Ryan Van Bibber of SB Nation Pro Football has released his latest iteration of the 2012 NFL Mock Draft, suggesting the St. Louis Rams (2-10) may look to take the best incoming offensive lineman, OT Matt Kalil of the USC Trojans, at No. 2:
2. St. Louis Rams - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
The Rams were already supposed to have their cornerstone offensive tackle, but Jason Smith, the second pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, has been a severe disappointment.
Jason Smith, currently one of the Rams' 14 players on injured reserve, missed much of his rookie season with severe concussion issues and has found himself again on the IR in 2011 with the same injury. With growing knowledge of the severity of concussions, there is an outside chance Smith may have played his last game with the Rams.
Van Bibber says Kalil could easily be the No. 2 overall pick that Smith was never able to become:
Kalil looks like the best tackle prospect to come along since Jake Long. The Rams can finally give Sam Bradford the protection he needs. Rodger Saffold can move to the right side and instantly improve a unit that nearly got Sam Bradford killed this year.
Before the 2011 college football season even began, Mocking the Draft declared Kalil "one of the top prospects for the 2012 NFL Draft" -- not just a top lineman prospect, but a top prospect.
For more on the Rams, check out Turf Show Times, SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog. For more details on the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, be sure to drop by Mocking the Draft.