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Who moved to the head of the NFL class during the draft? Find out with FanHouse's team-by-team 2009 Draft Grades.The Rams entered the draft with far too many holes to be filled with simply seven picks. Steve Spagnuolo entered the Gateway City with the task of returning the Rams to national prominence after they have fallen apart in just a few years. There are some talented pieces in place, and they've addressed some needs this offseason, but many more positions need attention. The logical starting point -- because they've done it before with Orlando Pace -- was a stalwart left tackle. Jason Smith was taken to fulfill this role with the second overall pick.
There are still a few football personnel scouts who like Eugene Monroe better, and still others who think the Rams should have taken Mark Sanchez and built around the quarterback. I firmly believe you have to have a foundation in place before the quarterback, so lineman was the pick. Smith is going to be a very good tackle in this league, and, if anyone has seen an interview with Smith, he should be an instant hit in St. Louis.
When I said Smith and James Laurinaitis would form the perfect first two round picks for the Rams, I really didn't think they'd end up landing the latter. Now that they did, I'm not so sure they made the correct choice. Rey Maualuga inexplicably fell to the second round, and I think he would have been a bitter fit for the Rams. It's not that the Rams made a bad choice, but Maualuga will likely end up being the better pro. Still, I like Laurinaitis fine. His Dad used to work alongside Hulk Hogan, after all.
As for the rest of the draft, they added depth in a few key positions. I would have liked to see them pick receiver sooner than the fifth round, but it's possible Foster turns out a good pick. Either way, Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton and Laurent Robinson are the three targets for Marc Bulger this season. Speaking of which, the Rams still haven't replaced him as the signal-caller. I'm betting this year is the last chance to save his job. If he doesn't play adequately, there's a good chance the Rams end up in the Sam Bradford running next season. For the future of the franchise, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
Draft Picks
1 (2) Smith, OT, Baylor
2 (35) Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State
3 (66) Bradley Fletcher, DB, Iowa
4 (103) Dorell Scott, DT, Clemson
5 (160) Brooks Foster, WR, North Carolina
6 (196) Keith Null, QB, West Texas A&M
7 (211) Chris Ohbonnaya, RB, Texas
GRADE: B-. I didn't hate anything, but I have to downgrade them for the Laurinaitis over Maualuga pick and not addressing receiver before defensive back or defensive line.
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