If I were the GM- St. Louis

This is the first of a series of posts about the moves I would consider if I were the GM for each team.  I am a big believer in building through the draft, especially from the lines to the skill positions.  Only one exception being the quarterback position.  Also, with the current collective bargaining agreement at a precipice, and the complex rules regarding free agency, I'm not going to review potential free agents, especially since it should be used to supplement some holes, not as a cure of all ills.  I've broken down the roster, created a list of needs, and some suggestions to improve the rosters.

The Rams have a lot of needs.  Winning six games in three seasons will do that to a team.  I believe that they have the correct coach in Steve Spagnulo, but he needs players to coach.  Their biggest strengths are Steven Jackson at running back and James Lauinaitis at middle linebacker.  Those are their cornerstone players.  Quarterback is their biggest weakness, by far, which is telling because this team has a ton of needs.  The tight end position needs improvement, as well as, defensive line, defensive back, interior offensive line, wide receiver, and running back.

My first suggestion is to improve the tight end spot.  The Rams haven't had much production from the position over the past couple of seasons.  It's a position to fill to help develop a rookie quarterback, or a safety valve for one of the current quarterbacks. A player to target would be Fred Davis of the Washington Redskins.  Davis showed he can start in this league following the Chris Cooley injury, has great hands, a playmaker- something this offense lacks behind Steven Jackson, and is probably looking to start after the season he's had.  I would trade a fourth rounder, perhaps a pair of 4's to get him.  Following the proposed trade, the Rams have two players for a defense to be worried about.  They still need a quarterback.

That leads to my second suggestion.  This really comes down to the scouting reports and medical records, which nobody outside the NFL organizations have access to.  If my scouts tell me Ndamukong Suh is the can't miss player that he's touted as, then I take him number one, and take a Colt McCoy at number 33.  However, if he's viewed as an equal to Gerald McCoy, and my scouts tell me Sam Bradford is healthy and rated higher than Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez were last season, then I swap picks with Tampa Bay, pick up the number 46 selection, a fifth rounder, and perhaps a fourth next year.  The extra selections give me the flexibility to address the additional needs I stated earlier.  Plus, I have my quarterback of the future, a tight end to throw to, and I replenish the pick(s) I gave up to acquire Fred Davis.  Both ways of working with the number one pick work for me.  It comes down to my scouts- which I would trust because they're in the field kicking the tires on these players- and their reports.