National Football League

Breaking down Rams' best-case scenarios for '15 NFL Draft

Published Apr. 23, 2015 1:44 p.m. ET

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ST. LOUIS -- One week from today, 32 NFL teams will go on the clock, and the infinite speculation of who-goes-where in the draft will become a finite reality.

Until then, it's anyone's educated guess.

The St. Louis Rams currently hold the 10th and 41st picks through the first two rounds. The team boasts a jaw-dropping defensive front and an offense that needs help yesterday -- certainly on the line, and possibly at the wide receiver position, where Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt have done well but leave room for a potential No. 1 receiver. Next week's draft, if the cards fall right, could go a long way toward fixing both problems. 

In fact, Dan Shonka of Ourlads' NFL Scouting Services thinks it could be a promising draft for St. Louis. 

"I think they could get three starters at 10, 41 and 72 (in the third round)," he says. "It's just a matter of how they come off the board and who they decide on."

With that in mind, here are several best-case scenarios for the Rams through the first two rounds.

BEST-CASE SCENARIOS, ROUND 1 (pick 10):

Amari Cooper (Alabama) or Kevin White (West Virginia), wide receivers

They're the top-rated receivers in the draft, and Shonka, though he admits it will take some luck, could see either one available at the 10th slot. He suggests that quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, two highly rated interior defensive linemen, as many as four pass rushers and perhaps one offensive lineman could be taken before a wide receiver goes off the board -- which means the Rams, sitting at 10, might get their No. 1 receiver. 

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Not a bad way to welcome new quarterback Nick Foles to St. Louis.

Brandon Scherff (Iowa) and Andrus Peat (Stanford), offensive line

Should neither wide receiver be available, two other best-case scenarios for the Rams would fall on the offensive line: guard Brandon Scherff and tackle Andrus Peat.

Will Scherff happen? Questionable. Scherff is currently the highest-rated offensive lineman on the NFL's draft tracker, and if an O-lineman goes before the 10th pick, it will likely be him. But he also gives the Rams help just where they need it most. Tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells aren't returning, and Greg Robinson, a rookie last season, is still developing.  

"I think that would be a home run for them. It would give them the opportunity to provide protection for whomever's going to be their quarterback," Russ Lande of GM Jr Scouting says of the Rams landing Scherff. "If they didn't want him at right tackle, they could end up putting him at guard, or even at center."

Shonka also likes offensive tackle Andrus Peat from Stanford, though he thinks the Giants might snag him with the ninth pick.

"The Rams could take him and then put him at right tackle," Shonka says, "and then, if (Greg) Robinson can't do it at left, maybe go ahead and put Peat over there, 'cause he's used to playing left tackle and everything in a pro-style system, and then put Robinson at right tackle."

Regardless of whose name is on the back of the jersey, the odds are the Rams' 10th pick will be an offensive lineman.

"I think it's probably the position that's most likely to be selected, if you were to assign each position a percentage chance of getting picked," Lande says.

After all, as Shonka points out: "It doesn't matter who your quarterback is if you can't protect him. It doesn't matter who your receivers are."

BEST-CASE SCENARIOS, ROUND 2:

Dorial Green-Beckham (Missouri), wide receiver

He's tied for the sixth-best grade on the NFL draft tracker, but he's also had a few run-ins with the law, which may cause teams looking for a sure bet early to pass him by.

But in Round 2, Lande could see the Rams taking the risk.

"Knowing Les Snead and Jeff Fisher's willingness with guys like Janoris Jenkins and Alec Ogletree, and bringing back a guy like Kenny Britt, their willingness to take gambles on character guys, I think they would go for Dorial Green-Beckham," Lande says. "If he's sitting there at 41, I don't know how you pass on him. He's a freak talent. And at least everything I've been told is, although he has his issues, he's not a bad kid inherently."

Jay Ajayi (Boise State), running back

The Rams' offense finished 28th overall in the league last year in total offensive yards, and their running game, though it ranked better than their passing, finished only 20th. While it's unclear if a running back would be the Rams' second-round priority, Shonka thinks Ajayi could be a "big-time running back" for them, and currently has the Boise State product penciled in for the Rams at 41.

"He's a very powerful type runner," Shonka says.

Cedric Ogbuehi (Texas A&M) and D.J. Humphries (Florida), offensive line

Shonka admits Humphries may go late in the first round, but adds that this draft features a cluster of guys with comparable-level talent at their respective positions, which means, depending on which directions teams go, Humphries may be a "possibility" at 41, and certainly a best-case scenario. Ogbuehi, meanwhile, suffered an ACL tear in Texas A&M's bowl game, but Shonka likes his upside.

"This guy's got a lot of talent, and he's athletic," he says.

And, just for fun, one totally unrealistic, but definitely best-case scenario:

What if the impossible suddenly becomes possible, and Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is still on the board at 10?

"That ain't gonna happen," Lande says, while admitting the situation would be "perfect."

"If he's there, that, to me, is a spot you have to take him in," Lande says. "And I'm leery of him, because I think he's a project, because of the adjustment he's gonna have going to a traditional offense.

"But I believe with the Rams, I mean, they have the tools to have an elite, top five defense in the league, and they've got some good, young running backs. ... If they could run the ball a lot, with Mariota's athleticism, he could avoid some of the pressure that's gonna come from that offensive line. And if he's just avoiding mistakes, they could probably be an above-average offense, or at least average. And that would probably be enough to get them to eight or nine wins, because of that defense and (kicker Greg Zuerlein)."

Landry says Mariota could be a "rock star" in terms of his ability to infuse life into the Rams' offense, which begs another question: Would a best-case scenario involve the Rams trading up for him?

"I don't think they would try to get to two," Lande says, while pointing out Snead and Fisher aren't afraid of taking risks. "But I will tell you, if he doesn't go two, and he gets down to that five area, I think then they will realistically think about it."

Shonka points out, however, that the Rams have only six picks in this year's draft, which might preclude trading up.

"I don't think you want to give a king's ransom to go up there," he says. 

You can follow Elisabeth Meinecke on Twitter at @lismeinecke or email her at ecmeinecke@gmail.com.

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