Matt Kalil was never the most exciting possibility for the St. Louis Rams, even when he was their default No. 2 pick in 2012 NFL Mock Drafts; they'd already expended major draft picks on Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold, and Rams fans were already itching for a playmaker to stand across the o-line from Sam Bradford. But nobody ever doubted Kalil's credentials as one of the best offensive line prospects in the last five years, and with the No. 6 pick locked in it's worth asking: Will the Rams regret not sticking around for Kalil?
WalterFootball.com's latest scouting report is certainly effusive enough. Kalil's a reliable, "elite pass protector" who combines top-shelf athleticism with a preternatural grip on technique. Wherever he goes—probably the Minnesota Vikings at No. 3—he'll immediately be an impact player.
All that suggests that Sam Bradford's going to have a harder time staying upright in 2012 now that the Rams have traded out of Kalil territory. But I don't think they regret it—at least not yet. A player like Justin Blackmon could make those sacks more worth it, and the two extra first-round picks they've snared should produce at least one useful o-lineman, if the position's still a hole.
More NFL Mock Draft analysis handpicked from SB Nation St. Louis:
- Meanwhile, ahead of Kalil, some people remain convinced Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III might trade places.
- Like the Rams, the Vikings are also being connected somewhat tenuously with Morris Claiborne.
- Of course, the real nightmare question is whether the Rams have trade down too far for even Justin Blackmon.