Pro Football Draft Network | 2012 Pro Football Draft Analysis

1st Round (#14) DE Robert Quinn, North Carolina

2nd Round (#47) TE Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin

3rd Round (#78) WR Austin Pettis, Boise State

4th Round (#112) WR Greg Salas, Hawaii

5th Round (#158) S Jermale Hines, Ohio State

7th Round (#216) CB Mikail Baker, Baylor

7^th Round (#228) LB Jabara Williams, Stephen F. Austin

7^th Round (#229) S Jonathan Nelson, Oklahoma

Analysis of Notable Selections:

Robert Quinn: The Rams wanted to select a top wide receiver such as, Julio Jones, to pair with Sam Bradford.  However, Atlanta foiled those plans by jumping up to the 6^th pick to grab Jones.  St. Louis wisely turned their attention to the team’s defensive line.  Steve Spagnuolo’s defense revolves around a strong defensive line.  Quinn is a highly athletic defensive end who plays with leverage.  James Hall had a good season in 2010, but he also is 34.  Quinn will pair with Chris Long to provide the Rams with a couple of young defensive ends that are on the rise.

Lance Kendricks: St. Louis does not have much of a receiving threat from the tight end position.  Kendricks is a capable receiver and he will try hard in the blocking department.  However, he is undersized as a blocker and is really more of an H-back than a true tight end.  He adds speed and athleticism to the team’s tight end position.  Kendricks is similar to former Wisconsin tight end, Travis Beckum, who has been quiet in the NFL.  Kendricks may still have been available in the 3^rd round.  St. Louis lacks playmakers for Sam Bradford in the receiving department.  The Rams passed on Randall Cobb who is excellent at running with the ball after making the catch. 

Austin Pettis: Danny Amendola led the Rams in receiving touchdowns last season with a mere 3.  Pettis has reliable hands, good height and a knack for catching touchdown passes (39 at Boise State).  St. Louis has to add weapons to take advantage of Sam Bradford’s skills.  This pick made sense.

Greg Salas: The Rams missed out on landing a stud number one receiver, but they continue to strengthen a pedestrian receiving corps.  Salas is a fine route runner with sticky hands.  He will fearlessly work the middle of the field and could develop into a productive possession receiver.  He represented solid value in the 4^th round.   

2011 NFL Draft Grade: B-

Bottom Line: Robert Quinn has a good chance of developing into a disruptive pass rusher for the Rams.  St. Louis still lacks speed at the wide receiver position.  Sam Bradford delivers a lot of accurate passes that hit receivers in stride.  A wide receiver with outstanding run after the catch skills would thrive playing with Bradford.  Pettis and Salas are potentially solid possession receivers, but they are not explosive athletes.  The Rams also did not find relief for Steven Jackson (3.8 yards per carry in 2010) at running back.  Jackson is a workhorse, but the team has to be careful about prematurely running him into the ground.  St. Louis added special teams help late in the draft with three defensive backs and a linebacker.