NFL Draft 2011: 8 Selections of the Past Decade the St Louis Rams Want Back
The Rams have made some great selections this past decade.
If only all of their picks had been good ones.
The problem with the draft is that there are so many variables that play into whether or not a prospect will be a successful pro is that its incredibly hard to predict.
Sometimes, prospects don't have the right attitude, sometimes, their skills don't carry over and sometimes, teams unjustly expect a guy to exceed his potential.
The Rams have drafted plenty of athletes that have failed to make much of an impact. Most of them weren't expected to do much, being drafted as hopeful shots in the dark in the late rounds.
There were a select few, however, that were incredible disappointments. The ones that were stars in college and were supposed to make an easy transition to the NFL.
Sadly, they couldn't and if Rams fans ever remember them, it'll be due to them being a bust.
That being said, lets review the eight picks the Rams would love to have back.
8. Joe Klopfenstein/Dominique Byrd, TE, 2006
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Selections
Klopfenstein–Round 2, 46th overall
Byrd–Round 3, 93rd overall
Evaluation
Heading into the 2006 draft, the Rams needed a serious upgrade at tight end. They responded by going out and using two of their early round selections on the position.
The two players they chose with the picks are probably long gone from the memories of Rams' fans.
Klopfenstein actually had a substantial rookie season, compiling 226 yards and a touchdown and looking like he could be a future threat in the receiving game. The next season, he had two catches for 37 yards in 11 starts. By 2009, Klopfenstein was out of St Louis and is currently a free agent.
Byrd lasted all of two seasons in St Louis, playing in 14 games and compiling 83 yards and two touchdowns. He is now bouncing around the NFC West and currently plays in Seattle for former head coach Pete Carroll.
One could definitely say the Rams didn't find the big threat at tight end they were looking for.
Notable Players Selected Shortly After Klopfenstein/Byrd
–Marcus McNeill
–Greg Jennings
–Devin Hester
–Maurice Jones-Drew
–Anthony Fasano
–Tony Scheffler
7. Brian Leonard, RB, Rutgers, 2007
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Selection
Round 2, 52nd Overall
Evaluation
2007 was a miserable draft for the Rams and Leonard was a key reason.
Coming out of college, Leonard was considered one of the best running backs in the draft. His trademark 'Leonard Leap' hurdle move had everyone excited about the selection.
The Rams saw Leonard as the perfect compliment to Steven Jackson–a quick, shifty, durable back that could give Jackson plenty of rest. It turns out Leonard didn't have the body to hold up against NFL tacklers.
Leonard only last two seasons with the Rams, rushing for 310 yards and never finding the endzone. In May of 2009, the Rams traded Leonard to Cincinnati for DT Orien Harris.
Notable Players Selected Shortly After Leonard
–Ryan Kalil
–Josh Wilson
6. Claude Wroten, DT, LSU, 2006
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Selection
3rd Round, 68th Overall
Evaluation
Coming out of LSU in the third round, Wroten actually exceeded expectations on the field.
He began to look like a guy that could be a force on the inside for the Rams for years to come. It wasn't his on-field performance that made him such a bad pick, though, it was everything that happened off the field.
By the beginning of his third season Wroten had already violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy three times, suspending him for the entire 2008 season. He would never suit up for the Rams again.
It's such a shame to see potential go to waste.
Notable Players Selected Shortly After Wroten
–Chris Gocong
–Leonard Pope
–Owen Daniels
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5. Robert Thomas, LB, UCLA, 2002
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Selection
Round 1, 31st Overall
Evaluation
Robert Thomas was an absolute star at UCLA, making first-team All America his senior season.
With good speed and enough size to make it in the NFL, Thomas appeared to be a lock as a solid linebacker for the Rams for years to come.
Turns out the Rams received only three seasons of average to below-average linebacker play before they shipped him off to Green Bay in return for Chris Johnson.
4. Jimmy Kennedy, DT, Penn State, 2003
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Selection
Round 1, 12th Overall
Evaluation
Jimmy Kennedy was an absolute disaster for the Rams.
Coming out of Penn State in 2003, Kennedy was an absolute force at defensive tackle. His ability to plug up the middle and wreak havoc in the backfield had the Rams thinking that they had lucked out when he fell to them at 13th overall.
In Kennedy's rookie season, he managed one tackle. After four seasons in St Louis, he left the Rams with 69 tackles, four sacks and four passes defended.
If the 2003 Draft was done over again, Kennedy would probably be waiting around to hear his name.
Players Selected Shortly After Kennedy
–Ty Warren
–Calvin Pace
3. Adam Carriker, DT, Nebraska, 2007
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Selection
Round 1, 13th Overall
Evaluation
Carriker is an interesting case. A bull-rushing defensive end out of Nebraska, the Rams shifted him over to defensive tackle after selecting him thirteenth overall.
His rookie season was acceptable, as he achieved two sacks, 30 tackles and a safety in 16 games. Heading into the 2009 season, a lot of fans speculated that with another year at the defensive tackle position under his belt, mixed with added confidence, Carriker could have a breakout season.
Unfortunately for Carriker, he never got that chance.
After suffering a significant shoulder injury in preseason, Carriker was forced to sit out the entire season and never again suited up for the Rams.
The following season, he was traded to Washington for a fifth round pick. In Washington, it appears that Carriker has revitalized his career, but for the Rams, this was an absolute waste of a pick.
Notable Players Selected Shortly After Carriker
–Darrelle Revis
–Michael Griffin
–Dwayne Bowe
–Brandon Meriweather
–Jon Beason
2. Tye Hill, CB, Clemson, 2006
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Selection
Round 1, 15th overall
Evaluation
Coming out of Clemson, Hill had the potential to be a great cornerback. At 5'9", he wasn't the biggest corner, but his off-the-charts speed more than made up for it.
When the Rams selected Hill with the 15th overall selection, they thought they were getting a premiere corner to bolster the secondary. What they received was an injury-prone, mediocre corner, who didn't have the physicality to hang in the NFL.
After three seasons in St Louis, Hill was traded to Atlanta for a seventh-round pick.
Notable Players Selected Shortly After Hill
–Antonio Cromartie
–Tamba Hali
–Johnathan Joseph
1. Alex Barron, T, Florida State, 2005
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Selection
Round 1, 14th Overall
Evaluation
When the Rams selected Alex Barron, they thought they were selecting one of the more physically dominating lineman in the draft, someone who could bolster the line and fill the void left by Orlando Pace.
Coming out of Florida State, Barron was one of the best linemen in the country, finishing in the top-three for the Outland Trophy voting.
Once Barron put on the Rams uniform, however, it was a mess. Barron wasn't quick enough to defend against the faster players and wasn't strong enough to defend against the bull-rush.
In his five season in St Louis, Barron was the most penalized player in the entire NFL. Realizing he wasn't what they were looking for, the Rams traded him to Dallas for mediocre linebacker Bobby Carpenter.
Notable Players Selected Shortly After Barron
–Mark Clayton
–Fabian Washington
–Roddy White
–Heath Miller
–Logan Mankins
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