1.2 - STL TAKES AUBURN LT GREG ROBINSON
Fisher hasn't taken a first round OL, but has never had the 1.2 (three top 10 picks, took McNair, VY and Pacman), and he inherited Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews and solid LT Brad Hopkins. GM Floyd Reece ran the HOU/TEN drafts. The history of Snead/Fisher is only two drafts deep. Jake Matthews is the son of Bruce, or course, but both the HC and GM have ties to Auburn (Fisher's son played with Robinson, and Snead is an alumni).
There was an offer to trade down (which I think is more likely to happen than not), but it was lower than I felt would guarantee getting a player from my short list, and less than I was looking for (offer was a 2015 first or 2014 second, and boring getting an imaginary 2015 first

- I think if STL moves down as far as this proposed move, they will get more). If I knew I could get LT Matthews at that spot later, would have pulled the trigger.
SERIOUS consideration was given to Watkins. But if the OL is a mess, he would be a moot point (see how human Manning looked against SEA, and STL has to play three top 10 defenses six X a year). Long returning from a torn ACL and showed signs of breaking down in MIA, Saffold was an ordinary, oft-injured OT that flashed signs of being a Pro Bowl guard but more likely than not to take the money and run in free agency, RT Barksdale is solid if not special but only signed through 2014, they have nothing at LG, center Wells has missed nearly half of his games since 2012, and with RG Dahl (injured in 2013 - detecting a pattern here?) is about 33 and not the future. Robinson could serve four functions - be a dominant, Pro Bowl-level interim guard (BAL Hall of Famer Ogden began inside), ditto as a starting RT, injury insurance and heir apparent for Long at LT. Auburn's scheme leaves him somewhat of an unknown commodity in pass pro, but this isn't Jason Smith 2.0, who was a former TE conversion. Robinson has better feet, is a natural knee bender, more physical by temperment and plays angry but under control. SEA and SF have brutal defenses, and sometimes you need to fight fire with fire. It is scary to think he could get bigger and stronger. The thought of him blowing up SEA and SF defenders for the next decade is appealing.
Watkins would be awesome (maybe that is the actual STL pick?), but I think existing talent, like Austin, Cook, Bailey, Givens and Quick can be better leveraged by infusing the OL with much needed talent, youth and depth. Taking a WR so high could be overkill given the direction of the run-centric offense. Robinson is a better fit in that context and will elevate RB Stacy as well as the receiving weapons. He is a tone setter, and his physicality, toughness, nastiness and intensity could have a ripple through, cascade effect throughout the offense and team as a whole.
* I wouldn't have taken Clowney even if available. New DC Williams presence alone improves that side of the ball. They could be a few players away from being top 10 or better, and those players don't need to be taken this high. A better offense can help the defense, too (by keeping them off the field, helping with field position, playing with a lead could make the opposing offense more one dimensional and position their DL to make a greater impact with even more big plays, etc.).