2013 NFL Mock Draft (April 9th Edition): The St. Louis Rams Select…

While the days are slow to tick away, the NFL Draft is, in fact, getting closer and closer. The countdown is now notched at “16 days,” meaning the rumor mill is about to start churning, as front offices begin leaking information about their “interests” and blowing smoke screens in an attempt to garner leverage for trades or push other teams out of contention for their guy.

Fansided.com has been pumping out mocks since early November, fine tuning them as more and more information is gathered each team. With the NFL Combine complete and player Pro Days and pre-draft free agency nearly wrapped up, mockers should have much better idea of the prospects and teams’ needs. So, with the 16th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select…

Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia

"Tavon Austin is one of the best playmakers in this year’s draft class and the Rams are in desperate need of adding weapons for Sam Bradford."

No one should be surprised by this pick at this point in the offseason, with Tavon Austin being linked to the St. Louis Rams in nearly every mock for the last three months. However, with Austin’s stock rising after an impressive showing at the West Virginia Pro Day, many have him being taken off the board in the Top 15, including Mel Kiper. Should Austin fall this far, it would be hard to imagine the St. Louis Rams not jumping out of the “war room” and running up to the podium to hand in this pick. Still, one has to be, at least, slightly concerned about taking such an undersized wide receiver in the 1st round when there is still a gaping hole on the outside left by Brandon Gibson. But, I digress…

With Tavon Austin on board, and with Jared Cook and Jake Long already sitting at Rams Park, St. Louis will likely look to the defensive side of the football with their second 1st rounder. With the 22nd pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Rams select…

Alec Ogletree, Linebacker, Georgia

"St. Louis needs to focus on adding a linebacker and offensive playmaker in the first round. With their two first round picks they can go about that a number of ways. By taking Austin with the first pick, the Rams now have the freedom to take the best linebacker available."

Alec Ogletree would not only be the best linebacker available at this point in the draft, but likely the best overall player on the board. Kevin Minter and Arthur Brown have both recently been pushed into the 1st round, but neither player hold a light to the skill set of Ogletree. The St. Louis Rams have made a habit out of biting on “fallen” players over the last couple years, taking Robert Quinn (medical concerns) in 2011 with the 14th overall pick and grabbing Michael Brockers (rawness/inexperience) and Janoris Jenkins (off-the-field concerns) in last year’s draft. Ogletree would fit nicely into the mix, and be instantly slotted into the depth chart as the starting weakside outside linebacker, pushing Jo-Lonn Dunbar to the strongside. Ogletree, as a former safety, is excellent in coverage, and possesses the speed and quickness to contain quarterbacks in the NFC West, like Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson.