Some intersting news, the NFL has announced that 9 players will attened Day 1 of the Draft, the most since 11 players went in the 1993 Draft. I personally like this as it shows us who the higher ups in the NFL offices think will go early. So here's the list...

LB Aaron Curry

WR Micheal Crabtree

T Eugene Monroe

LB Brain Cushing

QB Matthew Stafford

T Jason Smith

T Micheal Oher

DE Brain Orakpo

and the confusing pick, QB Josh Freeman

I think the first eight are all basically guaranteed in the top 20, with the outside chance that Cushing and Oher fall into the 20's, but with the NFL getting put down when someone drops past the top 20 (Ex. Brady Quinn 22, Aaron Rodgers 24, and Leeland McElroy 32. which at the time was 2nd RD.) I don't understand why Josh Freeman was invited, or accepted the invitation for his own sake. I mean he's a rising player in the Draft but barely any have him going in the 1st RD. I think he's a early 2nd RD. at best. This could be a potential disaster, but who knows, only time will tell. But one thing is for sure, this will be a very interesting scene to watch unfold at the Draft.

Hopefully Aaron Curry will only have to wait as long as Chris Long did last year!

According to this post by Mike Sando over at ESPN, the Rams have traded their 138th and 176th picks in the 09' Draft to Atlanta for 160th and 196th picks in the 09' Draft and the young 6"2', 192 pound, 3rd year WR Laurent Robinson, who had 37 catches for 437 yards his rookie season and was out with a hamstring injury last season.

This is relatively a low-risk, high-reward trade, now we won't have a as big a need for a WR in the draft. Now we have 3 young WR, all with great potential, this could turn out to be an amazing move by the Rams. But only time will tell, lets hope for the best.

Sources say the Detroit Lions have started negotiations with their future No. 1 Draft Pick, but who?

Their are 4 likely players, Matthew Stafford, Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, and Eugene Monroe.

Whatever player it may be the Lions are allowed to sign the player as soon as they want, which would basically put the Rams in the #1 spot for the next month knowing exactly who will be available to them.

Whoever they may choose the sooner the better, we will be able to cross a player off the list and if we already have a player in mind I believe we would be able to start negotiations with them (I'm not to sure about that tho so if anyone can confirm that it'd be much appreciated).

The more I think about Barron at LT the more I like the idea. The year he started 15 games at LT (07') he gave up only 3.5 sacks, during his 3 years at RT (05',06',08') he gave up an average of 7.5 sacks. He's just a better LT than RT which has leaded me to go away from Jason Smith at #2.

For the 1st round I think the Rams might be able to get a trade done with the Browns (To jump KC to get Aaron Curry) , Bengals (To get their choice of LT) , or the Raiders (To get a guarantee on Crabtree or to get choice of LT). Any of which would have us picking up and extra 2nd RD. or 3rd RD. pick and in my opinion lead us to drafting Jeremy Maclin.  But as it stands...

1st RD. 2nd Pick -- LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest    

I think this is kind of a risk because the Rams would put him at MLB which he is unproven at.  But otherwise has great speed and great run and pass coverage. But again I think Maclin could still be picked here. I know it's kind of a reach but we need a WR and by who the Rams went after in FA (Nate Washington and Brandon Jones) their looking for a speedy receiver that has some size. He has great playmaking ability and has added value as a PR and KR which we also need. But again unlikely unless they can trade down a couple of spacies, but that won't be seen till draft day

2nd RD. 35th Pick -- WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland

This goes with the speedy WR with size thing. He has some questions about him that would make him fall to this spot but I think he has the chance to be a good to great WR.  

3rd RD. 66th Pick -- T Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma

Has great size but not so great quickness could go 2 RD, but I think he will drop to us in the 3 RD. and would start the season as our RT, and will bring Bell back to LG.

4th RD. 99th Pick -- RB Kory Sheets, Purdue

Cuaght my eye during Senior Bowl week, has great hands and great feet, could be a great back-up to Jackson.

5th RD. 130th Pick -- CB Joe Burnett, UCF

This is more of a personal pick, he's kinda small at 5'9" but has great skills and is an amazing Punt and Kick Returner.

Now just a quick mock if we did happen to get one of the trades mentioned at the beginning, and presuming we get a 2nd which would probably have us give up a 6th or 7th.

1st RD. (5th,6th, or 7th) Pick -- WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri

2nd RD. 35th Pick -- MLB James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

(After bad combine and pro day could possiblly fall to 2nd RD.)

2nd RD. (37,38,39) Pick -- DT Evander "Ziggy" Hood, Missouri

3rd RD. 66th Pick -- T Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma

4th RD. 99th Pick -- RB Kory Sheets, Purdue

James Butler has reportedly agreed to a 4-year deal that could be worth $17 according to Bill Coats at St. Louis Post Dispatch, the deal has been agreed to and most likely be signed Tuesday.

This is great news for the Rams and hopefully we can get a deal done with Weaver or Kareny done soon.

[Note by VanRam, 03/09/09 10:48 PM EDT ] Great news. Rams are 3-for-3 in free agency so far...one was a re-sign though, but, hey, just go with it. The Rams defense gets younger and gets a solid player to fill a need that was really lacking last year. That's a much better deal than the ones given to Yeremiah Bell (4-yrs, $20 mil) and Gibril Wilson (5-yrs, $27.5 mil), but I suspect more than what the Rams were holding at until more recently. But, hey, it's not my money.