2013 NFL Mock Draft (Free Agency Edition): The St. Louis Rams Select…

When it comes to mock drafting, their are typically two big period in the calendar year in which massive changes occur. One of those comes  around Week 16 or 17 of the regular season and into the first and second rounds of the playoffs, when draft positions are solidified; the other comes after the brunt of free agency has passed. Naturally, there will still be some movement among players, especially with Jake Long just now unclogging the bottle-necked grouping of free agent offensive tackles. However, most teams have done the heavy lifting, and will now have all eyes focus on April and the NFL Draft.

Fansided.com has been on top of their game with their weekly releases of mock drafts. This week, they unleashed their first 2013 NFL Mock Draft: Free Agency Edition. With their first pick, the St. Louis Rams select…

Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama

"Once considered the top guard in the draft, Warmack has fallen back a bit which is splendid news for the Rams. Warmack is still a top guard and is far better than anything St. Louis has at the moment, and his stock falling ever so slightly means the chances the Rams get the guy they want increases. Warmack would provide much needed protection for Sam Bradford and drafting him would show that the Rams are serious about winning a Super Bowl in the near future."

No one has been as consistently linked to the St. Louis Rams as Chance Warmack has over the past couple of months. Prior to the Combine, Warmack’s stock had actually pressed him higher into the Top 15, but recently he has been overtaken my Jonathan Cooper as the top offensive guard in the class. With Jake Long signed on into the foreseeable future, the St. Louis Rams now have the freedom to take the BPA, or best player available. Now that Robert Turner has been signed by the Tennessee Titans, the St. Louis Rams might be smart to sure up the interior of the line, even with Rok Watkins on the roster. Depending on the status of the board at this point, their might be better value waiting for Barrett Jones in the second round. However, no one could complain about Warmack…

With Steven Jackson and Danny Amendola moving on to greener pastures, the St. Louis Rams are in a prime position to revamp their receiving core with significantly younger, and healthier, talent. There is a majority consensus that the Rams will target a receiver at some point in the first round, although the name attached to that spots seems to vary from mock to mock. With the 22nd pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select…

DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson

"Keenan Allen used to be penciled in here, but his knee is scaring teams off and he’s likely going to fall way back in the first round and may not be worth taking even at No. 22 overall. But DeAndre Hopkins is a guy quickly rising on draft boards, and after some convincing, I’m drinking the Kool-Aid. Hopkins is tall, he’s dangerous and he can provide Sam Bradford with the deep threat he needs. Plus, without Danny Amendola in town Bradford needs a target to throw to and Hopkins could be the first piece of a new, younger and explosive offense for the Rams."

“First piece of a new, younger and explosive offense…”? Really? How about Brian Quick, Chris Givens, Daryl Richardson, Isaiah Pead, or even Lance Kendricks? Anyways…

Before Tavon Austin and Cordarrelle Patterson fans get their panties in a wad, just note that in his mock, they have Patterson going to Buffalo in the 8th slot and Tavon Austin going to the Bears, who pick 20th (there is also a strong likelihood that the Pittsburgh Steelers would snatch Austin at 17, if available). So, with the consensus top-two receivers off the board, Hopkins and Keenan Allen are next two in line, at least if you are expecting a wide receiver with this pick. With players like Alec Ogletree still available at this slot, it seems like a reach to go after a “Class B” wide out his early in the first round. If the St. Louis Rams find themselves in this predicament, the smart money would be on them trading out of the spot. Baltimore and Green Bay are prime suspects in a trade scenario, considering both have some large holes that need to be filled if they plan on staying in contention. It definitely wouldn’t hurt to scoop up another 2nd or 3rd rounder in 2014, right?