2012 NFL Draft: What Should St. Louis Rams Do If They Can't Trade No. 2 Pick?

The Indianapolis Colts hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft, and it's the worst-kept secret in football that they are going to pick Andrew Luck. So there is really no mystery at the top of the draft.

It's what happens next, with the No. 2 pick held by the St. Louis Rams, that could shake up the entire draft.

With so many teams needing a franchise quarterback, and Robert Griffin III, the dynamic QB out of Baylor, also being very high on a lot of teams' draft boards, there are lots of rumors (one report here from NFL.com) of who might trade up to get him.

Will it be Cleveland, who holds two first-round picks? Will it be Washington, desperate to win under embattled head coach Mike Shanahan? Will it be Miami, who is saddled with starting QB John Beck right now? Perhaps it will be a mystery team, somebody farther back in the draft, that falls in love with RG3—who knows?

But what if nobody makes a move? What if the Rams are left holding the bag with the clock winding down, and they are forced to make that pick? Who do you think the Rams should take?

There are two obvious choices: Justin Blackmon (WR, Oklahoma State) and Matt Kalil (OT, USC).

Blackmon has been called a "more athletic Anquan Boldin" and a "young Terrell Owens." That is pretty high praise for any wide receiver. Blackmon reportedly has a great work ethic, and I think that once teams get to see Blackmon in person his stock is only going to improve.

I could actually see several teams (Minnesota, Cleveland, Jacksonville) taking Blackmon with their pick or even trying to trade up for the chance to select Blackmon. So if the Rams trade back, Blackmon could be long gone.

Of course Blackmon would fill a tremendous need for a dynamic playmaker, but the second prospect I'd like to look at could also help the Rams offense in his own way.

Scott Wright of draftcountdown.com believes Matt Kalil may be the best left tackle prospect since Joe Thomas. He is a top-three prospect on just about every draft board you see. Kalil is a big, strong, agile lineman, and he beat out Tyron Smith for the left tackle job at USC. Smith was the No. 9 overall pick by the Dallas Cowboys last year, and fared pretty well in Dallas as a rookie.

If Kalil is better than Smith, then he should be seriously considered by the Rams, despite the fact they need a No. 1 receiver. Kalil has the ability to impact the entire offensive line, because incumbent left tackle Roger Saffold could be moved to the right side, and disappointing third-year player Jason Smith could be moved to guard (if he isn't cut).

So Kalil could theoretically fill three holes in the Rams offensive line. He would provide better protection for Sam Bradford, and he would energize the power running game that new Rams head coach Jeff Fisher wants to implement.

In my column where I detailed the Rams' seven-round mock draft, I had the Rams taking Blackmon. However, that was based on the fact that the Rams worked a trade with Cleveland, resulting in the Rams picking fourth overall. In that scenario, the Browns would pick RG3 with the second pick, the Vikings would pick Kalil with the third pick and the Rams would pick Blackmon with the fourth pick.

But this is a column about what the Rams will do if they don't trade back.

If that happens, and the Rams are forced to pick second, they should select Matt Kalil. If Kalil is as good as advertised, the Rams offensive line will be set for the next 10 years with Kalil and Saffold as the bookend tackles.

So what about the Rams' needs at wideout? Well, maybe Brandon Lloyd will stay in St. Louis? A guy can dream, can't he?