Mock Drafts are always hard to do and getting all 32 picks right are just as likely as filling out a perfect bracket during the NCAA March Madness tournament, but here’s what I think the St. Louis Rams should do with their first two picks in the first round at 16 and 22. The Rams are in a good spot at 16 and 22. Teams that pick in the mid-late to late in the first round might try to trade up, so don’t be surprised if the Rams move down once again this year as they did multiple times last year.

With the 16th pick the Rams will probably be looking at trying to get Kenny Vaccaro, Chance Warmack, Cordarrelle Patterson, Tavon Austin, or Alec Ogletree.  You could make a case for all of these players except for maybe Ogletree, to be gone when the Rams pick. In that case it would not surprise me if the Rams tried to trade down. When all is said and done though, the Rams will end up taking . Many have Vaccaro as the top ranked safety in this year’s draft, and some have even him being taken in the top 15. With the risk of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals taking the Vacarro before the Rams pick at 22, the Rams are in perfect position to take Vacarro. Austin would also be a good option, but the there are too many teams choosing before the Rams that won’t let Austin slip by them, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, or Miami Dolphins.  Patterson would also be a good option, but the Rams already have a project in Brian Quick that they would be giving up on if they took Patterson. Patterson could also be taken by the time the Rams pick at 16.  The Rams are pretty slim at the safety position and Vaccaro would be a great addition. The Rams could also draft another safety in the later rounds to add some depth.

With the 22^nd pick the Rams could pick Eddie Lacy, DeAndre Hawkins, Keenan Allen, and Alec Ogletree. After a long discussion and taking all the time they have, the Rams take Keenan Allen. There is no secret  that the Rams need a wide receiver after the losses of Brandon Gibson and Danny Amendola, and Allen would make a great replacement. Allen has the ability to be a difference maker right away and has the versatility to play both in the slot and on the outside. The Rams could also take Lacy here as they try to replace Steven Jackson, but they could wait later on to take Marcus Lattimore.

If the Rams ended day one with Vaccaro and Allen as new additions to their roster, they would be in pretty good shape. Vacarro and Allen would be able to start day one and contribute. Vacarro and Allen fill needs for the Rams. If Vacarro and Allen work out, the Rams will have no problem contending for a playoff spot next season.

There has been much speculation that the Rams will draft Tavon Austin or Cordarrelle Patterson if either of them were to drop to the Rams at 16. However, Austin’s size is very concerning. With the Rams playing in a physical hard hitting NFC West the Rams could be getting themselves into another Danny Amendola injury situation by drafting Austin.  Austin would also be limited to the slot which is where the Rams are likely to put newly acquired TE Jared Cook. Austin does present good speed and does have the ability to return punts. However, the Rams would do better by drafting another position of need at 16 rather than use it on Austin or Patterson.

Cordarrelle Patterson also sounds like a nice option for the Rams at 16. Patterson has amazing physical attributes, but catches the ball with his body way too often. Patterson would also take a few years to develop like Brian Quick, and let’s face it, Sam Bradford doesn’t have a few years to sit around and wait for yet another receiver to develop. Patterson also isnt a great route runner and only played one year at Tennessee against higher level competition.

A receiver that the Rams should consider taking however, is Keenan Allen. Allen would be a great option at 22 for the Rams. He has the versatility to play in the slot or on the outside unlike Austin. During his college career, Allen lit it up with weak quarterback play. He has great hands and attacks the ball. He is also physical which is what the Rams need at the position. Allen also has the ability to step right in and be the number 1 receiver Bradford has so desperately asked for and needed since his rookie year.

Finally DeAndre Hopkins is another receiver the Rams should seriously consider taking at 22. Hopkins is an explosive receiver that can be dominant on the outside. Rams receivers struggled much of last year creating seperation for Sam Bradford which is something that Patterson excells at by using his speed and physicality.  Unlike Patterson, Hopkins is a solid route runner and would definitley be able to come in right away and produce. Hopkins doesnt have much downside, just some consistency in the blocking game and Hopkins would be a solid addition.

Allen and Hopkins seem to be the best options for the Rams. With the losses of Amendola and Gibson, Hopkins or Allen would be a nice replacement. Being in the NFC West, Hopkins and Allen are both physical and would finally give Bradford that receiver that he can just throw the ball in the general area and let his receiver make a play.

September15, 2012; Columbus, OH, USA; California Golden Bears wide receiver Keenan Allen (21) breaks a tackle attempted by Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Orhian Johnson (19) at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE

It’s certainly safe to say that the St. Louis Rams have struggled in recent years, picking up players in the later rounds of the draft. Bradley Fletcher,Josh Hull and Austin Pettis are the only players still on the Rams roster, drafted from rounds 3 to 7 in the 2006-2011 draft. Overall, 2012 draft class has shown a lot of promise. Michael Brockers is looking solid in the middle, Janoris Jenkins is looking lethal on the outside, Greg Zeurlein has proven to everyone that he will be a future Pro Bowler and Daryl Richardson looks to be a great change of pace for Steven Jackson.

It’s hard to break down what Brian Quick and Isaiah Pead will provide for the Rams in the future. Isaiah Pead didn’t lose the job of back up running back, he was simply outplayed by Daryl Richardson who had a great preseason. Quick had no one to lose his job to. He has had minimal game time in a very weak receiving core and with Danny Amendola being sidelined for up to six weeks, it will be good to see Quick get some catches. At the moment, he’s just a guy with ‘potential’. The word ‘potential,’ must frustrate a lot of NFL fans. No one cares what a player could do, fans want to know what he will do. Rams defense has looked dangerous so far this year and it feels as though the offense is one or two good players away from being a top 10 offensive team.

Two players will be analyzed weekly (one from defense and one from offense) based on their current form in college football.

OFFENSE
Keenan Allen (6 foot 3 , 195 pounds)
Wide Receiver (University of California)
Danny Amendola is one of the best slot receivers in the NFL, Brandon Gibson is continually improving on the outside and Chris Givens is a threat whenever he walks out onto the field. The fact is, Sam Bradford doesn’t have the go to receiver on the outside, that he would love to have. Look at the past 10 Super Bowl winners – they all had a wide receiver who played a big role through out the season.

Keenan Allen can be that wide receiver on the outside, who can take the Rams deep into the playoffs and maybe even a Super Bowl. Last year, Allen had 98 receptions for 1343 yards and six touchdowns in his sophomore season. Many people thought that this year, Allen’s numbers would have had a slight decrease due to being changed into a possession receiver on a struggling football team. It’s now a third of the way through the season and Allen’s stats look to overcome his fantastic sophomore season, with 41 receptions for 467 yards and four touchdowns.

Allen has the athleticism and speed to be a fantastic weapon on an up and coming Rams team. If the Rams can add a guy like Allen on their offense, they will make a lot of noise for years to come.

DEFENSE
Star Lotulelei (6 foot 3, 325 pounds)
Defensive Tackle (University of Utah)
It seems like the Rams have the intentions of picking up a defensive tackle in every single draft, but this year will be a little different. If Star Lotulelei is still remaining when the Rams are drafting (assuming Rams are drafting in the middle), this time it doesn’t become a case of need, rather a case of want. But what about Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford? What about them? It doesn’t hurt to have three studs rotating at the defensive line, does it? No one will be more happy than Jeff Fisher if Lotulelei falls into his lap. Fisher’s past shows that he has been successful in turning a team’s defensive line into an elite force in the NFL.

Star Lotulelei’s name is completely relevant to what he has been in college football and what he will be in the NFL. It wouldn’t hurt the Rams to draft a stud defensive tackle, as lets not forget that the Rams have been struggling against the run this season with an exception of one game out of five. Rams are currently ranked 18th against the run and Lotulelei will help put the Rams up into the top 10. Last season Lotulelei had a breakout season with 44 tackles and one and a half sacks. With only a third of the college season gone, he is far from looking like a one year wonder. He has already managed to rack up 21 tackles with one sack on a poor performing Utah football team.

Lotulelei will help Chris Long and Robert Quinn (like they need help) as he has the ability to draw two offensive linemen, allowing Long and Quinn more room to work with. He has the perfect size for a defensive tackle and possesses the ability to bullrush any opponent. Lotulelei is also deceivingly quick with great explosion, regardless of his size.

Check out previous draft previews.