Rams Mock: Fourth Round Sean Spence

The first round of the real draft is only two short days away, and I just can’t wait. This is my favorite time of year, and all this mock draft discussion is only making me more excited. Let’s move ahead with our Rams mock, and tonight we are up to the fourth round. These are the picks that the Rams have struggled with in recent years, so hopefully the Jeff Fisher regime can find some impact players in the middle rounds.

With the 96th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Rams select Sean Spence, LB Miami.

There are certainly both positives and negatives with Spence. He is lightning fast and a great tackler, and he is pretty solid in coverage as well. He has a great nose for the ball, and he finishes plays.

Now, the negatives. He’s small. Spence is only 5-foot-11, 231 lbs, and although he played in the middle at “The U”, he’s going to play outside in the pros. He had trouble getting off blocks in college, and that issue doesn’t translate well to the NFL.

Even though he’s undersized, I think he would be a great pick here in the fourth. If he was bigger, he’d probably go in the first round, and I love the athleticism and toughness he brings. The Rams have struggled at OLB for a long time, so bringing in a talent like Spence will help. He projects as a plus special teams player as well, so that should help his value. He’s certainly not a sure thing, but the skills he brings to the table make him a nice pick in the fourth.