The Rams decided to take Ohio State's James Laurinaitis over USC's Rey Maualuga because of the latter's history of off-field woes, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Maualuga is bigger and regarded as better against the run than Laurinaitis.

The Rams tried hard to move into the latter portion of the first round so they could take Ohio State linebacker James Laurinaitis, but he was still there for them at the 35th pick. "Some of the best trades are the ones you don't make," Rams vice president Billy Devaney told reporters in St. Louis. "[Laurinaitis] has the size we're looking for," Devaney said. "He loves football. We talked about getting bigger. He adds size to our linebacker corps. He's been a tackling machine."

Steve Wyche of NFL.com is reporting that the Rams have purchased USC quarterback Mark Sanchez a plane ticket to fly into St. Louis on Sunday. The team plans to introduce their top pick to the media on Sunday. The Rams have the second overall pick in the draft. The belief is that the Rams will select Baylor tackle Jason Smith, but it appears as though Sanchez is an outside possibilty.

The Rams reportedly have their sights on Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry with the second overall pick in this weekend's NFL Draft. "First of all, you're getting top-shelf character," said a veteran NFC scout. "You're getting versatility. You can play him inside, outside. He's an impact player wherever he's going to go. "Wherever he plays, he's going to line up early and be an impact player. He's big. He's fast. He's physical. He gets off blocks. It doesn't take long to see. Just turn on the tape, and you say, 'OK!' " The St. Louis Post Dispatch says that Curry is one of four players that the Rams are considering with their pick.

The Rams are looking for an offensive tackle, and Virginia's Eugene Monroe and Baylor's Jason Taylor appear to be the top choices. Mississippi's Michael Oher and Alabama's Andre Smith were once thought to be worthy of a top-10 pick, but have since fallen down mock drafts. St. Louis holds the second overall pick.

Former Rams general manager Charley Armey doesn't believe that the team should considered trading the second overall pick in this month's NFL Draft. "The No. 1 cardinal rule for me absolutely, without question, is do not trade out of an impact position," Armey said. "Because there's only a few impact players. Some years I've been in the draft, it was only around six impact players. The year Orlando Pace was in the draft (1997), there was only about six. The year we took Torry Holt (1999), there was about 13."

Rams general manager Billy Devaney says that the team is open to trading the second overall pick in this month's NFL Draft. "Yeah, in the position we're in, we'll consider everything," Devaney said. "It's a little early. We kind of play with scenarios in our mind right now. But we haven't gotten down to the nitty-gritty, if you will, to say: 'OK, how far back would we trade?' "

The Falcons have traded wide receiver Laurent Robinson to the Rams in exchange for the right to swap fifth and sixth round draft picks. Atlanta sent their fifth round pick (160th overall) and sixth round pick (196th) to St. Louis and received the Rams' fifth round pick (138) and their sixth round pick (176).

The Rams signed Kyle Boller on Saturday to be the backup to starting quarterback Marc Bulger. Boller spent all of last season, his sixth with the Ravens, on IR with a shoulder injury sustained in the preseason. He was Baltimore?s first-round pick in the 2003 draft.

Rams running back Steven Jackson used Twitter to ask Suns center Shaquille O'Neal if he was busy this coming fall. Jackson, posting on his Twitter account (sj39), wrote, "shaq I'm looking 4 a offensive tackle. U busy n the fall? LOL."