By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

MOBILE, Ala. –

Angel Cerezo
Will the Rams pick the best athlete, or a pressing need?

NW: Angel, this is the age old question of best player available versus filling a need. Obviously, the ideal situation is for those two things to come together and meet in the middle. I believe Adam Carriker was a perfect match of need and value last year. This year, I think the Rams are picking in a spot that allows them to find that match also. When you are 3-13, you generally need help just about everywhere. I believe Chris Long and Glenn Dorsey would both be the best available guys that also fit pressing needs. I think the only way you are taking a player who is the best athlete that might not fit a need is if you went with Arkansas running back Darren McFadden. With Steven Jackson on his contract year, you could make an argument that even McFadden would fit a need. Alas, I don’t see the Rams going that direction, but things could change between now and April. That’s a lot of time for major shake ups to happen, especially with free agency happening before the draft.

 Cory Radford
When I look at the current Rams WR corps, I see a lack of speed. But more importantly, the WR's seem like they can not get separation from the DB's. Can you name some WR's that have shown some ability to get separation from DB's this week during practices for the Senior Bowl and/or where the Rams might target such a WR? On a side note Nick, thank you for doing the blog and answering questions for us Rams fans regarding the Senior Bowl. I live in Denver and it is hard to get any Rams news or notes from the national media let alone the lack of local (St. Louis media) coverage of the team. You are doing a great service for us in Rams Nation and I want to commend you on the high quality job you are doing.

NW: Cory, first thanks for your thanks. And thank you for writing in because without mail there could be no mailbag. I think you are spot on in your evaluation of the current Rams receiver corps. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt still run such excellent routes that they can create enough separation to make plays, but there is certainly an overall lack of speed and no true deep threat. Team President John Shaw said as much in the story I wrote at the beginning of December. Finding a receiver with speed who can stretch the field is one of this team’s top offseason priorities. Finding that player in the draft might be difficult if the talent at the Senior Bowl is any indication. There are only about two receivers here that I believe have the speed, ability and route running capacity to make a difference, especially since the Rams won’t be taking a wide out in the first round. California’s Lavelle Hawkins has been the most impressive receiver this week though he struggled some Thursday morning. One guy that intrigues me is Kansas State’s Jordy Nelson. He has speed to spare, can return kicks and has the attitude you are looking for since he’s a former walk-on. He plays with that chip on his shoulder like he always has something to prove. You have to like that. As for when the Rams would draft a receiver, it could be as early as round two though I think round three or four would make sense. I believe Nelson could be there that late, but Hawkins has made himself some money this week and moved up on a lot of teams’ boards. Of course, none of that matters if the Rams opt to pursue that speed receiver in free agency. Bernard Berrian, anyone?

Isaiah Brown
Fakhir brown is my uncle he plays for the St. Louis Rams.

NW: He certainly does.

Jim Dylla
He Nick, I have been watching the Senior Bowl practices on NFL network.  If Rams don't go with Jake Long in the 1st round, which one of the OT playing in the senior bowl is the best fit for the Rams and would be available in the 2nd round?  Thanks.

NW: I think you have a good idea in mind of opting for an offensive tackle in round two. There are plenty of tackles in this draft and I believe you can get one as good as Long in the second round because of the depth at the position. Unfortunately, many of the tackles here have been slightly disappointing. I had high hopes for USC’s Sam Baker and Boston College’s Gosder Cherilus, but Baker isn’t particularly strong or athletic and Cherilus is inconsistent. The best tackle here, in my humble opinion, is Vanderbilt’s Chris Williams. He is huge with solid technique and good feet. The question scouts I have spoken with have about him is his attitude. They don’t think he has the mean streak to be a dominant tackle. But Williams got in a scuffle with Texas A&M end Red Bryant on Wednesday afternoon and looked plenty nasty in the process. One sleeper I like who could last into round three or even later is Nebraska’s Carl Nicks. Talk about nasty, this guy has that Incognito-esque disposition with the strength to match.

 Justin Me
Any strong safeties out there do anything to impress this week?

NW: There isn’t much in this draft at all in terms of safeties. Notre Dame’s Tom Zbikowski is here and he has the name value, but I’m not sure he has the ability. He’s a bit stiff in coverage. He looks like he enjoys hitting, but there’s more to playing the position than that and I’m not sure he has that. Jamar Adams of Michigan, Texas’ Marcus Griffin and California’s Thomas DeCoud have some ability, but have been inconsistent. Simeon Castille of Alabama is also here, but hasn’t done much to stand out one way or another. Clearly, the Rams need to find a young safety to groom, but I’m not sure if he will come from the Senior Bowl or even this draft.

 Kenneth Noisewater
Nick,
Are there are any small-school prospects at the Senior Bowl that have shown flashes and could be 'sleeper' picks in the draft? I see guys like o-linemen Chad Rinehart from Northern Iowa and Heath Benedict from Newberry College as well as WR Dexter Jackson from App State and DB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Tennessee State are on the rosters.  Have any of these guys shown you anything that might be intriguing and worth a pick in the draft?

NW: How’s James Westfall? Good question, I have been trying to watch some of these guys as the week has gone on and a couple of players certainly look like they belong. I think Rinehart is interesting as a potential late round interior lineman. But there are moments where Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie has really flashed some big time ability. He has a nose for the ball and seems to have an excellent understanding of the nuances of his position. He has excellent size and could potentially play safety some day if need be. One other small school guy that has occasionally caught my eye is Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Jason Jones. He is surrounded by line talent such as Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson and he seems to have stepped up his game to match.

 Matt Wadsworth
Has Colt Brennan improved as the week has gone on?  I have watched most of the Senior Bowl practices on NFL Network and he seemed to be getting a real ear full from Mike Martz about his mechanics and needing to improve.  Has he done anything to make himself look like a potential NFL prospect -- even after a couple years on the bench -- or is Colt Brennan just another Timmy Chang?

NW: Unfortunately for Colt, the answer is no. He has awkward mechanics and isn’t particularly accurate nor does he have much in the way of arm strength. He has a long way to go to be a NFL quarterback. At this point, it appears he is more Timmy Chang than Tom Brady.

 Nick Pasco
Nick, do you believe that the Rams should look for a corner later on in the draft?  If so, who do you think would be a nice fit for them?

NW: I don’t think you can ever have too many corners. I think that is one area the team will try to shore up later in the draft and perhaps find a diamond in the rough. The aforementioned Rodgers-Cromartie is intriguing as is Colorado’s Terrence Wheatley and LSU’s Chevis Jackson among players that are here this week. Tye Hill is coming off an injury, Fakhir Brown is solid as is Ron Bartell, but you still don’t know what you have in Jonathan Wade. And I believe it’s always good to have competition, especially at competitive positions such as corner.

 Samuel Nuno
I have three questions regarding the off season draft picks.
1. Does the coach have a plan for the team’s offensive line?
2. Is the team staying in St. Louis or relocating?
3. Who is taken over the team after the death of the owner?

NW: 1. Absolutely. The first step is to get healthy. That means left tackle Orlando Pace, guard Richie Incognito and guard Mark Setterstrom. That would be an excellent start. After that, the Rams clearly need to get a young tackle who can compete for a starting spot and eventually take over one of those spots in the future. Also, more depth and a veteran for the interior where the center job figures to be open is high on the list of priorities.

2. The team is in St. Louis for the foreseeable future.

3. Chip Rosenbloom, son of Georgia Frontiere, is taking over the reins.

Any opinions expressed in this mailbag are those of Senior Writer Nick Wagoner and do not necessarily represent those of the St. Louis Rams.