Sports Illustrated's Don Banks projects the St. Louis Rams to take Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon with the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday in his final mock draft. Rumors have swirled that the Rams could go in another direction, particularly if USC offensive tackle Matt Kalil falls to them, but Banks is taking the safe route:
There are rumblings the Rams might take a pass on Blackmon to take prized Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, but again, I'm not going to over-think this one. St. Louis needs a No. 1 receiving weapon for Sam Bradford to grow with, and I think Blackmon has been the target from the Rams' earliest pre-draft planning sessions.
The Rams have been tied to Blackmon for a long time, particularly since trading down from the No. 2 pick to gather some additional selections. If the Minnesota Vikings opt not to take Kalil (possibly taking LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne) and he's somehow still on the board, many believe that St. Louis would best be served taking the lineman. Banks doesn't think Minnesota will pass on Kalil, though.
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