Taylor (AB, Canada): I see a lot of people asking for a LB in the second round. Although Groves or Connor would be a nice asset to our defense, their need is not ahead of WR or CB. A guy that I would like at the LB is Cliff Avril. He is big, 6'3" 253lbs, and can play DE and OLB. He could give us size and speed at the OLB postion, believe he ran a 4.51, while giving a breather to the DE's in a 4-3 set. Could he make it to the 3rd round and would the Rams consider him, taking into account they already pressumably selected a DE and a WR or CB, leaving one of those two for another round.

Jim Thomas: I agree with you on CB or WR being a greater need in the second or third rounds than LB. I don't know much about Avril.

Brian: I've been to several Rams home games over the past several years and was wondering if the Rams organization have talked about replacing their current dome home with a much needed and appreciated outdoor stadium. If so let me be the first to petition for no PSLs please.

Jim Thomas: The dome stadium cost $300 million to build. I don't think it will be abandoned after 13 years of use.

Andy from Saint Louis: Hi Jeff,

Would you think this could happen? The Rams sign Takeo Spikes to beef up the linebacker core. Then trade our third or fourth round pick to the eagles for sheppard. Then trade down with Oakland for Micheal Huff and their first round pick and draft Goulston. It would be HUGE for the Rams defense if they did this.
Thanks!

Jim Thomas: Actually, this is Jim, not Jeff. I think a third_ or fourth-rounder for Sheppard would be a good move. I don't see the Rams as being in the market for a safety.

Picklefork: Jim, how much does the contract and the position of the player weigh in on the #2 overall pick? I know its been reported(if true)in the past that Zygmunt guided the Rams away from Troy Polamalu to Jimmy Kennedy in the draft based on the money and singing bonus being better used on a DT then a S.

So how much does that factor when you consider that if the Rams take Jake Long...he will get 28 to 30M in gurantees and nearly 60M in total contract to basically play Guard why everyone is healthy.

This is a player who hasnt played guard and your going to make him the Highest Paid Guard in the league before he even steps on the field.

Now you have used 3 1st round picks on Tackles as well.

Zygmunt still has the final say...I dont see him using that much cap space on a Guard.

Jim Thomas: Haven't heard that one before on Zygmunt and Polamalu and Kennedy. In general, I don't think it factors in very much. At offensive tackles, for example, their overall contracts seem to be just as lucrative as any other position outside of QB.

Dominic: Hi Jim!
If the Dolphins take Jake Long,which I think they will,does your gut tell you they jump on Chris Long or they trade down for more picks?
My thought is this,there really isnt a dominant player,but several good players,so why not trade our high number 1 or 2 for more picks to get three good players over 1 player.....your thoughts?After all,we need players and Chris Long is no Lawrence Taylor.
Again,thank you for taking the time to answer our questions.

Jim Thomas: Under that scenario, I think they take Chris Long. There may not be a truly dominant player in this year's draft, but I think it's widely believed that there's a dropoff after the top six or seven players (the Longs, Dorsey, McFadden, Gholston, Ryan, and perhaps Sedrick Ellis). So if the Rams trade down, I don't think they want to go past the No. 6 or No. 7 overall pick.