Jeff Fisher recently said that the St. Louis Rams know "there are going to be teams that have some interest" in the team's No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and that the decision to keep or trade the pick will help to define the future of the franchise. Some prognosticators have projected a trade down for St. Louis, while others have linked them to blue chip OT and WR prospects like Matt Kalil and Justin Blackmon. In his first mock draft, Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly thinks the Rams will prioritize wide receiver and focus on surrounding quarterback Sam Bradford with an explosive playmaker:
2. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon*
WR / Oklahoma StateThe Rams' offense was broken by a litany of injuries and a lack of playmaking talent. With Brandon Lloyd in danger of departing in free agency and likely to follow Josh McDaniels, the roster is barren of NFL starting-caliber talent at the WR position. For Sam Bradford to flourish, he needs more support. Blackmon can factor immediately and give Bradford the No. 1 target he sorely needs to dig out of a sophomore slump.
USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil comes off the board at No. 3 to the Minnesota Vikings, while the Cleveland Browns select Robert Griffin III at No. 4 overall.
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