2011 NFL Mock Draft: Experts Show No Love to the St. Louis Rams

When NFL analysts get together and do their mock drafts, they tend to provide at least some interesting thoughts.  However, when one of these experts gets together with two NFL scouts, my interest perks...after all, this is the best of the best at judging NFL talent.

St. Louis Rams fans should be hoping this isn't always the case.  Todd McShay did a three-man mock draft with two NFL scouts and the results were not exactly favorable.

The Rams don't have as many holes as the rest of their division rivals, and a skilled pass catcher is certainly near or at the top of their list.  It isn't surprising that this group sent someone to St. Louis to act as another target for Sam Bradford.

What is surprising is it isn't a wide receiver.  Even more surprising—it is a TE with a history of injuries in college, casting doubt on his ability to survive a 16-game NFL season.

An undisclosed NFC scout sent Note Dame tight end Kyle Rudolph to the Rams with the 14th pick in Round 1.  

Perhaps the scout figured he and Mike Hoomanawanui could share time being hurt and playing.  Maybe he is a scout with the 49ers and is trying to sabotage the Rams in cyberland.  Or maybe there is some hidden talent that makes someone think this TE from Notre Dame can be better than the Seahawks' version, John Carlson.

I'm going out on a limb and saying it isn't the latter.  Rudolph managed 28 catches for the Irish last year, covering 328 yards with three TDs before missing half the season with a hamstring injury (he had a shoulder injury the year prior that needed to be repaired surgically).  The YPC is decent, and he is the top-rated TE on most draft boards.

However, Rudolph has similar speed (or lack thereof) and skills as Carlson, making him questionable as a first-round selection and a huge surprise as a top-15 pick.

St. Louis fans should start to hope the NFC scout doesn't work for the Rams.