Rams are nervous; me too

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an article in today's paper saying that the Rams may be getting nervous because the Dolphins (who hold the #1 overall draft pick) have started contract negotiations with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, indicating he may be the Dolphins' number one target. Since the Dolphins own the top pick, they can negotiate before the actual draft itself and get a player locked up in the process. The feeling is that Jake Long is also the Rams' first choice and they could be seeing him taken out of consideration before their pick, which is #2 overall. I am worried also, but for a different reason: I hope the Dolphins pick Jake Long so that the Rams don't have the opportunity.

Okay, listen. I am a die-hard Michigan fan and Jake Long is a Wolverine, so normally I'd be psyched over the Rams' interest. And make no mistake, Jake Long is probably going to be one heck of a pro football player at a position in which the Rams could use some help. But in my opinion, the Rams need more help on the defensive line and they have an opportunity to address that very well with their 1st round pick. Also, if Orlando Pace is healthy this year, then Jake Long probably plays guard instead of tackle for a few seasons. This is undesirable as well, since he would be playing a new position and you simply don't pay a guard the kind of money a 2nd overall draft pick is going to get. A left tackle is a premium player because he guards the blind side of a right handed quarterback, which the Rams' Marc Bulger happens to be. Left tackles make big money. Guards don't. And to spend a lot of cap money on a guard is simply not feasible in the NFL. So as much as I'd like the Rams to have the 2-time captain of the Wolverines on their squad, it simply isn't in their best interests.

The Dolphins are also said to be negotiating with Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston, who would fill a big need for the Rams as a pass rusher. Virginia defensive end Chris Long is also very much alive to be the Dolphins pick. Of the 2, I prefer Chris Long, as I blogged about extensively a while back. But in my opinion, Gholston fills a bigger need than Jake Long would as well. And let's not forget LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. He has some injury concerns which must be seriously evaluated, but if he's healthy he's probably the best player in the entire draft. One longtime NFL scout said he thinks Dorsey is the best defensive tackle prospect to come along in the past 3 decades. He would team up to with last year's #1 pick Adam Carriker to provide a formidable defensive middle if the Rams go with him. All three of these players (Gholston, C. Long and Dorsey) make more sense to me than does Jake Long.

It may very well turn out that Orlando Pace is not the same player anymore because of his injuries and that Jake Long could fit right in and make an immediate difference at tackle. But that's a what-if scenario. We already know the the Rams need a lot of help rushing the passer, which Chris Long and Vernon Gholston excel at from the outside, and Glenn Dorsey can do from the inside. It's more of a need. And the offensive tackle depth is pretty good in this year's draft, so the Rams could pick up a fine tackle prospect in round 2 or 3. So the Rams and I are both nervous about what the Dolphins may do with their #1 pick. But I am just as nervous about what the Rams may do if Jake Long is still on the board when they pick.