Grades for the draft are handed out like those for a test, A, B, C, well you get the point. However a rather larger difference exists between the two types of grades.

On a test for example there are right and wrong answers and for the most part a finite number of answers. One would not venture to tell their teacher or professor that, “though you gave me a D on my exam my answers were right because they fit the needs of what I was looking for coming in to this test.”

Also with a test there is one person grading it and their opinion alone is what matters. Not so with the draft; here everyone gets an opinion on what your grade should be.  At the Draft everyone takes the same test but each one has different questions with different answers. A team doesn’t get just one grade, you get many grades from many experts and those experts include anyone with a pen and a pad, microphone, TV camera or laptop.

Some draft grading tips from Gregg Rosenthal from ProFootballTalk.com and NBCSports.com:

• “Best tip for draft graders: If you've heard a lot of a team's picks, give them good grade. If not, bad grade.” 
• “Another draft grade tip: Anyone in Belichick family tree gets bumped up a grade or 3.”

Yet to me the most glaring difference between the two is that a team may not realize its true grade for years.  Take into consideration how more than often these experts are wrong…not to mention your grade can change after the draft; an A now can turn into a C five years later and the opposite is true as well. This is a big reason the grades mean about as much as a great fantasy season means to actual wins for a team.  

And still…in knowing all of this we anxiously await to see how our team will be graded coming out of draft weekend. So without further ado here is how the Rams were graded by The Hair, Bernie our very own Will and every other “professor” out there…

*disclaimer; take these with a grain of salt because they have no absolutely bearing what so ever on the season. Should the season take place the NFL will still require teams to play games to make it to the playoffs and not just compare draft grades*

If no letter grade was available I went ahead and used my best judgment on a pass/fail basis…deal with it.

And finally….The Grades

• The Hair has spoken…all hail the Hair:  Mel Kiper : Needs A-, Value B+;  “St. Louis got a lot done, and now unquestionably looks like a franchise ready to take that next step”

• I like the way you think Mike, save the best for last. Mike Sando ESPN.com
  

• Todd McShay ESPN, Passing:  Best move: Greg Salas at No. 112; “Salas could end up being one of the best overall picks in this draft. I think he'll become one of the best No. 3 receivers in the league with his reliable hands, competitiveness and toughness after the catch.”

• In the words of the immortal Sally Field, “you like me, you really like me”, FOX Sports Adam Caplan: B

• Lock & Load, NFL Columnist Vic Carucci: Passing  

• Not that we care what fans of other teams think but here it is anyway, NFL.com Poll: B  

• Hey yo Bernie, what you think, Bernie Miklasz; Passing 

• Will recaps the NFC West and the Rams new “Passing” approach. Will of RamsHerd.com: Passing (ha ha...get it)

• When you don’t have anything nice to say sometimes the best approach is to not say anything at all….OR you could put your comments in the paper, Jim Thomas: Incomplete  

• So what do you know about football?...”EVERYTHING,” Evan Silva of Rotoworld: C-

• The St. Louis Fans have spoken, and they have spoken with a B

*Others will be added as they become available

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The NFC West has been the butt of jokes now for years. In the very short term, this year's draft class will do little to change that.

The West has gone without a "respectable" division power since the days of the Greatest Show Rams and the Steve Hutchinson Seahawks. (Yes, I'm glossing over a surprising and thrilling Super Bowl appearance by a Kurt Warner-led Cardinals team, but that did more to burnish his HOF credentials than to cast the Cardinals as a dynasty in the making.)

And with the three non-horned teams all with desperate needs under center, this draft class sorely lacked in "impact" picks. Or "sexy" picks. Or anything that any barstool draftnik could hang his hat on and say "Oh yeah, they got way better! Look out!" 

Here's the roundup, with skill positions highlighted.

49ers	Seahawks	Rams	Cardinals
1. DE Aldon Smith 2. QB Colin Kaepernick 3. CB Chris Culliver  4. RB Kendall Hunter 5. OG Daniel Kilgore 6. WR Ronald Johnson 6. S Colin Jones 7. LB Bruce Miller 7. OL Mike Person 7. CB Curtis Holcomb	1. OT James Carpenter 3. OG John Moffitt 4. LB K.J. Wright  4. WR Kris Durham 5. DB Richard Sherman 5. FS Mark LeGree 6. DB Byron Maxwell 7. DT Lavarius Levingston 7. LB Malcolm Smith	1. DE Robert Quinn 2. TE Lance Kendricks 3. WR Austin Pettis 4. WR Greg Salas 5. S Jermale Hines 7. CB Mikail Baker  7. LB Jabara Williams 7. S Jonathan Nelson	1. CB Patrick Peterson 2. RB Ryan Williams 3. TE Rob Housler 4. LB Sam Acho 5. FB Anthony Sherman 6. LB Quan Sturdivant 6. DT David Carter 7. WR Demarco Sampson

Team-by-team analysis after the break.

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The Rams are quite the passing team now. Even after Billy Devaney all but promised to find help in the running game for Steven Jackson in the draft, the Rams have 'passed' on backs over and over, draft after draft. 

Last year, the Rams got leapfrogged by Detroit for Jahvid Best at the tail end of the first round. The year before, the Jets nabbed Shonn Greene out from under Billy Devaney's nose. This year, with massive depth available at the position, would be different, right? We almost couldn't miss, right? 

Fast forward to the fifth round, after drafting sure-handed pass-catchers in rounds two-through four. Billy Devaney had Jacquizz Rodgers -- an Oregon State alum who met with Steven Jackson's seal of approval -- all lined up and ready to draft.

Instead, the Rams traded out of the spot, handing Quizz to the Falcons while accepting an extra 7th round pick in return. Then as Rams fans lined up with their picks of the best remaining rushers -- notably Jordan Todman, Da'Rel Scott, and Anthony Allen -- the Rams simply kept passing, passing, passing them by. I guess you could say it's becoming a theme. 

Given the way the tail end of the draft wound up, the hope of free agency now offers the only salve to Rams fans, and the holes on the roster (OLB and OG, in addition to the RB spot) that are seen as still unaddressed. Here's how the rest of the haul stacks up:

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Austin Pettis became the newest Ram when he was selected with the 78^th overall pick on Friday night.  Without a doubt, Pettis comes from one of the most prolific offenses in the country at Boise State.  Boise State ranked second in the nation last year in scoring. 

The 6’3, 209 lbs senior, served as the number- two wide receiver behind the newest Detroit Lion, 44^th overall pick Titus Young. Literally, Young wore #1, Pettis wore #2, and the pair made the offense go. Now they each have a chance to jump-start two NFL teams that are on the rise.

With the pick, the Rams add a fantastic route-runner, with size and great catching ability.  They also add a football player that produced four straight years.  With 46 catches as a freshman, 49 as a sophomore, 63 as a junior and 71 as a senior, Pettis leaves Boise State as the all-time leader in receptions with 229 receptions.  He is also the school’s all-time leader in touchdown catches.  He finished his senior season with 71 catches for 951 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Pettis’s most valuable attribute to this team will be his play making ability in the red zone, which is something the current wide receiver corps lacked last year. Of his 10 touchdowns last year, 8 came in the red zone.

Video Highlights: Boise State vs Virginia Tech

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Well we all got it wrong. Myself and the other writes here at RamsHerd.  Kiper, McShay, Mayock…all of us, and I’m glad we did.   No one had DE Robert Quinn from North Carolina falling to the Rams at 14. And this didn’t have the same feel as 2003 When DT Jimmy Kennedy fell to St. Louis. In ’03 there was a sense of dread that came along with the pick. Not last night, last night it was a sense of joy and excitement. I wasn’t in the War Room but I can imagine it took the Rams brass all of 4 seconds to make this pick.

There was also a sense of relief that came with the pick. Not relief that the guy we all wanted was still there but relief that the Rams didn’t choke away the pick.  The Rams have made enough questionable picks in years past to leave fans holding their collective breath in situations like this. A small part of me (okay a large part of me) still thought they were going to take Corey Liuget. Who I am sure is a terrific person, but sir, you are no Robert Quinn. Worse yet I quietly thought to myself how am I going to react when they take Mark Ingram.  Lucky for me and all Rams fans the Four Pillars were, not ignored, but maybe softened and the right pick was made. Here are some others who feel the same.

RamsHerd: Are Rams fans pleased? according to Will’s research Survey Says Yes

Bernie Miklasz: Don’t think about it! Just go with what makes sense

Sporting News: The Rams went to NY for the Draft and all they came away with was a nice pair of bookends

Fox Sports: Rams 1st pick didn't go as planned, so what do you do when the draft hands you lemons?...Draft a beast of a DE

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The Rams had Marvin Austin, Stephen Paea, Torrey Smith, Mikel Leshoure and plenty of other highly touted talents lined up in front of them with the 45th pick, and took... Wisconsin TE Lance Kendricks? Come again? I mean, the Kyle Rudolph draft day rumor was just smoke, right? Josh McDaniels' predilection for overdrafting guys would be tempered by the cooler heads of the Devaney-led War Room, right? Apparently not. 

To say immediate reaction to this pick is "mixed" among Rams fans is technically correct: some hate the pick, some really hate the pick, and others are swallowing their skepticism until they can hear some sort of plausible explanation. Unfortunately, I'm looking for it, too.



In the second round, you can draft off your "little board" of top talents, guys with first round grades who have fallen. Kendricks wasn't even on my big board. So I have a lot of catching up to do. Here's how Draft Countdown characterizes him: 

 Strengths

• Outstanding athleticism, speed, quickness and agility
• Soft hands and will pluck the ball away from frame
• Fantastic body control, leaping ability and ball skills
• Runs good routes and simply knows how to get open
• Able to get separation from defenders and has a burst
• Shows the ability to get vertical and threaten seam

Weaknesses

• An undersized 'tweener with average height and bulk
• Not necessarily a physically dominant, mauling blocker
• Might have some minor health and durability concerns

If you only see the positives, he sounds like a great player. If you only see the negatives, sounds like a guy with Daniel Fells' hands and Mike Hoomanawanui's health. But if you want a dose of optimism to end on, here's one for what it's worth. (Remember, you can't spell "Ross Miles" without "smiles"!)

 

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High on the list of Day Two needs and wish list items for the Rams: defensive tackle, outside linebacker, running back, wide receiver. Nowhere to be found on that list of offensive weapons, though, is tight end. I mean, why would there be, with three already on the roster in Hoomanawanui, Onobun and Bajema, and Daniel Fells just a phone call away from re-signing? 

And yet, several second-round re-mocks have the Rams selecting Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph at pick 45. Great value, I suppose, but is it worth taking the "best player available" if there isn't a need? Especially when the McDaniels offense has been notoriously punishing to the tight end position?

I brought the question to Shane Hallam, who seems like a pretty smart guy, and I'm not just saying that because he graded our Mock Three draft and gave us an "A-." (Okay, maybe I am, a little. But he is legitimately a smart guy.) Here is a snapshot of our exchange:

RamsHerd: Kyle Rudolph won't be a popular pick in STL. Do you think the "McD doesn't use TEs" argument is a red herring?

Hallam: I do. If he had a "complete" TE, he would use him. Will it happen? Probably not, but I bet Rudolph is on the Rams' board.

RamsHerd: [Rationalizing] Rudolph would probably be the best pass-catching TE McD has seen at the pro level... solid red zone threat as well....

Hallam: Yup, and McDaniels DOES like TEs who block. See draft picks in Denver.

(Ouch, that's a knife in the gut for Broncos fans, who watched McDaniels use one of the high draft picks obtained in the Jay Cutler trade to trade up for a block-only tight end in 2009's draft. It's one of the litany of bulletpoints at www.JoshMcDanielsSucks.com.)

But the larger point is that the trend of Tight Ends suffering under McDaniels has to be looked at in context of the talent at hand. In retrospect, the declining value of Ben Watson's offense in New England could be looked at like this: "McD originally saw a weapon that needed to be utilized to open up the middle of the field, but his perception of Watson changed over time. The guy had hands of stone, and the Patriots added a much more potent interior threat in the name of Wes Welker. Feeding Watson over Welker would have been a firable offense, though he continued to use Watson in the offense to mix things up."

Of course, that makes for a nice story if you desperately want to justify the value of Rudolph, the best TE in the draft, to the Rams. But desperation and draft day seldom mix with pleasant results.

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The first 32 picks are always unpredictable -- not an empty phrase, these picks are literally impossible to predict from top to bottom. (ESPN reportedly offered a cool $30 mil to anyone who could do it ... but you'd have a better chance of being next year's #1 pick.) That's what makes this one of the great weekends in all of sport.

Here's part two of our draft-day blow-by-blow, mining our epic live-blog and extended conversations from last night. (Part one can be found here.)

17. New England Patriots: Nate Solder, OT, Colorado

A loud "NO!!!" from a man sitting behind us wearing a Pats Adam Viniateri jersey. Apparently he wanted Ingram here. Though as Brennan says: "Nate Solder is the happiest man alive right now to protect Tom Brady. Castonzo falling is kind of a story though." Meanwhile, thoughts of grabbing a new backup QB for the Ram in the back of the draft percolate. Says Todd: "Feeley was brought in to run the West Coast. Might not look too good running McD's offense." No, but Kyle Orton might...

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18. San Diego Chargers: DT Corey Liuget

Some appreciative claps for Liuget as his name is announced. Says Maurice: "There's been a few picks so far that aren't scheme fits..." At least Liuget has the ability to get to the quarterback, which makes him a usable player at 3-4 DE. However, says Brennan: "Not the nose tackle they were looking for."

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19. New York Giants: Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska

Reaction to this pick was somewhat muted by a prodigious 9-run rally from down 4-1 to up 10-4 by the Cardinals baseball team, playing on most of the TVs that weren't hosting the draft. Lance Berkman is an animal. Meanwhile, the dwindling Amukamara-to-the-Rams contingent had one final moment on the soapbox to bemoan this pick.

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20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa

Lots of cheering for the Webster Groves kid who made it into the first round after suffering a lot of characterization as a guy who could fall. (Meanwhile, the SadCam tries desperately to find Da'Quan Bowers.) We know one thing for sure: @ottoman89 just became a Bucs fan. Says our friend @Bucco40, "Everyone should be a Bucs fan!"

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The first 32 picks are always unpredictable -- not an empty phrase, these picks are literally impossible to predict from top to bottom. (ESPN reportedly offered a cool $30 mil to anyone who could do it ... but you'd have a better chance of being next year's #1 pick.) That's what makes this one of the great weekends in all of sport.

Here's part one of our draft-day blow-by-blow, mining our epic live-blog and extended conversations from last night.

1. Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton, QB, Auburn

Not a huge surprise, though the contract negotiations between Newton and Jerry Richardson would make for epic television. Tim asks: "I wonder what Jimmy Clausen is doing right now?" As it turns out, he was tweeting his congratulations. Possibly while on a boat with T-Pain and a mermaid.

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2. Denver Broncos: Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M

Okay, this was surprising. Granted, Schefter had been reporting that this was 90% of a done deal, but smart money had been on Marcell Dareus here. From Pro Football Focus: "So the Miller to Denver love today wasn't a smokescreen. Now the onus is on Denver to use him correctly."

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3. Buffalo Bills: Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama

Says Tim: "All of my Bills friends were dying for Dareus. Congrats to them. Dareus is so versatile, perfect fit." Adds Derek: "And Ryan Fitzpatrick keeps his job for one more year." Kind of a shame Newton didn't fall to the Bills, really. That could have been special. Do they go Kaepernick in the 2nd?

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4. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, WR, Georgia

Debatable. NFP's Wes Bunting loved it: "Best pick in the draft so far goes to the #Bengals...they get the best player in the draft at four in AJ Green & fill a huge need..." Granted, AJ Green is virtually bust-proof, but that will be put to the test with the roster disaster brewing in Cincinnati. Next year's #1 overall pick?

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5. Arizona Cardinals: Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

Tim calls this pick "The Bradford Effect." Clearly a "best player available" pick in my mind, but a luxury for Arizona considering the staggering depth of needs on the O-line, defensive middle, and (ahem) at quarterback. No way they address even half their needs in this draft. Should have traded out. Meanwhile, Blaine Gabbert makes his first appearance on the ESPN SadCam....

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6. Atlanta Falcons (via CLE): Julio Jones, WR, Alabama

Jaws dropped. A stunning deal. Clearly, Atlanta wasn't content to wait for Ryan Broyles or Justin Blackmon in 2012, and needed an elite complement to Roddy White... but wow, what a package of picks they gave up. This was the deal Arizona needed to make, honestly. What a win for Cleveland. And a part of me is now a Falcons fan...

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7. San Francisco 49ers: Aldon Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri

This didn't help our floor-bruised jaws any. Clearly he's a special talent, but I hadn't seen Aldon mocked higher than #11 to the Texans. Fits a pattern, though, says Brennan: "Two picks that could effect Bradford's development. Peterson to the Cardinals and Smith to the 49ers." Aldon becomes the first non-SEC player to be picked, and Prince Amukamara is officially "falling" right now. Meanwhile, Blaine Gabbert tries to grimace out a smile on the ESPN SadCam. It looks more like he smells a fart.

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8. Tennessee Titans: Jake Locker, QB, Washington

Blaine Gabbert has just been leapfrogged. So has Al Davis, as Titans owner Bud Adams is now officially The Crazy Old Guy of the NFL Draft. Says Brennan: "Locker could easily be the second coming of Kyle Boller." I think a Vince Young comparison is not out of the question, either -- both are far better runners than throwers, though at least VY had some college success to bank on.

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The first round of the draft is a wrap, and UNC's Robert Quinn is the newest St. Louis Ram.  There were definitely some surprises, reaches, and drops in the first round. With that said, I'd like to take a look at some key prospects the Rams could possibly target with their second round pick, that would provide value while filling a need as well.  

DE - Da'Quan Bowers
Yes, I know we took a defensive end in the first round, but we all know Spags loves his pass rushers, and Bowers is officially in full free-fall.  Not even a month ago, several mock drafts had him going as high as number one overall, but concerns over health in his knee have him tumbling.    Could the Rams double-dip at DE?  I doubt it, but it would be an intriguing pick, despite his possible injury status. Think of it like this; let's say Bowers = Julius Peppers, but injury cuts his career down to five years.  Would you not spend a second round pick on 5 years of Julius Peppers?

DT - Stephen Paea
Paea could step in and immediately contribute at the defensive tackle position for the Rams.  Gary Gibson was OK last year, and Fred Robbins is getting long in the tooth, so some depth is needed at this position.  Paea offers great explosion and solid strength.  He's a little short for what you would like out of a one-gap or three-technique defensive tackle, but makes up for that with a relentless motor.  Spags would enjoy having the flexibility that Paea and Quinn would bring to the defensive line.

RB - Mikel Leshoure
As everyone knows, the Rams need a running back.  There should be plenty opportunities for the Rams to get one at some point in this draft, but my choice would be Leshoure, whom I believe could end up being the best running back in the draft five years down the road.  Many think we need strictly a change of pace back.
 I slightly disagree. If you were to read the reports about him, he'd actually remind you a lot of Steven Jackson in not only size, but running style.   What Leshoure would allow the Rams to do is relieve Jackson of some of his early down carries, allowing him to play more on third-down/passing downs.  Leshoure, like Jackson, brings a good combo of power and size. He's a good interior runner who is hard to tackle, and always falls forward.  He could provide relief to Jackson, and also be the back of the future.

CB - Brandon Harris
Harris was a borderline first round prospect, so he would be a solid pick if he lasted to the Rams in the second round.  He lacks the size that Spags looks for in his cornerbacks, but I wonder if his talent exceeds that in Spags eyes.  Harris has shown the ability to be a solid to shutdown cover corner while at The U.  He has excellent burst, and also has the speed to recover.  He is also a willing tackler.  I wonder if the Rams like Aaron Williams of Texas better because of his size, but to me, Harris is the better cornerback prospect.  

OLB - Martez Wilson
Outside linebacker is also a noted need for the Rams.  Wilson would be able to step right in at either OLB position, and provide some speed to the linebacking corps (4.45 -40).  He is fluid in the hips, which should make him sufficient in coverage, but his speed also helps him get to the quarterback on blitzes.  He's also a solid tackler and a good run defender.  If drafted, I would put him at the weakside position.  He'd be able to roam the field with Laurinaitis and be a tackling machine, while also collecting a few sacks a year.  

If all five of these prospects were on the board when the Rams come on the clock, my pick would be between Brandon Harris and Mikel Leshoure.  I would lean towards Harris because the draft appears to be deeper at RB than CB.  

 

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