Updated 2014 NFL Draft Order: Could The Rams Trade That Deep?

Jan 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos fans hold a sign for San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver defeated San Diego 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

As the playoffs continue, the games will get harder and harder to pick, with each weekend lessening the crop of potential Super Bowl champions. However, as more squad watch their season come to an end, the 2014 NFL Draft picture gets more and more clear. Following the divisional round, the first round of the draft is now “locked” into place, with picks No.25-No.28 in tow. In case you haven’t been keeping up, here is the updated draft order:

1. Houston Texans
2. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
4. Cleveland Browns
5. Oakland Raiders
6. Atlanta Falcons
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
8. Minnesota Vikings
9. Buffalo Bills
10. Detroit Lions
11. Tennessee Titans
12. New York Giants
13. St. Louis Rams
14. Chicago Bears
15. Pittsburgh Steelers
*16. Baltimore Ravens
*17. Dallas Cowboys
18. New York Jets
19. Miami Dolphins
20. Arizona Cardinals
21. Green Bay Packers
22. Philadelphia Eagles
23. Kansas City Chiefs
24. Cincinnati Bengals
25. San Diego Chargers
26. Cleveland Browns (via Indianapolis Colts)
27. New Orleans Saints
28. Carolina Panthers

**16 and 17 to be decided by a coin flip

While those last few slots may seem irrelevant to the St. Louis Rams at this point, they could very well come into play at some point on Draft Day. Last season, Les Snead moved down from No.22 overall to No.30 overall, a trade with the Atlanta Falcons that would eventually lead to the drafting of Alec Ogletree, Stedman Bailey, and half of the bounty for Zac Stacy. It is highly unlikely that the St. Louis Rams would be able to drop that far in this draft, but the front office has given no indication that they plan on staying put in their current position, and have a history that would suggest otherwise. Moreover, there are plenty of teams that might be “in need” more than St. Louis, especially in the No.15-No.20 range. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins will all likely be willing to move around for “their guy.” If Jeff Fisher and Snead still haven’t found the player they are looking for, or think that he will be available later on (ala Ogletree), it certainly would not be out of the question for them to continue to move down the board into the bottom of the first round, where the divisional round losers could be in play. If Rams Nation has learned anything over the past couple of seasons, it is that this new regime is always willing to deal for the right price!