First Pick 2010: Do the Rams take Suh?

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While the 2009 season was largely forgettable for Coach Spags in his first season as grand pubah of the Rams, as the team finished with the worst record in franchise history. Despite the difficult season, as a defensive minded coach, he has to be licking his chops at his good fortune with not one, but two solid defensive tackle prospects waiting for him at the top of the draft.

Still, with new ownership coming into the picture and questions at nearly every position, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Rams entertained trading the pick. At some point the Rams will have to address their quarterback situation where Mark Bulger is contemplating retirement and rookie Keith Nall did his best to impersonate the NFL career of his college position coach (Ryan Leaf).

Teams are ordinarily reluctant to trade up into the top of = the draft due the significant guaranteed money due to Top 10 picks. Two things may turn the tide this offseason: the rare nature of the talent involved and the uncapped year that looms over the NFL.

So, what do we think will happen?

Vinnie: With the first selection in the 2010 NFL Draft (on PRIME time) the St. Louis Rams select…

SUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH!

Never has the expression a man among boys been more appropriate for someone; Ndamukong Suh is the DT from Lincoln who almost single handedly defeated the Longhorns in the Big 12 championship. It is impossible to imagine that the defensive genius that is Steve Spagnuolo will pass up on this truly NFL ready player.

In the 2nd round, Spagnuolo will send shivers down the backs of NFC West QB’s when he trades his 2nd pick to the G-Men for his former standout and currently dis-satisfied DE Osi Umenyiora.

PJ: Suh is certainly a once in a decade type of talent who has drawn comparisons to Richard Seymour (strength) and Warren Sapp (speed). The trade for Osi makes too much sense for both teams for it to not happen, especially in light of the Giants and their glaring defensive needs, including the recent release of Antonio Pierce.

However, the Rams are more than one defensive lineman away from a bring a great defense, let alone a great team. That’s why I think a trade of Ricky Williams to the Saints proportions could be possible. If you look at the teams that have a war chest of draft picks two come to mind – the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

The Browns are the least likely of the two in this even more unlikely scenario, as their additional picks don’t have great ‘chart value’ and they have many holes to fill. On the other hand, the Patriots, who have their own 1st and 2nd round picks, as well as two additional 2nd rounders in 2010 plus the Oakland Raiders 1st rounder in 2011 thanks to Bill Belichick’s manueverings, should have sufficient value to trade up into the first overall spot.

I realize this is a major reach, but there is some logic behind the potential for such a trade. Setting aside the infrequency someone like Suh comes along, who projects as a defensive end in the 3-4, he would vastly improve the Patriots atrocious pass rush. There would also be the irony involved in him replacing Seymour considering it would be likely that the Patriots would have to part with the pick that sent him to Oakland to be in a position to obtain Suh’s rights.

Now that we hacks have had our say, why don’t you take a stab at completing this headline and offer your predictions. We’ll post the most intriguing ideas that we receive until something happens or the draft, which ever comes first!

Send your ideas to draftnuggets [at] gmail [dot] com today!

Tagged as: Bill Belichick, National Football League, New England Patriots, NFL, Oakland Raider, Richard Seymour, St Louis Rams, Warren Sapp