14. DE Robert Quinn A

This couldn’t have worked out any better for the Rams. I didn’t have them drafting a defensive end in any of my mocks, thinking they’d instead try to develop one of their late round ends from last year, something Steve Spagnuolo has experience with, but then again, I never thought that Robert Quinn would fall all the way to them at 14. James Hall is getting up there in age and Quinn is his future replacement. In the short term, Chris Long, Hall, and Quinn will form a defensive end rotation that could rival Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, and Michael Strahan, who Spags had with his Super Bowl winning Giants.

47. TE Lance Kendricks B+

Tight end was one of their biggest needs heading into the draft. They don’t have a pass catching tight end and pass catching tight ends are young quarterbacks’ best friends. Kendricks was a minor reach, but not a huge one.

78. WR Austin Pettis B-

Like tight end, wide receiver was a huge need of theirs coming into this draft. Sam Bradford simply had no weapons to work with down the stretch. If he’s going to take that next step into a top 10 playoff caliber quarterback, he’ll need some help. Pettis was a reach, however. I had a 4^th or 5^th round grade on him.

112. WR Greg Salas B

Another wide receiver for Sam Bradford. That makes sense considering how bad their receivers were last year. However, Salas was a minor reach and they had other needs before another receiver.

158. S Jermale Hines C-

Safety was one of their minor needs and Hines can play special teams, but I think they had bigger needs (outside linebacker, running back, defensive tackle) before safety and Hines was hardly a steal at this point. In fact, I think he was a pretty big reach by at least 2 rounds.

216. S Mikail Baker D

Another safety? I haven’t even heard of this one. This was a reach and didn’t fill a need. The only reason this wasn’t an F is because it’s the 7^th round.

228. OLB Jabara Williams A-

Outside linebacker was one of their major needs, but Williams was a minor reach so I can’t give this a flat A grade. He can play special teams as well.

229. CB Jonathan Nelson C

Another defensive back? At least this one fits the range decently and can play special teams.

Overall:

I really, really like their first round pick. Of course, it was a no brainer, but I’m still giving credit where credit is due. I think they reached for all 3 of the weapons they got for Sam Bradford, but I like how they are giving him all the help he needs. Some of their late round picks didn’t make sense, but I liked the selection of Jabara Williams in the 7^th and what a team does early is more important. What this team did early was add a player who was top 5 on my board for 4-3 teams in Robert Quinn. They also added 3 needed weapons for Sam Bradford. I liked that.

Grade: B+