The Rams had 11 selections in the 2003 NFL Draft and went for defense with their first round pick. They took defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy out of Penn St. when their turn came at #12. Kennedy was a third-team Associated Press All-American, making 87 tackles for the Nittany Lions. He was second on the team with 5.5 sacks in 2003. Kennedy was also responsible for three deflected passes. At a quick 6-4, 320, he’s being compared to Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp. Kennedy made huge conditioning strides since his freshman year when he arrived at Happy Valley weighing 400 pounds. The Rams continued to focus on defense in the second round by taking Hawaii linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. But the Rams love wide receivers and they spent their next two picks addressing that area of the team. In round three they went with Kevin Curtis of Utah St. and Shaun McDonald of Arizona state with their first of two picks in the fourth round. With their second pick in round four, they went with cornerback DeJuan Groce of Nebraska. In the fifth round the Rams had three picks. The first selection was Eastern Washington tight end Dan Curley. With the next two picks, the Rams once again addressed the secondary by opting for fellow cornerbacks Shane Walton of Notre Dame and Kevin Garrett of SMU. In the sixth round, the Rams picked Scott Tercero, a tight end from Cal. In the seventh round St. Louis had two selections, choosing another ‘Husker, linebacker Scott Shanle and Western New Mexico tight end Richard Angulo. After the draft, the Rams signed Missouri quarterback Kirk Farmer to a free agent deal. The deal doesn’t offer him a spot on the roster, but does give him a chance to try out for the team.
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