Les Snead doesn’t think St. Louis Rams need another WR
St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Rams are in an interesting spot with the second pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, because it’s a pick that they really don’t need. Nobody that would be fair value with the second pick is worth taking for the Rams, since they are more than willing to stick with Sam Bradford as their starting quarterback and don’t have a need for an offensive tackle or pass rusher. Snead is always willing to trade down and hoard draft picks, and it would be a shock if the Rams didn’t trade down in this draft. They also own the 13th pick in the draft (they will likely take Alabama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with that one), and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams ended up with three first-round picks.
My belief is that the perfect draft for the Rams would net a top wide receiver, Clinton-Dix, and a top CB like Jason Verrett later on in the first round. There are a lot of different directions that the Rams could go in on draft day, and it’s what makes the Rams draft so fun but also so incredibly difficult to prognosticate. I’m a big fan of the Rams trading down from the second pick to net Clemson’s Sammy Watkins, whom I view as the clear top wide receiver in the draft class. However, it doesn’t sound like Snead agrees that wide receiver is a need for his team, even with the tantalizing effect that a guy like Watkins or even Mike Evans could have on Bradford and the offense.
Per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Snead said, “I think our receivers right now, I truly believe as they progress … we cannot have another receiver around here. And we’re going to be a good football team.”
Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Stedman Bailey, and Chris Givens are nice pieces, and Brian Quick could potentially become another solid option for Bradford. But are any of those players that the offense can flow through? Are any of them true No. 1 receivers? I don’t think so. However, the Rams have enough pass-catching depth and only had Kellen Clemens at QB last season, so the argument can be made that the Rams don’t need a WR because they are deep enough at the position and more pass-catchers can develop (like Bailey and Givens) as they get older and receive better QB play from a healthy Bradford.