The Rams didn’t likely draft any future stars last season but they got some quality.  DT/DE Adam Carriker was the first round pick of the Rams.  He started every game for them last season and he made 30 tackles, had 2 sacks and defensed a pass.  Look for him to be a starter on the D-Line for a long time.  RB/FB Brian Leonard was the Rams’ 2nd round pick and he turned in a solid rookie season.  Leonard played in 16 games (7 starts) for the Rams last season and he carried the ball 86 times for 303 yards (3.5 ypc).  Leonard also caught 30 passes for 183 yards (6.1 avg).  He was a solid pick for the Rams.  CB Jonathan Wade was the 3rd round pick for the Rams last season.  Wade played in 16 games (1 start) for the Rams last season and he made 24 tackles, defensed 1 pass and intercepted a pass.  He likely projects as nothing more than a nickel or dime back in the future for the Rams.  Center Dustin Fry was the first of the Rams’ 5th round picks last season and he played in 4 games (0 starts).  DT/DE Clifton Ryan was quite a find for the Rams.  He played in 16 games (0 starts) for the Rams last season and he made 30 tackles, had 2 sacks and forced 3 fumbles.  Look for Ryan to be a starter for the Rams in the very near future.  OT Ken Shackleford was the 6th round pick of the Rams and he was cut in Training Camp.  The first of the 7th round picks of the Rams was DT Keith Jackson who didn’t play a down as a rookie.  The other 7th round pick of the Rams was WR/RS Derek Stanley.  Stanley played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Rams last season and he carried the ball 1 time for 5 yards.  Stanley helped out on special teams as he returned 20 kickoffs for 509 yards (25.5 avg) and he also returned 1 punt for 10 yards.

GRADE FOR THE 2007 SEASON:  C+

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B

The Rams have signed WR Reche Caldwell.  Caldwell played in 8 games for the Redskins last season and he caught 15 passes for 141 yards (9.4 avg).  Caldwell has now played in 71 games in his NFL career and he has caught 152 passes for 1,851 yards (12.2 avg) with 11 TD grabs.   If Caldwell is anything more than a #3 or #4 WR for the Rams they will be in trouble next season.

The Rams have signed CB David Macklin.  Macklin played in 6 games for the Redskins last season and he had 6 tackles.  Macklin has now played in 116 games in his NFL career and he has made 368 tackles, defensed 75 passes, had 1 sack, forced 3 fumbles and he has intercepted 14 passes which he has returned 233 yards including one TD.  Macklin will be nothing more than a nickel or dime back and a special teams player for the Rams.