Quote
PA48
Lots of centers already on the team......
......a signal to the rest of the league we're not going center?

David Long is the slot corner?
.....no CB high either?

LB? Maybe a late flier

Stafford is on board hopefully through age 38?

Watch them shock everybody and take a CB, C, QB with the first 3 picks, then follow that up with LB.

My observation with the Rams is that they're not completely unpredictable if one follows their patterns/actions over their words.

I'm sure they feel a center is already on the team. The pattern since Snead has been GM is to not approach the draft with an acute need. They didn't pick anyone up for center and had no desire whatsoever to extend Blythe so it means they genuintely don't feel it's an acute need.

Sure, they probably feel David Long could be the slot corner. Their pattern since McVay came on board has been to draft for needs early and then let the youngsters step into bigger roles. Long would be up next. Although on this one, I wonder how committed they are to him because per Troy Hill the Rams offered him the same money he got in Cleveland.

But even if David Long is the slot corner, that doesn't mean no CB high. Their pattern has been to draft for future needs.

So where will the holes be next year?

If D-Will walks - which seems likely given he might cost $20M - they'll need an outside CB.

If Whit retires - which seems likely given his age - they probably need a LT.

SJD, who they apparently love, will be an unrestricted free agent. Gaines is already in house to replace him but with the loss of Fox and Brockers this year, the DL room is getting thinner. So my best guess is, given their pattern of filling holes early and the other pattern of making the DL one of the highest priorities on the team, they draft some DL depth. Maybe multiple picks.

In addition to Whit's possible retirement, they have 6 pending OL free agents - Corbett, Noteboom, Allen, Shelton, Brewer, and Demby. The last 2 guys will be exclusive right free agents so very easy to bring back. That still leaves 4 who could leave. If they stick with the pattern of drafting for future needs, OL should get some attention. Maybe multiple picks.

In the ILB room, they have 4 pending free agents - Young, Kiser, Howard, and Reeder. The last 2 guys will be restricted free agents so there's a decent chance they'll be back but not guaranteed. If they stick to the pattern of drafting for future needs ILB may get some attention. If they stick to the pattern of drafting ILB late, which has been the case as long as Snead has been GM, ILB will get attention with late picks.

As for WR, they talked several times about needing more explosive plays and signed Jackson to short 1 year contract. This is a deep WR draft, they like to get picks in a year early, and they've had meetings with at least half a dozen WRs so I would expect a WR at some point.

So there you have it. My prediction is along the lines of CB, LT, IOL, DL, WR, and ILB late.