Cornerback Janoris Jenkins was one of the most controversial players in the 2012 NFL Draft. He was seen as arguably the best cover corner available, but his myriad off the field issues likely scared off a number of teams. The team that ended up rolling the dice with Jenkins was the St. Louis Rams, and according to general manager Les Snead, it was because of their unique position in this year's draft.
After trading out of the No. 2 overall slot and then trading down twice more on draft day, the Rams ended up with three of the second round's first 13 picks. This, as Snead told Sports Illustrated's Peter King, made the Rams feel comfortable about taking Jenkins, as the top of their draft still has a good chance of shaking out in their favor even if Jenkins proves to be a failure.
If Snead is right, then Jenkins is something close to a win-win. Either he turns out to be a great player and the handwringing over his off-the-field issues looks trivial or he fails but the rest of the 2012 class makes up for it. Of course, the latter is contingent upon Snead hitting the bullseye with his other top picks.
For more on the 2012 NFL Draft, visit SB Nation St. Louis' NFL Draft StoryStream. For more in-depth coverage of the Rams' 2012 draft haul, head over to Turf Show Times. For league-wide coverage of the NFL Draft, visit SB Nation's NFL news hub and Mocking The Draft.