The 2012 NFL Draft is rapidly approaching, and the St. Louis Rams have plenty of flexibility with multiple picks to fill immediate needs at wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive tackle and cornerback, so mock draft scenarios are always interesting to consider. Todd McShay of ESPN released his 2012 NFL Mock Draft recently, and he addressed five different permutations of the early first-round that would change how the Rams approach their No. 6 pick.
Scenario 1: If Kalil should somehow slip out of the top five, he's the pick. The same could be said of Richardson, as the heir-apparent to Steven Jackson.
Scenario 2: With Kalil gone, Blackmon's size, hands and playmaking ability would give Rams QB Sam Bradford a top playmaker on the outside.
Scenario 3: There is some buzz about the Rams being open to trading down yet again and acquiring even more picks, because as our draft tiers breakdown shows, if the right player is not available there is a drop-off in talent at this point.
Scenario 4: If Claiborne should fall, he would be a consideration for a team that struggled to defend the pass last season.
Scenario 5: The Rams could opt for the top defensive tackle on the board to fill a big need. In this case that would be Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox, who would bring solid versatility and production to the defensive line.
In other words, there is a very real possibility that the Rams could use that pick on a wide receiver, offensive tackle, defensive tackle or cornerback, which is part of what makes draft night so much fun.
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