With the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft coming Thursday, the St. Louis Rams' plans are in flux—pending the resolution of a Steven Jackson contract dispute, with attending trade rumors, that the Rams have said doesn't exist. If that's a smokescreen, and the Rams are looking to trade their 29-year-old offensive star, then they'll almost certainly pursue Trent Richardson with the No. 6 pick in the draft. If they keep Jackson around, Justin Blackmon makes much more sense.
Of course, Justin Blackmon makes much more sense anyway—Steven Jackson at full strength wasn't enough to keep the Rams out of the basement in 2011, and trading him (for a mid-round draft pick) and selecting a player who's unlikely to replicate his performance as a rookie seems like a lateral move at best. Keep the star everyone loves, draft a wide receiver Sam Bradford will love, and call it a day—right?
That's what we're hoping for, at least.
More NFL Draft coverage from SB Nation St. Louis:
- Here's more on why trading Steven Jackson doesn't make any sense.
- Though Matt Kalil's possible presence at No. 6 could complicate the Rams' Justin Blackmon plans.
- Here's SB Nation St. Louis's 2012 NFL Mock Draft.