BTB's 2012 Community Mock And Prospect Profile: Tampa And St. Louis Get Offensive

After three relatively no-brainer selections to start off the mock draft (Luck-RGIII-Kalil), Cleveland threw us our first slider in selecting CB Morris Claiborne in their attempt to completely shutdown opposing passing games. Pairing Claiborne up with Joe Haden will make it difficult on quarterbacks; however, enough fans thought that Cleveland had higher priorities that they should have addressed according to the poll results. Both 'Should have never happened' and 'I wouldn't have done it' garnered over one-third the amount of votes as 'good selection' did. Pretty surprising.

Now we move on to the next two teams on the clock, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Rams. Tampa completely collapsed last season after going 10-6 in 2010. They have a new coach in Greg Schiano and new hope, but a lot of work to do. St. Louis received a bounty for the second pick in the draft, and will start to rebuild with retread coach Jeff Fisher. Let's turn things over to our assigned GM's.

Draft Pick # 5

Team Name: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GM: Bermystar

Selection: (RB) Trent Richardson, Alabama

Draft Pick # 6

Team Name: St. Louis Rams

GM: Sean N

Selection: (WR) Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

Follow the jump for the pick justifications, team needs and prospect profiles.

Draft Pick # 5

Team Name: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GM: Bermystar

Selection: (RB) Trent Richardson, Alabama

With Claiborne off the board the Tampa Bay Buccaneers address an area of arguably equal need, Running Back, while still minting a BPA approach. It could be argued that the RB position is no longer valued as it once was and I agree, but every so often there comes an 'exception', Trent Richardson is that exception. WR got a little consideration, giving Josh Freeman a target like Balckmon would've done wonders, but I believe the 2nd and 3rd tier receivers offer better value and I don't see Blackmon as I once a decade phenom like Richardson has the ability to be.

Having a true every down back is a rarity in today's NFL and it would help Freeman and the passing game even more than adding a wideout. The Bucs could also look too add a LB whether it's ILB or OLB doesn't matter substantially because Mason Foster (current Buc) has the ability to play either position giving the Bucs flexibility drafting a LB. However I couldn't justify taking any LB this high this year. Trent welcome to Tampa.

HIGH PRIORITY TEAM NEEDS (lower number indicates higher priority) according to Drafttek.com

-- Threat Level Red (priority 1-2): 43 MLB, 43 OLB, CB

-- Threat Level Orange (priority 3-4): Change-Of-Pace RB, Right Tackle, Feature Back, Center, FS

-- Threat Level Yellow (priority 5-6): SS, 43 DT, 43 DE, Will Backer, Feature Receiver, Guard

-- Threat Level Green (priority 9): QB, Possession Receiver, Slot Receiver, Tight End, Left Tackle

Draft Pick # 6

Team Name: St. Louis Rams

GM: Sean N

Selection: (WR) Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State

St. Louis would be thrilled if the draft played out as it has here. The player they considered taking at #2 before they traded the pick to Washington has fallen to them at #6. The Rams' offense was downright offensive in 2011, averaging only 12.1 points/game and their passing game managed only 179.4 yards/game both among the worst in the league. While the lethargic offensive production was in part due to key injuries, especially to QB Sam Bradford, the Rams have a glaring need at WR, which can conveniently be filled by the two-time Biletnikoff winning Blackmon.

The Rams believe they have a franchise QB in Bradford and that aging RB Steven Jackson still has a few more years left in his legs. With new head coach Jeff Fisher retooling the defense, the Rams hope Blackmon can translate his record setting performance at OSU into a highly productive long term tandem with Bradford. Of course, the temptation to trade down will always be there for a team that is coming off a 2-14 season with multiple holes to fill, but the Rams find Blackmon too good to pass over.

HIGH PRIORITY TEAM NEEDS (lower number indicates higher priority) according to Drafttek.com

-- Threat Level Red (priority 1-2): 43 DT, 43 OLB, Feature Receiver, Left Tackle

-- Threat Level Orange (priority 3-4): Feature Back, C.O.P. Back, Guard, Possession Receiver, 43 DE

-- Threat Level Yellow (priority 5-6): FS, SS, QB, Right Tackle, Tight End, Center, Sam Backer

-- Threat Level Green (priority 9): Slot Receiver

Click on the item to go to the webpage for more detailed scouting reports. The National Football Post and NFL Draft Scout links are always in depth evaluations of the players, highly recommended.