i'm not sure if saying rams have mcfadden higher on their board means they would actually take him, or just that he is a higher graded prospect... the need on DL is far greater than RB, & STL expected to re-sign jackson to long term extension...
i have to think dorsey & c. long are close... if dorsey is in fact higher on rams board, he may well be the pick... i'd be very happy with either of these guys (i would have been with j. long, too... i probably had it dorsey, j. long, c. long)...
BTW, jim thomas (sporting news beat writer for STL) suggested that carriker would remain at DT even if they get dorsey, with ryan & glover in a rotation (this could be the initial plan, but doesn't mean it couldn't happen down the road... carriker and long have some similarities, though long of course has higher grade)... little is ahead of schedule on rehab, & '07 DET free agent james hall was cut & re-signed to more cap friendly-terms... those guys are old, so they do need reinforcements...
with carriker & ryan, i don't think there is much question DE more pressing need... gholston could have highest upside, but might be liability in run... c. long is very advanced technically & is a historically good prospect in terms of his hands... some dis his upside, but imo he could be better than kerney... kerney cost a ton to go to SEA, yet was one of few pricey free agents that was without question worth the money (led NFC in sacks)... & c. long must be more than half a decade younger... that would be a sound investment at 1.2, & also c. long will help in the run game...
as much as i like c. long, if the rams take dorsey (i hope they do, not sure if it is about 50/50 what they actually do), it won't be because of team need, because DT not as great as DE, but because they think dorsey can be a bigger difference maker & impactful on defense, & is an even rarer talent...
a trade down to saints is interesting, if they could scoop up an extra second...
would you rather have dorsey, or something like harvey/albert/rivers/mckelvin PLUS guy like SS tyrell johnson or OT duane brown (what they might get with saints pick)... its tempting, but i think i'd rather have dorsey...
* as far as trading down, last time they were in this neighborhood they picked potential future HoFer pace... if they had traded down (instead of up slightly for pace) to add bodies, it is unlikely or at least unclear if they would have fared as well... was walter jones (or ogden) in that draft... that would have been a nice trade down...
dorsey is thought by some to be best defensive player & maybe overall prospect in the draft, so it won't be a shocker if the rams stay put & grab him (they need an impact, difference maker on the DL about as much as any team in the NFL)... in top 10, KC, NE & maybe ATL could make sense to trade down, CIN, NO & possibly BAL to trade up...