The 2012 NFL Draft is almost here, and the St. Louis Rams are armed with five picks in the top 100 -- including No. 6 overall (from Washington), No. 33 overall and No. 39 overall (from Washington) -- so they will certainly have an opportunity to land some elite prospects. With needs at offensive tackle, defensive tackle, wide receiver and along the defensive secondary, there are many different directions general manager Les Snead could go, but Peter King of Sports Illustrated thinks the Rams should (and will) select Justin Blackmon with the No. 6 overall pick:
Peter King's Full 2012 NFL Mock Draft On Sports Illustrated
WILL PICK - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
SHOULD PICK - Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Consider it a gift for quarterback Sam Bradford. The Rams love Trent Richardson (join the club), and the 6'1", 207-pound Blackmon doesn't have the size they prefer: Calvin Johnson has him by four inches and 29 pounds. But St. Louis is woefully deficient at receiver, and Blackmon's ability to get open on quick slants and deep routes is beyond instinctive.
King has the Minnesota Vikings taking USC OT Matt Kalil at No. 3, Trent Richardson heading to the Cleveland Browns at No. 4 and LSU CB Morris Claiborne projected to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so for him Blackmon to the Rams is a no-brainer. Time will tell.
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