Before the St. Louis Rams move forward and make their selections in the 2012 NFL Draft, it is always a good idea to look back at the previous draft class to identify any needs that may have emerged early. The crew at SB Nation's St. Louis Rams blog, Turf Show Times, has taken a closer look at the team's 2011 NFL Draft picks and dished out individual grades. Rookie defensive end Robert Quinn played well down the stretch opposite Chris Long, but high picks Lance Kendricks and Austin Pettis did not fare as well. Pettis got nailed with a PED suspension, while Kenricks just plain didn't play well enough to justify his second-round status yet.
Here is a look at some of the grades and analysis:
Robert Quinn: B+
Robert Quinn had a very impressive rookie campaign if you consider the fact that he didn't play football his senior season at North Carolina due to a NCAA suspension. He recored 5 sacks coming off the bench behind James Hall and he got his hands on three punts, though only one was ruled a block. He was rewarded with more playing time toward the end of the year and even a few starts. He looked very explosive off the line for the Rams and is a candidate for a breakout season in 2012.
For more on Kendricks and Pettis make sure to read the full story.
Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit Turf Show Times. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.