Gilbert Brings Rams Sudden Impact on Line : NFL draft: They choose huge defensive player from Pitt in first round and agree on a $7-million contract.

ANAHEIM —  The Rams took a quantum leap in the draft Sunday, beginning their day by selecting Sean Gilbert, the centerpiece defensive lineman they have so long been missing, and clinching the move by agreeing to terms on a long-term contract with him before the night was done.

The deal, believed to be worth more than $7 million over five seasons, including a signing bonus of about $3 million, is expected to be finalized and announced this week, possibly as soon as this morning, Ram sources said.

The Rams, who began heavy negotiations with his agent, Gus Sunceri, as soon as they drafted the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Gilbert, have not signed a top draft choice so quickly in recent memory. Last year, they watched No. 1 pick Todd Lyght sit out nearly all of the preseason because of a contract holdout.

“It’s the first step in rebuilding this Ram defense,” Coach Chuck Knox said Sunday. “He’s a big, great athlete who has a lot of football ahead of him, and he’ll be a big, big plus for us. We’ll put him in there and let him play.”

Gilbert is one of four--the top three picks plus Dallas choice Kevin Smith, who was No. 17 overall--draftees to have agreed to terms by Sunday night.

After Gilbert, the Rams dipped into the deep Pittsburgh draft pool again on the second round, choosing 5-10 cornerback Steve Israel. Then, finishing a run during which they had four of the top 60 selections overall, the Rams chose 298-pound defensive tackle Marc Boutte and 5-11 receiver Todd Kinchen, both of Louisiana State, in the third round.

During the fourth round the Rams added 290-pound guard-tackle Shawn Harper of Indiana, and they finished the day selecting safety Chris Crooms of Texas A&M; with their fifth-round choice.

Israel--who tore a ligament in his right knee in his sophomore season but appears to be fully recovered--and Boutte could find starting spots by the end of training camp, Ram coaches said.

Gilbert, who played only 17 games at Pittsburgh because of academic problems in his first two seasons, generally is considered one of the most physically gifted big players to come out of the draft in years.

The Rams entered Sunday morning knowing the Colts, holders of the top two picks overall, could draft only two of the three defensive players the Rams coveted: Gilbert, Washington defensive tackle Steve Emtman and Texas A&M; linebacker Quentin Coryatt.

After Indianapolis chose Emtman and Coryatt, the Rams did not hesitate.

Gilbert and Sunceri had agreed to a five-year, $9-million deal with the Colts that would have made him the No. 1 pick overall, but that was bypassed when the Colts finally agreed to a deal with Emtman--their first choice all along--and Coryatt, who agreed to a deal less expensive than Gilbert’s.

About two seconds after the Rams drafted Gilbert, Knox dropped him into the middle of the Rams starting lineup at one of the team’s two defensive tackle spots, and the staff began comparing Gilbert’s projected impact to that of Cortez Kennedy, who invigorated Knox’s Seattle Seahawk defense two seasons ago.

“A guy like this is going to raise the play of everybody else,” assistant Joe Vitt said. “This guy’s an impact player. It’s going to take two guys to block him every snap.

“Right now he gives us credibility on our defense.”

Gilbert joins an assortment at defensive tackle in the Rams’ 4-3 alignment. He will start at one spot, with David Rocker, Boutte, Mike Piel and Alvin Wright apparently battling for the other.

Last year, the Rams had only 17 sacks, fewest in the league, and they are counting on Gilbert to give them the inside push that opens lanes up for outside rushers.

The only negative some scouts saw in Gilbert was his consistency on the field. Because of slight injuries that kept him from practicing, Gilbert started only 11 games.

As big and fast as he is--he has been timed in under 4.9 seconds for the 40-yard dash--most were disappointed when they expected Gilbert to dominate every game, every play. During his two-year college career, Gilbert had six sacks and 99 tackles.

Gilbert fulfilled some of his potential in his last regular-season game, getting six tackles behind the line of scrimmage for minus-26 yards.

“The thing that impressed us most about watching this kid play,” Vitt said, “is the burning desire to chase the ball and tussle from snap to snap.”

During a conference call from draft headquarters in New York, Gilbert said he looks forward to being the focal point of the defense from the outset of his NFL career.

“You always want to be under pressure because it’s nice to know you’re needed somewhere,” said Gilbert, who was due to arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday night and has a news conference scheduled for this morning.

“I’ll get out and I’ll do the best I can, and if I’m satisfied with that I’m sure everybody else will be.”

Ram Notes

Coach Chuck Knox calls second-round pick Steve Israel, a cornerback from Pittsburgh, “probably the fastest man in the draft.” Israel played only one full season of college ball because of a torn ligament in his right knee that he sustained during his sophomore season. Knox says Israel shouldn’t have any problems with the Rams, however. “We checked out his knee very thoroughly, because he had had knee surgery and he completely rehabbed it,” Knox said.

The Rams apparently rated Mississippi Valley State cornerback Ashley Ambrose, selected one pick ahead of Israel by the Colts, slightly above Israel, but not enough to cause them any concern.

Even though fifth-round pick Shawn Harper, an offensive lineman from Indiana, probably projects better to an NFL guard position, Ram offensive line coach Jim Erkenbeck said Harper probably will be used at tackle because of the team’s needs there. “You’d like to have the 6-7 guy there, but plenty of guys in Shawn’s category have succeeded at tackle in this league,” Erkenbeck said. Harper is listed at 6-3.

Knox said the team considered drafting a running back with one of their first six selections, but backed off when Tommy Vardell and Vaughn Dunbar were taken in the first round. Running back is still a clear possibility for the team in today’s later rounds.

* DRAFT COVERAGE: C8-C9