The St. Louis Rams Dream Team

Below are the abbreviations for the positional players:


QB = quarterback
RB = running back
FB = full back
WR = wide receiver
TE = tight end

C = center
OT = offensive tackle
OG = offensive guard

DT = defensive tackle
DE = defensive end

LB = line backer

CB = corner back
S = safety
SS = strong safety
FS = free safety

P = punter
PK = place kicker
KR = kick returner

With the 12th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, the Rams selected Jimmy Kennedy (DT) who turned out to not be a difference maker on the field. The Rams should have drafted Troy Polamalu (S), Nnamdi Asomugha (CB), Rashean Mathis (CB), Ken Hamlin (S) or Dallas Clark (TE).

The St. Louis Rams drafted Pisa Tinoisamoa (LB) in round 2 and for the first three years, he was productive. Since then, his stats have declined. A better pick here would have been Lance Briggs (LB), Osi Umenyiora (DE), Jason Witten (TE) or Anquan Boldin (WR).

In the 3rd round, the Rams picked Kevin Curtis (WR). He is a solid player, but streaky. He can catch a lot of passes one game and completely disappear in the next game. Curtis left the Rams in 2007 and now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. A better draft choice for the Rams here would have been Justin Fargas (RB).

In round 4, the Rams had two consecutive draft picks, which were used on Shaun McDonald (WR) and DeJuan Groce (CB). Neither was an impact player for the Rams and both have moved to different rosters. The Rams should have drafted Asante Samuel (CB), Robert Mathis (DE) or Terrence McGee (CB).

The Rams chose Dan Curley (TE) in round 5 and he proved to be a waste of a draft pick (he was with the team for only one year). A better option here would have been Donald Lee (TE), David Diehl (OT) or Dan Koppen (C).

The Rams had two more picks in the 5th round. They drafted Shane Walton (S) and Kevin Garrett (CB) and neither was worthy of a draft selection. The Rams should have chosen Cato June (LB) and Tony Romo (QB) who actually became an undrafted free agent as no one took a chance on him with a low draft pick.

There were other undrafted free agents the St. Louis Rams had a chance to draft or sign. Antonio Gates (TE), Kris Dielman (OG), Kassim Osgood (WR) and Gary Brackett (LB) could have signed with any NFL team.


Summary Of Players The St. Louis Rams Should Have Acquired In 2003

Troy Polamalu
Lance Briggs
Justin Fargas
Terrence McGee
Asante Samuel
David Diehl
Cato June
Tony Romo
Antonio Gates
Kris Dielman
Kassim Osgood
Gary Brackett

In the 2004 NFL Draft, the Rams selected Steven Jackson (RB) and this was the team's best draft pick between 2003 and 2006. Jackson is the biggest offensive force for the team. The Rams actually got a draft pick right!

In round 3 (the Rams had no 2nd round pick), St. Louis drafted Anthony Hargrove (DE). Hargrove was a terrible pick (he played less than three years for the Rams). The Rams really needed a good pick here because they lacked a 2nd round draft choice, but the the team failed. The Rams would have been better off selecting either Jared Allen (DE), Nathan Vasher (CB) or Jerricho Cotchery (WR). Jared Allen, for example, is a Pro Bowler. Anthony Hargrove is far from that status. You got to believe the Rams are regretting passing on Allen.

Brandon Chillar (LB) was picked in round 4 and is average at best. The Rams could have helped themselves here by drafting Michael Turner (RB) to be a perfect backup to Steven Jackson (for all the times he's injured). In the 5th round, the Rams chose Jason Shivers (S) and he was another horrible pick. He played in zero games for the Rams and played in only one game for the Chicago Bears. A better pick here would have been Derrick Ward (RB).


Summary Of Players The St. Louis Rams Should Have Acquired In 2004

Jared Allen
Michael Turner
Derrick Ward

The Rams had the 19th overall selection in the 2005 NFL Draft and picked Alex Barron (OT). Barron has started nearly every game he has played in, so this is considered a good pick for the Rams. Barron is far from being a Pro Bowler, however, and the Rams could have obtained a bigger impact player by picking Logan Mankins (OG) or Lofa Tatupu (LB).

Ronald Bartell (CB) was selected in the 2nd round. If this was a later round pick, his game play would be justified. But a second round pick needs to be a full-time starter, which Bartell is not. The Rams should have drafted Nick Collins (S) or Vincent Jackson (WR).

The Rams had two draft picks in round 3. The first pick was Oshiomogho Atogwe (S). The Rams got a good player with this pick, but a bigger defensive force was still available: Justin Tuck (DE). With the second 3rd pick, the Rams chose Richie Incognito (C) even though better players to select were Kyle Orton (QB), Marion Barber III (RB) or Brandon Jacobs (RB).

The Rams picked Jerome Carter (S) in the 4th round. Carter played less than three years for the Rams. A better selection here would have been Trent Cole (DE). The Rams had six more draft picks after Carter was selected, but none of them were used on the eventual undrafted NFL stars that could have been drafted or signed by any team. The players that were available were Nate Washington (WR), Ryan Grant (RB), Atari Bigby (S) and Joshua Cribbs (KR).


Summary Of Players The St. Louis Rams Should Have Acquired In 2005

Logan Mankins
Nick Collins
Justin Tuck
Marion Barber III
Trent Cole
Nate Washington
Ryan Grant
Atari Bigby
Joshua Cribbs

With the 15th overall selection in the 2006 NFL draft, the Rams picked Tye Hill (CB). Hill has not been a steady force on the defensive side of the ball for the Rams. A better pick here would have been Antonio Cromartie (CB) or DeMeco Ryans (LB).

The Rams drafted Joe Klopfenstein (TE) in round 2. So far he has not made a name for himself (he's not even the starting tight end in St. Louis). The Rams should have picked Tony Scheffler (TE), Greg Jennings (WR), Devin Hester (KR), Marcus McNeill (OT) or Maurice Jones-Drew (RB).

In round 3, the Rams selected three draft picks, which were Claude Wroten (DT), Jon Alston (LB) and Dominique Byrd (TE). Wroten has had problems with marijuana, Alston only played one year for the Rams and Byrd played only two years. Instead of these three terrible picks, the Rams should have drafted Owen Daniels (TE), Brandon Marshall (WR) and Omar Gaither (LB).

Victor Adeyanju (DE) was drafted in the 4th round. Adeyanju hasn't become an impact player quite yet (he's not even a full-time starter). Perhaps in time he will be a standout player, however Antoine Bethea (FS) is a starter, a Pro Bowl player and was still on the draft board.

In round 5, the St. Louis Rams wasted another draft pick on Marques Hagans (WR) who only played for two seasons with the Rams. The Rams would have been better off with the a different Marques, Marques Colston (WR) who wasn't drafted until round 7.


Summary Of Players The St. Louis Rams Should Have Acquired In 2006

Antonio Cromartie
Tony Scheffler
Owen Daniels
Brandon Marshall
Omar Gaither
Antoine Bethea
Marques Colston

1. Steven Jackson
2. Marc Bulger
3. Donnie Avery
4. Torry Holt
5. Josh Brown

The Rams, just like every other NFL team, has made some bad calls on some of their draft picks. The Rams could have avoided the current rebuilding years if they just drafted a little differently.

Below is the team the St. Louis Rams could have drafted. Obviously, no team would draft every one of these players, but this is the team that was actually possible to put together based on draft pick locations and team needs.

Tony Romo (QB)
Kyle Orton (QB)

Steven Jackson (RB)
Michael Turner (RB)
Ryan Grant (RB)
Derrick Ward (RB)
Justin Fargas (RB)

Marques Colston (WR)
Brandon Marshall (WR)
Nate Washington (WR)
Kassim Osgood (WR)

Antonio Gates (TE)
Owen Daniels (TE)
Donald Lee (TE)

Marcus McNeill (OT)
Kris Dielman (OG)
Logan Mankins (OG)

Jared Allen (DE)
Robert Mathis (DE)
Justin Tuck (DE)
Trent Cole (DE)

Lance Briggs (LB)
Omar Gaither (LB)
Cato June (LB)
Gary Brackett (LB)

Asante Samuel (CB)
Antonio Cromartie (CB)
Troy Polamalu (S)
Nick Collins (S)
Atari Bigby (S)
Antoine Bethea (FS)

Joshua Cribbs (KR)