St. Louis Rams 2015 Mock Draft Roundup: Post Regular Season

Nov 28, 2014; Iowa City, IA, USA;Iowa Hawkeyes running back Jordan Canzeri (33) follows the blocking of teammate offensive lineman Brandon Scherff (68) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

For many fans, the New Year brings new hope to their favorite NFL franchise. At this point, all but eight teams have shifted their focus to the offseason, making the tough decisions about free agents and working with scouts to formulate their Draft boards. Included in that grouping are the St. Louis Rams, who finished the season with a promising 6-10 record, despite playing the 3rd-hardest schedule in the NFL this season without their quarterback, who re-tore his ACL in the preseason. Many believe the Rams are “one Draft away” from playoff contention, putting a lot of pressure on Jeff Fisher and Les Snead to head into training camp with no glaring holes on the roster. Taking that into consideration, many will point to the opening round of the 2015 NFL Draft, where the Rams currently hold the No.10 overall pick. In this inaugural segment, we’ll take a look at some of the top mock draft to see who they Rams might have in mind…

Walter Football (12/30/2014)

"OT/G Brandon Scherff, Iowa The Rams still have some holes on their offensive line. Jake Long’s health is a serious concern, so there’s a hole at the guard spot that Greg Robinson previously occupied. Meanwhile, right tackle Joseph Barksdale is set to hit free agency this spring. Here’s a solution for either dilemma."

Bleacher Report (12/30/2014)

"LB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi StateThe No. 10 pick overall may seem early for Mississippi State linebacker Benardrick McKinney—he’s ranked in the 20s for me—but the St. Louis Rams are a team with few needs here. Without predicting a trade back, something that would make sense here, McKinney is the best fit for a team in need of an athletic linebacker next to Alec Ogletree and James Laurinaitis (or his replacement).McKinney is fast—like 4.4 fast—and instinctive. He’s not a great gap-filling linebacker, but he is a chase-and-tackle specialist with the tools to play any of the three linebacker spots without sacrificing ability.The Rams may have a bigger need at quarterback, but they aren’t going to—or shouldn’t—draft one here. That opens them up to drafting a valuable player who can fill a need."

Draft Tek (12/31/2014)

"OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&MThe Rams head into the offseason with eleven offensive linemen on their roster. Of the eleven, only four (Greg Robinson, Barrett Jones, Rodger Saffold and Demetrius Rhaney) are sure bets to be at the Rams’ training camp facilities next July. Five offensive linemen are eligible for free agency and two are possible salary cap casualties. With Brandon Scherff already off the board, the Rams opt for the highest-rated available OL. Ogbuehi is just the type of dynamic athlete coveted by the Rams under Jeff Fisher and Les Snead. The Rams demand versatility in their offensive linemen. Ogbuehi has started at guard and both tackle positions. He may have more upside than Jake Matthews and Luke Joeckel, his predecessors at Texas A&M."

Ramblin’ Fan (12/31/2014)

"OT/G Brandon Scherff, IowaRegardless of what the St. Louis Rams do with Jake Long and Joe Barksdale, they obviously need to re-tool their offensive line, which is currently plagued by a myriad of injury-prone, underperforming, stop-gap veterans. At a minimum, the Rams will need to replace Scott Wells in the center of their offensive line, and will certainly need to find someone other than Davin Joseph to protect whoever is throwing the football in 2015. Enter Brandon Scherff, arguably the top offensive line prospect in the class. The Iowa road grader is a monster in the running game, but  also possesses solid technique and the light feet necessary to excel in passing protection. More importantly, he offers the versatility the Jeff Fisher demands on the offensive line, and shouldn’t have much difficulty moving to the interior, if needed. Scherff could serve as the Rams “future” at right tackle or immediately fill a need at one of the guard spots."

As you might expect, many have the St. Louis Rams addressing their offensive line in the opening round. That is completely understandable, given the question marks surround many of the Rams 2014 starters. Joe Barksdale is an unrestricted free agent, Jake Long is coming off his second torn ACL and is due over $10 million in 2015, and Scott Wells is as good as released. That leaves only the inexperience Greg Robinson and injury-prone Rodger Saffold definitively on the line, which could use some young, fresh bodies. Luckily, this class is filled with 10-15 range offensive line prospects.