2013 NFL mock draft: Rams select Larry Warford

With the 46th pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2013 NFL mock draft, the St. Louis Rams select Kentucky offensive guard Larry Warford. Wayne Fontes is serving as the Rams' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

The Rams drafted WRs Brian Quick at the top of the second and Chris Givens at the top of the fourth in 2012, so I chose not to take another WR early. I think the Rams may choose to trade up and take Tavon Austin to replace Danny Amendola, but other than that I think they bring in a veteran like Lee Evans, Laurent Robinson or Mike Sims-Walker on a one-year deal at a bargain rate.

I was hoping one of the two elite guards or Austin would fall to the 16th pick and I could get a much-needed safety with the 22nd pick in this draft. After Kenny Vaccaro was taken at 15, I had no choice but to rethink my strategy and pass on much higher-rated talent to draft Elam to fill my biggest hole.

I entered into the draft hoping to get an OG, S and RB/OLB (in that order) with Austin being the exception. I feel he will have the biggest impact and be the offensive rookie of the year. After the OGs were gone and my safety was secured, I decided to forgo OG and get an OLB with big-play ability at No. 22. Unfortunately we had a big run on LBs, so again I had to rethink my strategy, and I selected Eddie Lacy.

Originally I wanted OG, S and RB/OLB in this draft. I have S, RB and another pick. With my final pick, I am selecting Larry Warford. I chose Lacy at 22 with the thought in mind that a quality interior lineman would be available in the second round to open up holes for him and provide Sam Bradford with more time to complete his passes. Considering how the first round played out, this is the best-case scenario to complete my draft. I have my OG, S and RB, just not in the order I projected. I bit the bullet in Round 1 in order to get the best combination of these positions. You may not like my strategy, but too bad, I am the GM and it's my job to piss off the fans and select the players I feel will put my team in the best position to compete and win the division.

--

Check out the 2013 Pride Of Detroit Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.