St. Louis Rams Mock Draft Tracker

Jake Matthews, Texas A&M (Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

What will the St. Louis Rams do in the 2014 NFL draft? Keep track of all the predictions made in our mock drafts leading up to Round 1 on May 8.

March 5, 2014 — 2014 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (Doug Farrar)

Round 1, pick 2:Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn

We said: Robinson isn’t quite as developed as Jake Matthews as a pure pass-blocker, but his athleticism and power make him a legitimate second-overall prospect, and the rest will come in time. Jeff Fisher wants a prototypical mauler in his offense to protect the blind side of his quarterback, and Robinson absolutely buries people in the run game. Moreover, as he proved at the scouting combine by running a sub-5.0 40 at 6-foot-5 and 332 pounds, Robinson has the speed and burst to hit the second level with authority. The Rams have had line issues for years based on iffy drafts. Taking Robinson would go a long way to reversing that process.

Round 1, pick 13: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

We said: The Rams started to address their need for targets by taking Tavon Austin in 2013. To compliment Austin’s speed underneath and down the seam, head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead would be smart to look at Evans, who is an estimable red-zone target and can get open in free spaces downfield. Evans is a very physical receiver when he needs to be, gets up to speed impressively for his size and could have a Demaryius Thomas-like impact with the right team.

Feb. 26, 2014 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 5.0 (Chris Burke)

Round 1, pick 2: Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn.

We said: This is the reverse of the Bridgewater argument. In terms of being better developed for the 2014 season, Jake Matthews has the edge on Robinson. Robinson showed at the combine, though, why scouts are drooling over his upside. His minimal work as a pass-blocker at Auburn remains a concern, but the Rams have the stable of young backs in place to make the run game the focus here.

Round 1, pick 13: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA.

We said: I’ve long believed (and still do) that Clowney should be an option for the Rams at No. 2, with the argument being that his skillset is special enough for the Rams to tweak their defense to accommodate it. Dropping the athletic but raw Barr in as a rush linebacker would offer many of the same benefits of having Clowney, while forcing less readjusting of the scheme.

Round 2, pick 44: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois.

We said: Using a pick like this on Garoppolo makes more sense for the Rams than taking another QB with that No. 2 pick — Garoppolo could push Sam Bradford and then take over for him later.

Feb. 19, 2014 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Don Banks)

Round 1, pick 2: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

We said: The Rams obviously will be willing to trade away this slot to a quarterback-needy team, which is fitting since it's the last bit of draft capital St. Louis wrung out of Washington in the blockbuster Robert Griffin III deal two years ago. But if the Rams stick to this spot, offensive tackle is the obvious need, with Jake Long having suffered a late-season ACL in 2013, and both Rodger Saffold and Chris Williams eligible for free agency. Many mocks have Auburn's freakishly gifted Greg Robinson in this slot, but Matthews is clearly the most pro-ready tackle in the draft, and Jeff Fisher's decades-long history with Jake Matthews' famous father -- Hall of Fame Oilers/Titans offensive lineman/assistant coach Bruce Matthews -- has to be factored into the equation. But Matthews isn't just the safest choice, he's a top-five talent who will give the Rams exactly what they need from Day 1, whether he starts at right or left tackle.

Round 1, pick 13: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

We said: With the quality and aggressiveness of the cornerbacks in the NFC West, the Rams should be in the market for a tall, strong receiver who can fight for the ball and make the catch in traffic. Evans at 6-5, 225 is ideal for the job, and he also has enough ability to separate to be a dangerous deep threat for St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford. With the smallish receivers already on the Rams roster, Evans would be a superb fit as the team's No. 1 pass-catcher.

Feb. 6, 2014 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Doug Farrar)

Round 1, pick 2: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

We said: The Rams may look at a quarterback later in the draft, and it would be very tempting to take a receiver this high, but it’s pretty clear that protection is the primary issue. Sam Bradford may still have a shot at franchise-level production if he can stay upright and healthy. Matthews is the premier outside lineman in this class — the kind of player you can set and forget (in a very good sense) for the next five years.

Round 1, pick 13: Marqise Lee, WR, USC

We said: Whoever the Rams’ quarterback is in 2014 and beyond, the need for targets has been clear for years. And as this team tries to ascend in the brutally tough NFC West, Lee would go a long way toward spicing the offense right up. A star in USC’s pro-style offense, Lee can beat the press coverage that is a divisional staple, understands the advanced routes and cuts that the NFL requires and can simply blast off over the top at times.

Jan. 9, 2014 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 4.0 (Chris Burke)

Round 1, pick 2: Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina

We said: It is a very rare occurrence that a pretty good team — the Rams were 7-9 this season — gets a chance to draft up here. And in my view, there are three ways to take advantage: 1. Take a quarterback, signaling a virtual end to Sam Bradford’s days as the No. 1 guy; 2. Trade down again, a scenario that may be likely should another team fall in love with a player; or 3. Draft Clowney.

All season long, skeptics have looked at Clowney’s stats and his occasional choice to sit out a play or game and tabbed him a future bust. Look deeper, at his impact on how the opposition schemed. He’s special … and only going to get better. St. Louis will find a way to use him, even with Robert Quinn and Chris Long on the field. Oh, and Jeff Fisher loves having a stockpile of pass-rushers.

Round 1, pick 13: Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M

We said: As mentioned during the Rams’ first pick, we’re working off the assumption here that Sam Bradford will get at least one more season at the helm. Under that scenario, the Rams could nab a QB on Day 2 or 3 to develop … while looking for another weapon early.

St. Louis finally figured out how to use Tavon Austin in its offense during the second half, but he is not a true No. 1-type. Evans could be, and at the very least would bulk up the Rams’ red-zone offense.

Dec. 5, 2013 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 3.1 (Chris Burke)

Round 1, pick 3: Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA

We said: Clowney to Jacksonville would make St. Louis’ decision a little easier here. If St. Louis lands around this spot with Washington’s pick, another RGIII-like move down the board would make sense. Working off the assumption they stay put, though, I’m dropping Barr in on that defense.

Round 1, pick 15: Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama

We said: Thanks to Joe Barksdale’s surprisingly competent play at right tackle this season, the Rams do not appear nearly as desperate for help there as they did a couple months ago. Kouandjio here, though, might be too juicy to pass up, especially with Rodger Saffold on the verge of free agency.

Sept. 24, 2013 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 (Chris Burke)

Round 1, pick 6: Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M

We said: Rodger Saffold is a pending free agent and, more to the point, he has been unable to stay healthy over the past three seasons. Matthews could drop right in at right tackle for a couple years, then slide over to left tackle when Jake Long’s St. Louis days are up.

Round 1, pick 15: Dominique Easley, DT, Florida

We said: Truth be told, I had Clemson QB Tajh Boyd penciled in here initially. It’s still hard to justify the Rams simply throwing in the towel on Sam Bradford, though. The D-line, meanwhile, could use another body to rotate with Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers. Easley can be a dominant force.

April 30, 2013 -- 2014 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Chris Burke)

Round 1, pick 12: Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan

We said: Lewan might have leapfrogged Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel to be the No. 1 pick in 2013, if he had entered his name in the draft rather than returned to Michigan. He’s a clear high first-round prospect and, with Devin Gardner under center rather than Denard Robinson, will get a full year in a pro-style system.

Round 1, pick 19: Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, CB, Oregon

We said: