By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

The good news for the Rams defensive line is that for the first time in three years, the Seahawks didn’t poach one of their starting ends. The bad news is that the reason for that is because there weren’t any talented ends on the team available.

After losing Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher to Seattle in free agency in each of the past two years, the Rams turned to second-year end Anthony Hargrove to handle the starting job opposite star Leonard Little.

Hargrove was a raw project with plenty of potential as a rookie, but the team saw enough in him to give him that job and let Fisher walk before last season. Hargrove responded with a solid camp, but traded playing time with Brandon Green in the preseason.

By the time the year was finished, Hargrove started 14 games, playing well at times, but struggling at others. Hargove, did however, finish with a flourish, recording 4.5 sacks in the final three games. His totals for the year included 82 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries.

With the NFL Draft fast approaching, it appears that Hargrove and Little will be the starting ends once again in new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s attacking defense. But there isn’t much in the way of depth behind Little and Hargrove.

Green was brought back and provides energy and intensity, but is more of a fourth end used in situational pass rush spots as opposed to a versatile third end that can hold up on multiple downs.

Tyoka Jackson is an unrestricted free agent and it doesn’t appear that he will return. Aside from Little, Hargrove and Green, the Rams also return second-year end/linebacker Clifford Dukes.

Dukes could be an intriguing prospect because of his ability to line up as a linebacker in a 3-4 and an end in a 4-3. He was inactive in his three games on the top 53, but he could get more of a shot since Haslett intends to work in elements of the 3-4.

While defensive end doesn’t register as the most pressing need for St. Louis, it is one area that could certainly use a bolster. The Rams didn’t add any ends in free agency, meaning the draft will have to be the source of any help for the position.

The top ends in this year’s draft include North Carolina State’s Mario Williams and Manny Lawson, Penn State’s Tamba Hali, Boston College’s Mathias Kiwanuka and Virginia Tech’s Darryl Tapp.

Although it’s unlikely the Rams would make a move on most of those players with their first-round pick, they do have an affinity for Lawson. Lawson is a freakish athlete with the ability to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 and rush the passer as an end in a 4-3. No. 11 might be a little high for Lawson, but he could be a target should the Rams move down some in a draft day trade.

More than likely, though, the Rams will look at adding an end in the middle rounds, perhaps as high as round two. Other candidates to consider include Miami’s Thomas Carroll, Tennessee’s Parys Haralson and USC’s Frostee Rucker.