2012 NFL Draft: 3 Players Who Could Help the St. Louis Rams

Rams fans, don't lose hope. Yes, our team is 0-3. Yes, we just got killed by Baltimore. And yes, it's true, we do lead the league in stupid penalties. I have no doubt that Rams' fans lead the league in the number of times we've yelled curse words at the TV because our offensive line is softer than toilet paper.

Keep your head up. There are better days ahead.

The Rams have a great corps of young players in place. Sam Bradford, Chris Long, James Lauranaitis, Robert Quinn, Roger Saffold and Lance Kendrick are all going to have great careers. Steven Jackson, Quintin Mickell and James Hall all have a few good years left in them. And because the Rams are probably going to underachieve and stink it up this season, there is another silver lining on this cloud.

The Rams are going to get a really good draft pick.

I think the Rams will be picking somewhere between eighth and 10th in the upcoming draft. The team needs are obvious: (1) We have to get help in the secondary. Those guys couldn't cover a good high school wide receiver; (2) We need a stud wide receiver, or I'm afraid Sam Bradford is going to retire early like Carson Palmer did; and (3), we need more help in the secondary. Those guys are just awful.

So I've decided to volunteer part of my day to help Rams GM Billy Devaney. I think one of these three players will be available if we are picking in that eight-to-10 range. Take a look....

1. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Dre Kirkpatrick would start for the Rams right now. I know, the Rams need a wide receiver. I would love it if one of the elite receivers fell to the Rams. I just don't think either of the top guys will last until that eight-to-10 range. 

The top two receivers are going to be Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) and Alshon Jeffrey (South Carolina). If either of those two guys are there, jump on them!

I just don't think they are going to be there! The Rams might catch a break because three of the top four rated players are quarterbacks. That means if all three of those QBs go early, and a couple of teams take an offensive tackle (Matt Kalil, LT, USC) or a defensive player (Quenton Coples, DE, UNC), then maybe, just maybe one of the receivers will fall to the Rams. 

Kirkpatrick is the No. 1-rated cornerback in the draft right now. He is a big corner (6'2), and he is fast.  He has great ball skills. If Ron Bartell came back 100 percent healthy from his injury, and we teamed him up with Kirkpatrick and safety Quintin Mickell, the Rams might actually be able to stop guys like the immortal Torrey Smith from going off for three touchdown catches in a single quarter.

2. Jonathan Martin, RT, Stanford

I know what you're thinking, "Didn't we just draft a tackle with the No. 2 overall pick one year, and then draft another tackle with the first pick of the second round the next year?"

Yep, we sure did. One of them is Jason Smith, and he stinks.

Jason Smith is having a hard time keeping Adam Goldberg from taking his starting spot right now. The former No. 2 overall pick in the draft has been a bust to this point in his career. First of all, he isn't a left tackle, and who the hell drafts a right tackle with the No. 2 overall pick? Second of all, he is going to get Sam Bradford killed.

So if Martin is there, let's just cut our losses. Draft Martin, a 6'6", 305-pound monster, and protect Sam Bradford. Jason Smith, you have just been put on notice.

3. Trent Richardson

Stop throwing things at the computer! Just hear me out. I know we don't need a running back. We have Steven Jackson. He is a stud. I know that. 

But it's just like when we drafted Jackson back in the day, and we already had Marshall Faulk. These running backs have a shelf life, and there is no doubt that Jackson is on the back end of his career.

So why not start looking for his replacement?

And doesn't Richardson look like a stud player? It kind of reminds me of when Adrian Peterson came out in the draft. He looked like a stud, but nobody wanted to draft him that high. Turns out, Adrian Peterson was a better player than Gaines Adams (RIP) and Levi Brown. 

I'm just saying... I think we get so caught up in these "elite lineman" all the time. Sure, every team needs a stud left tackle. Sure, if you can find a guy like Chris Long to anchor your D-line for 10 years, you take him. But what's wrong with trusting your eyes and just taking the best player available?

I think the combo of Bradford-Richardson-Kendricks could be deadly for a long time.

Of course, I'm hoping like crazy that Alshon Jeffrey drops to the Rams instead!