Here, I think, is the best way to summarize the St. Louis Rams' chances of snaring Justin Blackmon in any one 2012 NFL Mock Draft (or the real thing, for that matter): If the teams in front of the Rams draft according to stereotype, the Rams get Blackmon -- fulfilling their own stereotype, if you haven't updated it since 2001. If they don't, the Rams don't. Because all this comes down to whether the Cleveland Browns want a franchise running back, Trent Richardson, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want a future defensive star, Morris Claiborne.
The latest Mocking the Draft mock is a great example. Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are shoo-ins, and Matt Kalil is rapidly approaching shoo-in status at No. 3, but the Browns draft Trent Richardson because they're the Browns and the Buccaneers pick Morris Claiborne because they're the Buccaneers.
Don't get me wrong: I am entirely in favor of this kind of stereotyping. But that's mostly for Sam Bradford's sake. More similarly biased Mock Draft recaps and analysis from SB Nation St. Louis:
- If they aren't busy trying to play to type, the Browns might realize Justin Blackmon makes a lot of sense at No. 4. Too much sense, if you ask me.
- Time, once again, to remind ourselves that there's always Michael Floyd, and potentially for significantly longer than anyone is anticipating.
- Or you can just disagree with my first principles entirely, and suggest that even Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III aren't shoo-ins.