The St. Louis Rams had an excellent draft, bolstering their offensive line to protect Sam Bradford, while adding key pieces to their defense to make them a force to be reckoned with in the intense NFC West. Here’s who they selected:
Rams Draft Picks
1st Round, 2nd Overall – OT Greg Robinson (Auburn)
1st Round, 13th Overall – DT Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
2nd Round, 41st Overall – CB Lamarcus Joyner (Florida State)
3rd Round, 75th Overall – RB Tre Mason (Auburn)
4th Round, 110th Overall – S Maurice Alexander (Utah State)
6th Round, 188th Overall – CB E.J. Gaines (Missouri)
6th Round, 214th Overall – QB Garrett Gilbert (SMU)
7th Round, 226th Overall – OT Mitchell Van Dyk (Portland State)
7th Round, 241st Overall – S Christian Bryant (Ohio State)
7th Round, 249th Overall – DE Michael Sam (Missouri)
7th Round, 250th Overall – C Demetrius Rhaney (Tennessee State)
Rams Draft Grade: 9/10
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2014 Rams Draft Review
The Best Player: Greg Robinson was a fantastic pick for the Rams given his size and athleticism. He is an overwhelming left tackle who will help protect Sam Bradford. Robinson is an unbelievable run blocker who helped Auburn make it to the National Championship Game. He will create huge holes for running back Zac Stacy and even former Auburn teammate Tre Mason, who will benefit from the run heavy mindset of the Rams.
Best Value Pick: Aaron Donald, the 13th pick in the 1st round for the Rams, was the best defensive tackle in the draft. The Rams got great value for him as he could have arguably been a top six pick. He has a unique ability to get to the quarterback, especially for a defensive tackle. Donald is in the top tier for sacks at his position and recorded a total of 11.0 sacks his senior year. His phenomenal ability to get to the quarterback comes from his lightning-fast jump off the snap and his freakish athleticism. Despite his relatively small size, the aforementioned skills will help him gain separation from bigger lineman. Even though he has been double teamed because of his explosiveness, he will likely have plenty of opportunities as the other dominant linemen on the Rams will draw more attention. The Rams definitely solidified one of the best defensive lines in the league.
Surprise Pick: Michael Sam was the surprise pick of the Draft. We all know by now that Michael Sam is the first openly gay NFL draft pick, and the Rams are in for a headache with all the media attention surrounding the seventh rounder, but they will be prepared. Michael Sam is a baller, as he was named the Co-SEC Defensive Player of the Year and he was a member of the All-SEC First Team. The former Missouri defender turned heads in 2013 as he lead the conference in both sacks (10.5) and tackles-for-loss (18.0). So with all of the media attention aside, the kid can play, regardless of his combine numbers.
Head-Scratcher: Maurice Alexander , the fourth-round draft pick out of Utah State, is definitely the head-scratcher pick for the Rams. He was projected to be a seventh-round pick, so the Rams easily could have waited a few more rounds. The kid isn’t all bad though. He possesses the size, aggressiveness, striking ability, and movement desired at the position. It would be shocking if he was to be inserted into the safety position as a start immediately, but Alexander is a big hitter and will disrupt passes. He will take a considerable amount of time to be groomed to the next level. He was definitely a reach, but he wasn’t the worst head-scratcher in the draft.
The Steal: Defensive end Michael Sam was the steal of the draft for the Rams. In some cases, late round draft picks, like Tom Brady, have enjoyed great success. The Rams took the Co-Defensive Player of the best conference in football with a seventh-round pick. Even though his combine numbers didn’t blow you away, the motivation and chip Michael Sam has on his shoulder will make him hungrier than ever to make big plays like he did at Missouri.
Most Likely to Make an Impact in 2014: OT Greg Robinson will most likely make the biggest impact in 2014. He is a guy who possesses the raw talent and natural athleticism that any coach would love. With Sam Bradford tearing his ACL last year, Robinson will help protect Bradford on the left side at guard and help give him more time to find his offensive weapons. Everything about Robinson stands out to you and he will be an immediate starter. The aggressiveness, brute force, and intensity this young man plays with will be extremely useful in 2014.
Most Likely to Be Cut: Safety Christian Bryant has a possibility of getting cut, although none of the draft picks will likely get cut. Bryant has suffered numerous injuries in his career at Ohio State. Being a late round selection, Bryant will need to prove himself in training camp and really make things happen. Even though Christian is undersized at 5’9 and 208 pounds, Bryant brings great toughness, grit, and valuable intangibles to the defensive backfield. When he is healthy, he has played bigger than himself, but staying healthy is the key. He would need to make a name for himself on special teams first, but with everything that he has to overcome at the next level, things aren’t looking up.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Camp: Tre Mason is one player that could really turn some heads at training camp. Mason was the SEC Player of the Year, a Heisman trophy finalist, and is a compactly built, nifty-footed runner with a balanced skill set to merit 20 touches per game at the next level. He also fits in multiple schemes and has the chops to make an impact as a rookie. I do not believe he would take over the starting job from Zac Stacy, the current RB, however, Mason’s explosiveness and quickness will have an impact when he does get touches. He will probably not be a third-down back because of his size, but his athleticism will quickly help him make it in the pros. Mason has a very bright future.
Bottom Line: The St. Louis Rams had an amazing draft overall. They fulfilled most, if not all of their needs. They helped out Sam Bradford by getting the best offensive lineman in the draft, helped bolster their defensive line by adding Aaron Donald, and helped add quickness and explosiveness with the addition of Tre Mason. They also made a big statement and drafted the first openly gay football player Michael Sam, who could help their pass rush. All in all, the Rams did what they had to do and in the process made themselves serious contenders in one of the toughest divisions in football.
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