St. Louis Rams - NFC West

St. Louis Rams - NFC West, 2008 Draft Selections & Prospects

St. Louis Rams

The Draft Was ... Hit or miss. Chris Long is a sure-thing at the No. 2, but Donnie Avery isn't the best receiver in this class and there were some interesting value picks, like CB Justin King in the fourth, to go along with big reaches like WR Keenan Burton. The team needed receivers, but it didn't get any sure-thing starters.
Best Value Pick: Roy Schuening, OG Oregon State. 5th round. Guards are never sexy, but Schuening was one of the best in the draft. Experienced, tough, and good enough to be a decent starter, but not a star, he'll be the rare fifth rounder who sticks.
Biggest Reach: Donnie Avery, WR Houston. 2nd round. There's no questioning the incredible speed and the way he'll fit in with the Rams, but should he have been the first receiver taken? Let the second guessing begin.
They Should've ... Gotten another receiver. Keenan Burton isn't durable and Avery was hurting at the Combine. Considering the holes that need to be filled in the passing game, one more target would've been a good insurance policy.

#	Pick
2	2	1st Round     Chris Long, DE Virginia Motor, motor, motor, motor, motor. A natural pass rusher, Long is a tremendous all-around end who can get into the backfield any time he wants to and is a playmaker against the run. Even when nothing seems to be happening, he finds a way to make a play on sheer drive and desire. He got stuffed in the Gator Bowl loss to Texas Tech and there's a question about just how good he'll be against the elite tackles. He'll dominate from time to time at the NFL level when going against average linemen, but he'll likely be erased by the top OTs. There's no real downside; he'll be a sure-thing starter for the next ten years, but is there any upside? Unlike Vernon Gholston, Phillip Merling or Calais Campbell, what you see with Long might be exactly what you get. That's not necessarily a bad thing. CFN Projection: Top Ten Overall    CFN Position Rank: 2

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2nd Round    Donnie Avery, WR Houston A slight disappointment at the Combine, he was fast, but he didn't put up the blazing sub-4.4 time expected. That could be seen as a slight positive; that means he just played really, really fast. He's a gamebreaker and a polished deep runner who can blow by any corner who doesn't get a jam right away. He'll have to work on some basic mechanics and his hands are questionable, but he's not pretending to be the next Wes Welker; he's a long-ball hitter. CFN Projection: Mid-Second to Third Round   CFN Position Rank: 13

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3rd Round   John Greco, OG/OT Toledo If he's not the greatest MAC offensive lineman of all-time, he's in the team photo. A starter from day one to game 49, he's ridiculously durable, freakishly strong, and will work his tail off to get better. While he was an all-everything tackle for Toledo, he just doesn't have the quickness of the athleticism to be on the outside at the highest level. He could move to tackle from time to time, but he has the size, toughness, and make-up to shine as a guard if given the chance to grow into the job. CFN Projection: Third Round   CFN Position Rank: 4 (as a OG)

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4th Round   Justin King, CB Penn State Really, really fast. King's 4.37 40 confirmed what everyone already knew that he was among the fastest players in the draft, but for all his speed and all his athleticism, he wasn't all that great a cover-corner on a consistent basis. He had some big games when he erased the No. 1 receiver, and then he got destroyed by some, like Indiana's James Hardy, who lit it up with 14 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. He has the measurables, but not the talent or the consistency to be anyone's top corner. CFN Projection: Second Round to Third Round   CFN Position Rank: 11

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4th Round (from trade)   Keenan Burton, WR Kentucky Tall, fast, and productive, he showed flashes of big-play talent throughout his college career, Durability is an issue and he doesn't use his speed well enough; he plays slower than he actually is. However, if he's in the right system and he's asked to be a backup, occasional No. 3, and emergency No. 2, he could hang around the league for a little while. CFN Projection: Sixth Round   CFN Position Rank: 27

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5th Round (from trade)   Roy Schuening, OG Oregon State An excellent four-year starter for the Beavers, Schuening is excellent when he has to open a hole and get the ground game moving. If he has to get moving and if he has to pass protect on a regular basis, there will be problems. He's a strong player who'll be tough to leave on the bench and tougher to cut because of his toughness, durability and versatility, he spent some time at tackle, but he'll have find the right offense and the right style to be a steady NFL starter. CFN Projection: Third Round      CFN Position Rank: 3

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7th Round (from trade)  Chris Chamberlain, LB Tulsa Undraftable until he came up with a whale of a pro day. Chamberlain is tremendously athletic and was an ultra-productive defender for the Golden Hurricane. Too small to play linebacker, stretched out to get to 226 pounds, and he needs to prove he can be fast enough in the secondary to warrant further development as a safety. CFN Projection: Free Agent   CFN Position Rank: NR

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7th Round  David Vobora, OLB Idaho A good all-around football player who tackled everything that moved over the last two seasons, he's a smart linebacker who makes up for a lack of athleticism with good instincts and tough tackling ability. He could make the team on special teams, but he's a good enough defender to find a role at any linebacking spot. CFN Projection: Free Agent   CFN Position Rank: 42