Rams News

Rams will look for linebacker
help later in draft
04/15 11:39 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff
The Rams like Georgia Tech's Keith Brooking and Auburn's Takeo Spikes. But both players are expected to go in the top 15, and the Rams have more pressing needs at other positions for this year.
Spikes made a predraft visit to Rams Park; Brooking did not.
But the Rams probably will look for linebacker help from the third round on, especially because the New York Jets matched their offer on restricted free agent Chad Cascadden.
St. Louis has no proven linebacker depth behind starters Eric Hill, Michael Jones and Roman Phifer. None of the team's four other linebackers -- Charlie Clemons, Troy Dumas, Muadianvita Kazadi and Lorenzo Styles -- played more than 21 snaps from scrimmage last season.
Middle linebacker Robert Jones technically remains on the roster, but if the Rams can't trade him he will be released after June 1. (The Rams will wait until after June 1 for salary cap purposes.)
Two other reasons why the Rams could use a linebacker:
> Hill turns 32 next season, and figures to be a short-term solution at middle linebacker. He signed only a two-year contract.
> Phifer is 30, and is scheduled for unrestricted free agency after this season.
Besides Spikes, Vanderbilt's Jamie Duncan is the only other linebacker known to have visited Rams Park. Duncan projects as a second- or third-round draft pick.

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