St. Louis Rams Draft Picks: Results, Analysis and Grades
The 2015 NFL Draft is now complete for the St. Louis Rams. The focus of this draft was almost entirely on the offensive side of the ball.
It began in the opening round. The Rams made a luxury pick by grabbing elite running back Todd Gurley at No. 10 overall.
Then, it was time to find him blockers.
The Rams traded back in Round 2 with the Carolina Panthers, dropping from No. 41 overall to No. 57. In exchange for the swap, the Rams gain Carolina's third- and sixth-round selections, per Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
That game St. Louis enough ammo to address the offensive line.
At No. 57 overall in Round 2, the Rams opted for offensive tackle Rob Havenstein of Wisconsin. St. Louis then grabbed Louisville tackle Jamon Brown with its first third-round selection (No. 72 overall) and Iowa's Andrew Donnal in Round 4 (No. 119). The final line addition was Fresno State's Cody Wichmann in the sixth round.
Finding good offensive linemen was important this year, but St. Louis also wanted to improve the skill positions.
With Rams' second third-round selection (from Carolina), St. Louis grabbed Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion to serve as the No. 2 behind Nick Foles.
In the sixth-round, the Rams grabbed local Missouri product Bud Sasser. Sasser is excellent depth at receiver and gives Foles a new target to work with.
Jeff Fisher is a defensive coach and clearly couldn't take the offensive additions any longer. In the seventh round, the Rams finally decided to look at some defenders.
The Rams traded running back Zac Stacy for the New York Jets' seventh-round selection, per Thomas. This move gave the Rams two selections int he final round.
The Rams grabbed Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager at No. 224 and Memphis defensive end Martin Ifedi at No. 227.
Clearly, St. Louis has confidence in its already stout defense. The Rams are hoping these offensive selections will help with point production and taking the offense to the next level.
Read on for live analysis of each pick, and be sure to check back after each selection as we track the NFL draft.
Round 1, No. 10 Pick: Todd Gurley
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Few out there are willing to question Todd Gurley's immense talent. The Rams did not have a desperate need for a workhorse back, but St. Louis could not justify passing on a truly elite talent.
Gurley ran for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns in his first season with the Georgia Bulldogs. He followed that up with 989 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns in 2013 despite playing in just 10 games. In his final season, he rushed for 911 yards and nine scores even though he appeared in just six games.
Few NCAA running backs have been able to match Gurley's production, but that's not the issue. His health is the major question mark.
According to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, Gurley suffered an ankle injury in 2013 that kept him sidelined for three games.
His luck didn't get any better in 2014. According to ESPN.com, Gurley tore his ACL late in the season against Auburn—an injury that nearly shattered his draft stock.
If Gurley can overcome his health issues, he'll be a special player. He has the strength to break tackles and take the bulk of the carries, and he has the speed to take it all the way.
Luckily for the Rams, incumbent running backs Tre Mason and Zac Stacy are talented enough to hold down the fort. St. Louis will have the luxury of benching Gurley until he's 100 percent healthy. There will be no rush to get him on the field.
Once he finds his way onto the gridiron, expect great things.
Grade: A
Round 2, No. 57 Pick: Rob Havenstein
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The Rams needed serious help on the offensive line. Second-year left tackle Greg Robinson and veteran guard Rodger Saffold are the only starters returning from the 2014 group.
St. Louis responded by selecting Rob Havenstein with the No. 57 overall pick in the second round.
Havenstein was not typically mocked in the second round. His name mostly showed up between Round 3 and Round 6. For that reason, this selection will likely be considered a slight reach by many fans.
Regardless of Havenstein's perceived value, Wisconsin has been a factory for NFL offensive linemen in recent years. Havenstein played in 54 career games at the NCAA level, including 42 starts. He received the necessary college experience and coaching to be an immediate impact player in the NFL.
Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon had an insanely productive 2014 season with 2,587 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns. Havenstein was Gordon's best run-blocker throughout that incredible campaign.
Havenstein will replace free agent Joe Barksdale at right tackle. That means the Rams will no longer feel pressured to re-sign Barksdale, so the money can be spent addressing other needs.
This selection won't excite the fans, but it gives Gurley a true run-blocker to run behind.
Grade: B-
Round 3, No. 72: Jamon Brown
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The Rams are getting serious about the offensive line, and rightfully so. As mentioned, only Robinson and Saffold are returning from the 2014 group.
Havenstein gives St. Louis a starting right tackle, but the Rams entered the third round still in need of a guard and center.
Louisville's Jamon Brown is listed as a tackle, but he has the potential to bump over and start at guard. He's been adapting his entire career.
During Brown's freshman campaign in 2011, he joined the Louisville team as a defensive tackle. Brown then made the midseason switch to left guard. In 2012, Brown made the transition to right tackle and started 13 games. Finally, he moved to left tackle, where he started all 26 games in 2013 and 2014.
The Rams have to love that versatility and ability to adapt.
Brown lacks Havenstein's raw power, but he has speed and gets off the ball. He's quick enough to secure downfield blocks in running situations and is solid at mirroring pass-rushers.
He'll fight for a starting job, but he'll likely have competition.
Grade: B+
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Round 3, No. 89: Sean Mannion
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Foles will be St. Louis' unquestioned starter during the 2015 season, but the Rams were still in need of a reliable No. 2 option.
After losing Sam Bradford to injuries in back-to-back season, few teams understand the importance of a capable backup better than the Rams. Fortunately, Oregon State's Sean Mannion could be that long-term answer at No. 2.
Mannion has incredible size (6'6", 229 pounds) and looks the part of a prototype NFL quarterback. With his height, he'll have no issues seeing over St. Louis' offensive line and looking downfield.
Mannion was a four-year starter for Oregon State, and that experience will help him adapt to the NFL. He's also one of the few quarterback prospects in the class to have experience in a pro-style offense (Jameis Winston and Colorado State's Garrett Grayson being the others), and that's a major plus.
The 2013 season was a career year for Mannion. He completed 66.3 percent of his passes, threw for 4,662 yards and 37 touchdowns (all career-high numbers).
In 2014, he took a step back. He threw for just 3,164 yards and only 15 touchdowns against eight picks. It's not as though he had a stellar cast at Oregon State, but he's surely eager to prove that the 2014 season was a fluke.
With proper development, Mannion could be a special player for St. Louis.
Grade: A
Round 4, No. 119: Andrew Donnal
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With the No. 119 pick in the fourth round, the Rams took Iowa offensive lineman Andrew Donnal.
Donnal started every game at right tackle for Iowa in 2014. He gained experience at both guard and tackle during the 2013 season.
Donnal is not a superb athlete and lacks the raw strength of Havenstein. He's not a mauling run-blocker, but he has solid technique and is a capable pass-blocker.
Both Havenstein and Brown are established run-blockers, so it was time to draft a lineman with more potential in pass protection. It's important to open holes for Gurley, but the Rams also need to keep Foles upright.
The Rams were in need of serious help on the offensive line. With three linemen added in the first three rounds, St. Louis is certainly accomplishing that.
Grade: A-
Round 6, No 201: Bud Sasser
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Football fans in the state of Missouri will absolutely love the selection of receiver Bud Sasser. Sasser was a collegiate standout at the University of Missouri and was a savior for the Mizzou offense during the 2014 season.
According to Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com, star receiver Dorial Green-Beckham was dismissed from the Tigers prior to the 2014 season. That loss left a gaping hole at the wide receiver position, but Sasser stepped up as the team's No. 1 target and excelled.
Sasser recorded 77 catches for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdown in 2014. He scored Mizzou's only touchdown in the SEC Championship Game against Alabama.
Sasser doesn't have blazing speed or elite athletic skills, but he has other talents. He has decent size (6'2", 210 pounds) and can cause mismatch problems. He also possesses excellent hands and shiftiness.
He won't be guaranteed a roster spot. It'll be a tough competition between him and veteran Chris Givens, but he has a chance to make a difference.
Grade: A+
Round 6, No. 215: Cody Wichmann
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The Rams entered the sixth round with three shiny, new offensive linemen. Apparently, St. Louis felt that wasn't enough.
At No. 215 overall, the Rams selected guard Cody Wichmann of Fresno State.
The previous linemen drafted—Havenstein, Brown and Donnal—are better suited as tackles. Brown and Donnal have the potential to play inside, but the Rams needed a pure interior lineman to add to the mix.
Wichmann was a three-year contributor for Fresno State with 50 career starts under his belt. That's been a theme with the linemen drafted by St. Louis in 2015—the Rams are opting for highly experienced players over players with high ceilings and limited experience.
Not only are the Rams searching for experienced linemen, but healthy linemen as well. Wichmann's longevity and reliability at Fresno State is exactly what the Rams are looking for.
Grade: A-
Round 7, No. 224: Bryce Hager
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Fisher was likely agitated throughout this draft process. It can't be easy for a defensive coach to sit by and allow the team to use seven straight picks on offensive players.
Fisher finally got his fix in the final round. They selected Baylor linebacker Bryce Hager in the seventh round, and he fills an important need for the Rams.
Akeem Ayers, Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis are set as the team's starting linebackers. However, there's almost no depth behind those three players.
Hager spent time as a running back, so he has great speed and athleticism for a linebacker. He can cover and hold the edge, but his technique and viciousness need to improve.
As a special teams asset and backup, Hager will be a welcomed addition.
Grade: B
Round 7, No. 227: Martin Ifedi
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The Rams ended the seventh round with not one, but two defensive players. At No. 227, the Rams grabbed defensive end Martin Ifedi out of Memphis.
Ifedi will have a tough time making an impact. The Rams are absolutely stacked on the defensive line, so Ifedi has an uphill battle ahead of him.
Between Robert Quinn, Chris Long, William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Ethan Westbrooks, it will be virtually impossible for Ifedi to get on the field.
However, Westbrooks faced similar odds a year ago as an undrafted rookie, so you never know.
Ifedi gives the team depth, special teams help and a long-term project.
Grade: C+
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