2013 NFL Mock Draft (Week 15 Edition): The St. Louis Rams Select…

Oct 13, 2012; Columbia, MO, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide running back Eddie Lacy (42) is congratulated by offensive linesman Chance Warmack (65) and tight end Michael Williams (89) after Lacy scores in the first half of the game against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. The Crimson Tide won 42-10. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Although the St. Louis Rams are not out of the playoff hunt yet, the combination of wins and losses needed to sneak into the playoffs is pretty complex. The Rams situation is kind of like an obese mare lining up in the cages for the Kentucky Derby: it probably won’t win, but there is a chance, if they rest of the competition falls down, that it could still win the race. Regardless, the push out of the playoffs will send most fans attention towards the 2013 NFL Draft, something that has typically occurred halfway through the season, when the Rams had been officially eliminated from playoff contention by Week 7 of the regular season.

As mentioned before, Fansided.com will be pumping out a weekly NFL Mock Draft, up until the big day in April. You can check out this week’s  full draft here.

Without further pause, with the 15th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, “the St. Louis Rams select…”

Jake Matthews, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M

"Sam Bradford need some help, so the Rams can help him out by grabbing the other offensive tackle from Texas A&M. When you play on the same team as Luke Joeckel and are still able to stand out on the film, you know you have the chops to transition to the NFL and make an impact. Matthews would be just what Philip Rivers ordered."

This is the same player the St. Louis Rams were slotted to pick last week, and with good reason. Jake Matthews will likely continue to be linked with the St. Louis Rams unless his stock drastically increases at the conclusion of the season, which is entirely possible. Most see Matthews as the second best tackle in the draft class, sitting behind teammate, Luke Joeckel. Bradford’s beating on Sunday showed why the St. Louis Rams will need to spend at least one of their first rounders on a top offensive line, and this could very well be the spot.

Again, thanks to the trade with the Washington Redskins, the St. Louis Rams will get two picks in the first round. Sadly, with the ‘Skins continuing to win, that pick is falling lower and lower down the draft board. Currently, the mocks have Washington picking in the 19th spot, meaning that the Redskins did not make the playoffs in this simulation. With that 19th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, “the St. Louis Rams select…”

Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama

"Warmack is one of the top prospects in this year’s draft class, but he slides because of position. Just a year ago, many considered guard David DeCastro to be a top ten talent, but he fell to the Steelers at the bottom of round one. I did have St. Louis going OT with their first pick, but that won’t scare them away from Warmack who is too good to pass up. In 2010, the same draft that the Rams selected Sam Bradford, the 49ers took back-to-back first-round offensive lineman and it changed the attitude of that team. The same strategy should be welcomed in St. Louis."

This is my personal favorite offensive lineman in the draft, and, again, with good reasoning. Warmack just received nearly every possible honor as a senior at the University of Alabama, including being named to the AP All-America First Team. Warmack is good against the run, using his relatively short stature to gain leverage on the defensive tackles and anchoring them in the pass rush. He is truly a monster in run blocking, with good lateral agility, making him a key blocker on traps and pulls. With Scott Wells, Harvey Dahl, and Chance Warmack, the St. Louis Rams would have one of the nastiest interior offensive lines in the NFL, bar none. If a Top 10 talent falls to the St. Louis Rams this late in the draft, you can beat the house and kids that Snead and Fisher will be running to the podium to hand in this pick.