavon Austin without trading up.

Bye, Tavon. Rams Nation barely knew ye.

The Titans are on the clock!

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Delay of game

We'll be pausing the slowest mock draft in the history of the Internet so RamView can attend to regular Saturday night activities. Until then, please enjoy this photo of what Mel Kiper would think of the Accu-Draft so far if he were reading it:

HUH?

Coming up, a pick I don't think the Jets will actually use, a possible run on defensive tackles, the ultimate fate of Tavon Austin, and maybe I'll even get to the Rams' picks before the draft actually starts.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #8: Buffalo

ESPN.com

Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina

Tavon Austin and Jarvis Jones make interesting amounts of sense for Buffalo at #8, and the Bills have not been reluctant in recent years to take players noticeably earlier than where the "experts" slotted them. That includes hits with Stephon Gilmore and C.J. Spiller, but a miss with Donte Whitner. Buffalo's deficient at all three LB positions, and their wide receiver contingent is almost as unimposing as the Rams'.

But we have seen the future in Buffalo if they don't do something about their offensive line: the Rams' 15-12 win there last December. The Rams blitzed a ton and got a ton of heat up the middle, repeatedly stuffing the Buffalo running game, putting Fred Jackson out for the season, turning C.J. Spiller into a non-threatening blitz pickup back, and burying Ryan Fitzpatrick on key downs. It's true the Bills didn't give up a lot of sacks in 2012, but because they ran well and Fitzpatrick got the ball out quickly. I don't expect the are-you-kidding-me QB combo of Tarvaris Jackson and Kevin Kolb to be near as good as Fitz with the quick passing game, and while Buffalo had the #6 rushing offense, that's threatened by the state of their line, which suffered a crushing blow in free agency when Andy Levitre signed with the Titans. The Bills' present roster doesn't have an answer for that.

But when you hear Chance Warmack described as the next John Hannah, and there's a guard from North Carolina who RamView thinks is even better, that's a move I can't pass up. Jonathan Cooper is lights out. He was the outstanding guard at the Combine, not Warmack. I'll just (arrogantly) cut-and-paste from my heretofore-unpublished Combine o-line notes:

Cooper had a perfect day. Smooth and quick in change of direction with perfect balance. Explosive getting into his pull blocks. One of the few who stayed textbook-low during combination blocking. Though a guard, he looked like a tackle in the kick-slide drill. Outstanding, quick, economical footwork, takes excellent angles and beat his man to the spot to protect the backside. He was also very good in the mirror drill, sinking his hips, keeping his feet moving and showing he can overcome getting overextended. Is he really “just” a guard? Because he showed a ton of tackle-level skills. Top that off with 35 bench presses, and if Cooper wasn’t the star of the whole group, he was darn close.

Closing out my Cooper gushing, he can certainly play guard, he can play center, and I say he could even contribute at tackle if you need him to. Buffalo doesn't need a center, but they have to get guard help. They're young and unproven all over that offensive line - it's practically all players with two years' experience or less, and you could say they just need time to mature and avoid drafting o-line altogether. Except Cooper's the best player on the board, competitive with Fisher, Joeckel and Warmack for best lineman honors, a deep blue-chipper well ahead of anyone else they'd consider, and he fills a direct need.

So watch Buffalo take Geno Smith.

The (ugh) Jets are on the clock!

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #7: Big Dead

ESPN.com

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

Finally, I think, a mock pick I don't have to think that much about. Having acquired Rashard Mendenhall as a free agent and traded for Carson Palmer, the Big Dead's offensive success now hinges on being able to get it done up front. Especially considering Palmer is less mobile than Kevin Kolb or any other QB Arizona attempted to field last season when they finished dead last in the league in sacks allowed with 58, including that legendary 9-sack night right here in St. Louis. Their offensive line did get settled down a little later in the season, but Bobby Massie was still a RT trying to play LT. New head coach Bruce Arians claims that Levi Brown, who's 29 and coming off a triceps injury that cost him all of last season, is an elite tackle, but Pro Football Focus points out that's a pretty silly argument, having ranked him the worst tackle in the league three years ago and only 57th two years ago. (Hey, he's improving!)

Though left in Eric Fisher's and Luke Joeckel's wake a lot in draft discussions, Lane Johnson had a bang-up Senior Bowl week of his own, and taking level of competition into account, can probably claim he's every bit as good as either of those top two guys. Like Fisher, he dominated in the Senior Bowl game, with a flawless pass protection game and mauling run-blocking. He's not quite as strong or quick-footed as Fisher but makes up for it by playing with excellent leverage, and having the smarts and patience not to bite on moves, so he's effective against spin moves and quick inside bursts. And he's still got more than enough strength and quickness to excel in the pros. Don't ever doubt Johnson's athleticism, when he was a TE in college and a QB and free safety in high school.

Gonna have to root against him if he joins the Big Dead, but you have to love Lane Johnson's pro prospects; he's a heck of a player.

The Bills are on the clock!

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #6: Cleveland

Columbia (Mo.) Daily Herald

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Missouri

Mike Lombardi, now the Browns GM, said once on NFL Network's Path to the Draft that "Only YOU can prevent bust picks at defensive line." So I'm going to put him to the test here and mention what he said about drafting defensive linemen right after that. Don't reach for potential. Look for work habits, desire, commitment and character before athleticism. Look for players who can rush the passer all three downs, and pass rush is more important than run defense.

Lombardi's rules, if he and I follow them the same way, get us to Sheldon Richardson as the #6 pick. Cleveland's converting, again, from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 run by maniac-in-a-good-way DC Ray Horton. They look OK in the middle with D'Qwell Jackson at MLB and gigantor Phil Taylor likely at NT. They look OK on the edges with free agent signing Paul Kruger and Jabaal Sheard. Where I wasn't convinced with Cleveland's depth chart was defensive end.

Jarvis Jones would have been a sweet fit at OLB for what the Browns are going to want to do on defense, but he's carrying a full load of character issues. Star Lotulelei, at one time considered a potential #1 pick overall, could certainly anchor a 3-4 line, and he's been medically cleared of the heart issue that came up at the Combine. But he's not much of a pass rusher. Shariff Floyd's got questions on his scouting reports about his passion for the game.

You'll find none of these problems for Sheldon Richardson. Classic motor, elite athlete who takes over games, a strong player with quickness to penetrate and disrupt the backfield and the skill set to be a 3-4 5-technique end. He makes plays all over the field, racks up a ton of tackles for his position, and as PFW puts it, "makes plays very few big men are capable of."

The main rule I'm breaking here is one of my own - don't draft 4-3 guys to convert them to 3-4 schemes, and vice versa - but I think Richardson is the right pick for Lombardi and the Browns any way. One sure thing: Lombardi didn't want to draft Ryan Tannehill high as a mock drafter last year; he's not taking Geno Smith here with real skin in the game, people. Whichever way they go, I really like the moves the Browns have made on and off the field this offseason; they're one of my sleeper teams for 2013.

The Big Dead are on the clock! This'll be a simple one.

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #5: Detroit

Sports Illustrated

Chance Warmack, G, Alabama

What don't the Lions need? The departure of Cliff Avril to Seattle takes away all their sack production off the edge. They lost both starting offensive tackles, but appear happy enough going into 2012 with Riley Reiff and Jason Fox, I guess, protecting Matthew Stafford, even though they're not really sure right now if Reiff can play LT or if they're going to have to kick him inside to guard. Pretty wide range of outcomes there. And speaking of Stafford, here's one of the shock statistics of the 2012 season: despite having Calvin Johnson to throw to, Matthew Stafford had fewer touchdown passes last season than... Sam Bradford. Reggie Bush should be a big help for Detroit in the red zone, but remembering last year's Titus Young meltdown, and that Ryan Broyles is apparently going to snap an ACL every other year, couldn't you argue one of the Lions' top needs is a wide receiver? RamView was a heartbeat from sending Tavon Austin to Motor City.

I can't do that, though, with Mike Mayock's #1 player and PFW's #2 player still on the board. The Lions are also down a starting guard from last year, Stephen Peterman, who was poor anyway, they don't have anyone beyond a journeyman to take over, and given the dropoffs they're already likely to experience at tackle, they'd better get someone to shore up the offensive line, and Chance Warmack is one of the best guards to come out of college in a generation. He's a big, nasty, dominating run-blocker with all the skills he'll need to also be a top pass protector. He's athletic and explosive, quick out of his stance and covers ground well.

I'd consider Detroit's main options here to be Lane Johnson if they don't trust Reiff at LT, or Jonathan Cooper, who doesn't have to take any step back to Warmack. I'll rave about him later, but I think he could play anywhere on the offensive line. It's hard to take a player who doesn't score TDs this high, especially if you're a Detroit front office that loves to draft WRs, and your team identity is fast-break offense, but getting targets for Stafford doesn't mean much if you can't keep him upright.

The Browns are on the clock!

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RamView Accu-Draft 2013: Pick #4: Philadelphia

USA Today

Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M

I don't think you pass on Joeckel (or Eric Fisher) in Philadelphia's shoes, unless you can do what I just suggested for Oakland and trade down with Miami. Philly fans may go nuts if the Eggles don't focus on defense in this draft. They finished near the bottom of the league in sacks and passing yards allowed, that Dream Team secondary is now completely gone, and with no disrespect to Bradley Fletcher, they badly need another corner to line up with Cary Williams. Jordan, Dee Milliner or a trade down all make a lot of sense here.

Plus, what am I doing picking Joeckel when the Eggles have five-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters? Well, Peters is 31 and coming off a torn Achilles last year. The whole Eggle offensive line is pretty long in the tooth. Even if Joeckel starts out in Philly as a right tackle, he'll be the left tackle before too long. And he's head-and-shoulders the best player available at this pick. Philadelphia has skill players aplenty to man new HC Chip Kelly's spread offense; Joeckel is the ideal rookie to add to that, having just played in the spread at A&M. The Eagles can still get a serviceable CB in the second round, but bluest-of-blue-chip OTs like Joeckel don't just fall out of trees. I'd make the same case for Fisher if Fisher were available. The Eggles have a raft of defensive needs, but if one of the two stud tackles is available at #4, you take him and you don't look back.

A quick word about Geno Smith, who'll you'll see projected here at times. There's some logic to that; Smith should be able to run Kelly's system and he's got the mobility to make it dangerous. Plus Michael Vick is one of the oldest Eagles and they don't have a long-term solution behind center. But, long story short, I think Geno should ultimately wind up with the Jagwires.

In the second round. His accuracy is terrible, he hasn't lined up under center, he hasn't had to call plays or make adjustments, his ball security is terrible... I agree with Pro Football Weekly's brilliant assessment that Smith is "a cross between Akili Smith and Aaron Brooks". Drafting him fourth overall would be in my estimation a terrible way to start the Chip Kelly era.

Take the stud tackle, Philly, and thank me later.

The Lions are on the clock!

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