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2015 NFL Draft grades: St. Louis Rams select Todd Gurley

By Luke Dahlgren

Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) returns a kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. The touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) returns a kickoff for a touchdown in the first quarter of their game against the Auburn Tigers at Sanford Stadium. The touchdown was called back due to a holding penalty. Georgia won 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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The St. Louis Rams shocked the world and drafted Todd Gurley No. 10 overall — but was it the right pick and will it pan out?

The St. Louis Rams decided to end the Sam Bradford era, and instead make Nick Foles their quarterback. Foles struggles under pressure, and with the Rams offensive line currently in limbo, the Rams will need to protect him if they ever hope to be successful in the highly competitive NFC West. With that being said, Brandon Scherff went off of the board early at number five to Washington, while Miami’s Ereck Flowers was surprisingly taken by the Giants early just the pick before at nine.

So the teams options at offensive tackle were limited, and they ended up going with a running back to take the pressure off of Foles

Gurley might be the best running back prospect in the NFL Draft since Adrian Peterson. His excellent balance, speed, vision and strength makes stopping him like trying to tackle a beehive. If he is healthy, then it seems almost guaranteed that he will be a successful player in the NFL. Of course, his injury history makes him a key candidate for flaming out once he reaches the league. He has been medically cleared, and is recovering from his most recent knee injury well. If he succeeds, he instantly emerges as one of the top offensive weapons in the NFL, and could be a team’s long-term solution.

The thing is, the Rams still will need to shore up their offensive line, and to invest in an unsure thing like Gurley so high in the draft when players like Michigan State’s Trae Waynes were available might not be the best move. I fully expect to look back on this pick and either laugh at myself for not having enough faith or cry for the potential wasted by a team that is bound to overuse him.

Grade: C+

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