2012 NFL Draft analysis: St. Louis Rams

Now that the 2012 NFL Draft is over, we're profiling each team's draft. Who were the steals? Who were the reaches? We continue with the St. Louis Rams.

The St. Louis Rams are the great risk takers of the 2012 NFL Draft. The team traded more than one time in round one, starting at pick No. 2 and dropping down to No. 14. In doing so, the Rams finished this year's draft with 10 picks, including three in the second round. They also have an extra first round pick in each of the next two years. Moving back from pick No. 2 to No. 6 caused the Rams to miss out on both Matt Kalil and Justin Blackmon. Instead of reaching for a player like Michael Floyd, St. Louis added a second-round pick from Dallas to move back to pick 14 where they took defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

Brockers is an unfinished product coming out of LSU and may not be an impact player his rookie year. The team's second round was filled out with wide receiver Brian Quick, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and running back Isaiah Pead. Most consider Quick and Pead slight reaches where they were picked (however you define reach and value). The story behind the Rams personnel men clandestinely working out and then falling in love with Quick, though, gives some credence to the pick. The risk is Jenkins. The plus is that it was an extra pick that came from Washington in the Robert Griffin III trade. As good as Jenkins could be, his character flaws may hold him back. Adding another cornerback in Trumaine Johnson in the third round was a wise move. Many consider wide receiver Chris Givens a steal in the fourth round and guard Rokevious Watkins in the fifth was a nice choice. Taking kicker Greg Zuerlein in the sixth round was a little odd and seventh-round picks Aaron Brown (linebacker) and Daryl Richardson (running back) do little to spark excitement.

Other than quarterback, there is no riskier position to take in the first round than defensive tackle. For every Ndamukong Suh, there is a Dan Williams. A B.J. Raji for a Peria Jerry. Brockers has a chance to among the handful of best players to come out of the 2012 NFL Draft. But after leaving LSU following his redshirt sophomore season, his game is more talent than results. As good as Brockers can be, he could be the next LSU lineman to bust in the NFL.

The Rams added a couple free agent offensive linemen in Quinn Ojinnaka and Robert Turner, who should provide depth on the left side. Watkins, a college tackle who most consider a guard, could provide good depth behind Jason Smith and Harvey Dahl on the right side. Watkins may only be a solid NFL player, but adding good depth late is a sound move by the Rams' front office.