*************2013 NFL DRAFT GRADES************

1.8 Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia

The Rams loved a guy and they jumped up to make sure that they got him. The pick cost them essentially a second and a seventh rounder to do so, but the team is getting a major threat and a huge upgrade.

A-

1.30 Alec Ogletree, MLB/OLB, Georgia

The Rams lost a 2nd rounder earlier, but they got a 3rd and a 6th back to move back. They are getting a guy that I mocked to them about 10 picks earlier, and while I think there were a couple better guys, they are getting a major threat in the center of their defense.

A

3.71 T.J. McDonald, S, USC

Well.... Well McDonald may have been the best defensive player for USC last year, but that isn't saying much. He has potential, but there were 5+ other guys better and safer than him on the board.

C
 
3.92 Stedman Bailey, WR, West Virginia

I think it is safe to say that Sam Bradford will be ok with this draft. I would love to see the Rams have one big nasty receiver, but they have a ton of awesome weapons now.

B

4.113 Barrett Jones, RT/OG/C

Great versatile depth here.
 
5.149 Brandon McGee, CB, Miami

5.160 Zac Stacy, RB, Vanderbilt

OVERALL GRADE: A-

This is one of those drafts that I can get behind. I don't agree with every pick, and I do wish that they had gone after a runner, but this is a draft that helped the team on every part of the team. Two guys should splash immediately, and I see up to 5 starters.

 

 *************2012 NFL DRAFT GRADES************ 

1:14 Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

When it is all said and done the Rams went from the 2nd overall pick to the 14th overall pick for two 2012 2nd round picks, a 2013 1st rounder and a 2014 1st rounder. Great move. In all reality I'm not in love with the Brockers pick, but the trade value for it all was amazing.

A

2:33 Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State

I really wish that there was a bigger trade market for the 1st pick in the 2nd round, but there just never seems to be a blockbuster trade that happens. With that said, I love that the team got a receiver for Bradford, but the Quick was about 4 receivers too early.

B-

2:39 Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama

Fisher got his Pac Man! Janoris Jenkins would have been the first corner off the board if he could behave. I hated him as a 1st round pick, but he is a steal here in the 2nd round, especially when you got him for trading with the Skins.

A

2: 50 Isaiah Pead, RB, Cincinnati

The Rams picked up a 5th rounder to move down which definitely is awesome, but the team reached on Pead. Pead was at best the 6th best runner in the draft, and the team should have found away to keep trading down.

C+

3: 65 Trumaine Johnson, S, Montana

I marked Johnson down as a safety because he will likely end up there or as a nickel. He has good potential and is a good value here.

B+

4.96 Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest

A lot of people are treating this pick like Givens is guaranteed to splash, but those people probably thought that when the Rams drafted Mardy Gilyard with the 96th pick in 2010. I actually am happy with the Givens pick, but the team won't succeed until they get a real, solid option.

A

5.150 Rokevious Watkins, OG, South Carolina

I love that the team is getting some help, but this is a huge reach. Jeff Fisher hates drafting offensive lineman, which might explain why his teams never did well with pocket quarterbacks. This is one reason that I hated the Fisher hiring, because it might kill Sam Bradford.

C+

6.171 Greg Zuerlin, K, Missouri Western

I actually like drafting kickers, and Zuerlin sounds like an intriguing kicker to plug in.

B

7.209 Aaron Brown, OLB, Hawaii

7.252, Daryl Richardson, RB, Abiline Christian 

OVERALL GRADE: A-

This is the all-potential draft of the year. Brockers, Jenkins and Quick should all get starting time, but who knows if they will be as good as their potential. The team got ok depth throughout (except on their OL), but they did walk out with extra first round picks for awhile

 

*************2011 NFL DRAFT GRADES************ 

  Picks

1.14 Robert Quinn, DE, UNC

Robert Quinn fell because he had one year of production in college and had some major character issues. After a year off he also didn't impress at the combine. With that said, this was the perfect pick for the Rams who had few picks sitting there for them.

A-

2.47 Lance Kendricks, TE, Wisconsin

There were so many wide receivers that fell to the team with this pick that I don't quite love the tight end pick, but it does fill a need and add a weapon.

B

3.78 Austin Pettis, WR, Boise State 
 
Pettis is a little bit of a reach here, but he is a huge asset for the team. Again, I'd rather the team went WR in the 2nd and TE here, but can't hate them for filling a big need.

 B

4.112 Greg Salas, WR, Hawaii

Another very good pick. The team needed a slot to add to the mix, and Salas is possibly the best in the draft. 

A

5.158 Jermale Hines, S, Ohio State

This is a bit of a reach for Hines, but it was a position that could use some support.

C+

7.216 Mikail Baker, CB, Baylor

A 7th round sleeper at corner. I say that because I've never heard of him.

C

7.228 Jabara Williams, OLB, Stephen A. Austin

A few friends in the community had Jabara as a huge sleeper, so a decent overall pick.

B

7.229 Jonathon Nelson, CB, Oklahoma

More good DB depth. No complaints here.

B+

Draft Grade: A-

 I really like this Rams draft class. The team really knows what is going on right now in the league. Last year the team got a franchise QB, and built some protection around him. This year the team made sure to find that quarterback weapons while adding some late round defensive depth. Next year I expect the team to unload on defense, but that's a different story. In a division where Derek Anderson, Charlie Whitehurst, and Alex Smith are the other current starters I think the Rams have the right idea.

NEW GRADE: A

The more that I look through the picks, the more I love the Ram's draft. The team did more than any other team in the division to improve, and could easily be coached to win the division this year. But they are setting themselves up to need just a few more tools to contend. The team needs just a few more tools to be a major contender and if you evaluate this draft as the second of the three, then you have to be very happy.