2014 NFL Mock Draft: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Selected by the St. Louis Rams

After selecting Sammy Watkins with the No. 2 overall pick earlier and offensive tackles Greg Robinson and Jake Matthews off the board, the St. Louis Rams make a pick on the defensive side of the ball, improving their secondary.

General manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher should have the honor of taking the first safety off the board in Ha’Sean "Ha Ha" Clinton-Dix from Alabama

The Rams trotted out 2012 undrafted rookie free agent Rodney McLeod and rookie third-round pick T.J. McDonald as their starting safeties. After McDonald fractured his leg in late September, Darian Stewart, another undrafted defensive back, took over the starting role for six games.

St. Louis’s defense surrendered the highest pass completion percentage and yards per attempt in 2013. After spending a pair of Day 2 selections on cornerbacks in 2012, it is time for the Rams to use a draft pick on a highly touted safety to shore up their pass defense.

Clinton-Dix is an aggressive safety with prototypical size and excellent ball skills. This selection would improve both safety positions as Clinton-Dix could play a centerfielder role at free safety, better complementing McDonald at strong safety.

If Janoris Jenkins does not gamble on as pass plays as he did last season, the addition of Clinton-Dix would give this organization a formidable secondary. The Alabama product would immediately become the team’s best safety, even as a rookie.

2013’s worst-place team in the NFC West are quietly building a solid defense through the draft that would match the quality of the other teams in the division. The front seven is led by former first round picks Robert Quinn and Michael Brockers. Quinn led the NFC in sacks. The Rams then spent two high selections on playmakers linebacker Alec Ogletree and the aforementioned Jenkins at cornerback in the past two years.

The argument could be made this is too early to select Clinton-Dix but if St. Louis does not snatch a safety here, it would be slim pickings next time they are on the clock. They can not afford to ignore the back end of the defense any longer.

2014 BGN Mock Draft Order

1 Houston Texans (Imp) - Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville - [Explanation]
2 St. Louis Rams (starship 007) - Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson - [Explanation]
3 Jacksonville Jaguars (sports00fan00) - Jadeveon Clowney, DE, SC - [Explanation]
4 Cleveland Browns (InHinkieWeTrust) - Johnny Manziel, QB, TAMU - [Explanation]
5 Oakland Raiders (SleepingDuck) - Khalil Mack, OLB, Buffalo - [Explanation]
6 Atlanta Falcons (jimmyrustler) - Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn - [Explanation]
7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AnthroEagle) - Blake Bortles, QB, UCF - [Explanation]
8 Minnesota Vikings (pot) - Anthony Barr, OLB, UCLA - [Explanation]
9 Buffalo Bills (wow4444) - Jake Matthews, OT, TAMU - [Explanation]
10 Detroit Lions (kamjam) - Mike Evans, WR, TAMU - [Explanation]
11 Tennessee Titans (NowWhat?) - Justin Gilbert, CB, OK State - [Explanation]
12 New York Giants (Anthony DiBona) - Eric Ebron, TE, UNC - [Explanation]
13 St. Louis Rams (ILL Eagle) - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama - [Explanation]
14 Chicago Bears (JerkyBoy) -
15 Pittsburgh Steelers (KJ Brophy) -
16 Dallas Cowboys (Patrick Wall) -
17 Baltimore Ravens (rohan915) -
18 New York Jets (del.champion) -
19 Miami Dolphins (HD) -
20 Arizona Cardinals (NCeagle) -
21 Green Bay Packers (ablesser88) -
22 Philadelphia Eagles (jhn) -
23 Kansas City Chiefs (PeaceVT) -
24 Cincinnati Bengals (deg0ey) -
25 San Diego Chargers (StoneColeKiller58) -
26 Cleveland Browns (P_Roach17) -
27 New Orleans Saints (bebin) -
28 Carolina Panthers (MikeKafka) -
29 New England Patriots (Amateur_Hour) -
30 San Francisco 49ers (AndyMcNabb) -
31 Denver Broncos (dceagles) -
32 Seattle Seahawks (eagles0132) -