By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

Based on the list of rookie prospects coming and going from Rams Park in recent weeks, it’s pretty clear that cornerback is, perhaps, the team’s most pressing need heading into Saturday’s NFL Draft.

It’s easy to understand why, considering the state of the position last year. Numerous injuries and basic struggles caused the Rams to tumble to 30th in the league in total defense, in large part because of the problems in the secondary.

It took only a few days of training camp for that group to suffer its biggest blow, losing starter Jerametrius Butler to a season-ending knee injury. Soon after, Butler elected to have surgery on the knee and he was placed on injured reserve.

The blow came as a tough one for a group that has had perpetual injury problems in the past few seasons. Opposite Butler was returning starter Travis Fisher, no stranger to injury himself.

After a difficult start, Fisher discovered he too was injured again. He was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 14 because of a groin injury. Joining the starting corners on the injured reserve list was Terry Fair.

Butler and Fisher are expected to return this season, but it is unknown how either will perform coming off injuries. DeJuan Groce was a restricted free agent and will return.

Ron Bartell was a rookie a season ago and performed well at times. But, he has added bulk in the offseason and is a candidate for a move to free safety. Dwight Anderson will also have a chance to compete for a spot again after he returned to the team in the middle of the season.

The Rams signed Fakhir Brown from New Orleans in the offseason with the intent to give him a shot at competing for a starting position. Brown has started before, but hasn’t been able to maintain it at any point.

Fortunately for a team in need of help at corner, this year’s draft is one of the deepest in recent memory.

Most of that depth has been to St. Louis for a visit in the weeks leading up to the draft. Included in the visiting party were Texas’ Michael Huff, Clemson’s Tye Hill, Fresno State’s Richard Marshall, Florida State’s Antonio Cromartie and Abilene Christian’s Danieal Manning.

Huff is the draft’s top rated defensive back, but many teams consider him to be a safety. The Rams, for one, like Huff as a cornerback and have him ranked high on their board. Most mock drafts have Huff going somewhere in the top 10, so it isn’t likely he will be available when the Rams pick at No. 11.

St. Louis will consider other first-round talents such as Hill and Cromartie in the early parts of the draft, though the team isn’t terribly high on Virginia Tech’s Jimmy Williams.

With Fisher and Groce closing in on free agency and the injury problems of the present corners, it’s a safe bet the Rams will look to add help in the secondary early in the draft. Marshall, Miami’s Kelly Jennings and Manning are other considerations for the first day.

Regardless, the Rams have made cornerback a priority and will come away with at least one before the draft is over.