5 St. Louis Rams Rumors You Need to Know For 2014 NFL Draft

By Anthony Blake

5 St. Louis Rams Rumors You Need to Know For 2014 NFL Draft

St. Louis Rams 2014 NFL Draft
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

With an incredible 12 picks heading into the 2014 NFL Draft, there’s no doubt the St. Louis Rams will be playing the role of a mover and shaker this May. GM Les Snead has already proven his ability to trade up or down the board to suit his needs, and it would be a complete shock if the team didn’t make some deals this time around as well. Here are the five biggest rumors concerning the team holding the keys to the draft at this very moment.

5. Jake Matthews Preferred If Forced To Stay at No. 2

Jake Matthews 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

5. Jake Matthews Preferred If Forced To Stay at No. 2

Jake Matthews 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Many have pegged Greg Robinson as the tackle de jour for the Rams if forced to pick at No. 2 overall rather than trading down, but Jake Matthews just seems like the smarter pick. He has a proven pedigree with the bloodlines for success that head coach Jeff Fisher is familiar with from coaching his father with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise.

4. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Tops List at No. 13

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

4. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Tops List at No. 13

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Top notch safeties are a necessity in today’s NFL, and the Rams have been devoid of them for quite some time. T.J. McDonald is likely to develop into a solid in-the-box type of guy, but the team still needs a center fielder to thwart opposing passing attacks. Many personnel executives are rumored to have said that the Rams wouldn’t pass on Ha Ha Clinton-Dix if he’s available at No. 13 overall, and I’m inclined to agree with them.

3. Jadeveon Clowney Still an Intriguing Possibility

Jadeveon Clowney 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
Getty Images

3. Jadeveon Clowney Still an Intriguing Possibility

Jadeveon Clowney 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
Getty Images

Of course it would be overkill to take another pass rusher on a team with Robert Quinn, Chris Long and William Hayes as a rotational QB crusher, but teams can never have too many skilled terrors off the edge. If Clowney is available at No. 2 overall, the phone is sure to be ringing off the hook. But if the offers aren’t what the Rams are looking for, don’t be surprised if they pull the trigger on this once in a generation talent.

2. Stephon Tuitt Could Be This Year’s Alec Ogletree

Stephon Tuitt 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

2. Stephon Tuitt Could Be This Year’s Alec Ogletree

Stephon Tuitt 2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Last year the Rams traded down the board to snag arguably their most impactful rookie in linebacker Alec Ogletree. This year it could happen again with a defensive player in Notre Dame’s defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt who is projected to go in the bottom half of Round 1 or beginning of Round 2. Pairing him with Michael Brockers inside would allow the team to shed the bloated salary of Kendall Langford and get younger defensively.

1. Houston Texans Will Ultimately Decide Team’s Fate

2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

1. Houston Texans Will Ultimately Decide Team’s Fate

2014 NFL Draft St. Louis Rams
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The keys to the draft obviously belong to the Texans, and if they take a QB as many believe they will, that leaves the incomparable Jadeveon Clowney available for the Rams to pick or deal at No. 2. There’s no question another Robert Griffin III heist would be preferable for this team, but such a scenario would open up a Pandora’s Box of possibilities. Clearly the Rams are poised to maximize their haul in this year’s draft one way or another.

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