2013 NFL Draft Must Yield Starters for St. Louis Rams

As the St. Louis Rams prepare for the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft, many different theories on how the club will approach the league’s annual selection will be tossed around. Some are based on Head Coach Jeff Fisher’s past draft experience while others are purely centered on team needs. The logical ideology will likely be somewhere in between and here is what that could mean for the team come April.

It is no secret that the Rams need help keeping quarterback Sam Bradford upright in the pocket. Although the 35 times he was sacked this year was down substantially from the total number of sacks that the team allowed in 2011, that doesn’t take into account the number of times he was under substantial pressure and forced to either throw the ball too quickly or make a bad decision as a result.

Coach Fisher may not be used to taking an offensive lineman in round one, but he isn’t used to having multiple first round picks either. General Manager Les Snead showed his prowess in terms of personnel last offseason and fans should expect that to show through again this time around. The Rams need to find at least one if not two capable starters or at least competitive players for along their offensive front in this year’s draft and round one is a great place to start.

Alabama guard Chance Warmack continues to make the most sense for this team that wants to remain a run-heavy offense. Adding a top-tier guard of his caliber would instantly improve running back Steven Jackson and his value in fantasy football. Just imagining a Rams rushing attack with Warmack paving the way for Jackson is a tantalizing proposition. There’s no doubt that his presence would instantly upgrade the team in terms of pass blocking as well. Having started 39 games during his time with the Crimson Tide, Warmack has proven himself on the field as a durable and impressive all-around blocker.

While the Rams may not come out and disclose their tactics in the upcoming draft for all to see, there is no denying the fact that they will be looking for an offensive lineman at some point. There is no reason to try and outthink the room by drafting a player that isn’t NFL ready right away. Warmack just makes too much sense not to end up putting on a Rams cap on stage when April 25th rolls around.

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