If you go with what all the NFL mock draft experts are saying, former Oklahoma State standout wide-receiver Justin Blackmon will be the first-round selection of the St. Louis Rams when they hand the card to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell naming the No. 6 overall selection Thursday night in the opening round of the 2012 NFL draft.
About the only thing certain about this year's draft, though, is that Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III will be the first two names called, probably in that order. After that, nobody really knows, even though all of the so-called experts lead us to believe they do.
No one would argue that Blackmon is an ideal fit for the Rams' immediate needs. Quarterback Sam Bradford, who starred for the other big Oklahoma football program, the Oklahoma Sooners, needs more weapons at the wide-receiver position, and there probably is a better candidate in this year's draft class to fill that need. Blackmon is a two-time back-to-back winner of the Biltenikoff award as the top receiver in college football. In his two seasons at Oklahoma State, the 6-foot-5 big-play receiver gained over 3,300 yards receiving and hauled in 38 touchdowns, helping lead his team to their best single season in school history and a Big 12 championship.
The real issue isn't whether St. Louis has it's eyes set on Blackmon, it's whether he will be there for the taking come the sixth selection. Blackmon is known to have made visits to Minnesota, Cleveland and Tampa Bay, which all pick immediately in front of the Rams. He also talked with Miami, Carolina and Buffalo, who pick eighth, ninth and tenth, respectively, in the opening round of the 2012 draft.
This is what makes the opening rounds of the NFL draft so exciting. It's always great when you can get your man, but you have to be ready and armed with contingency plans B, C and sometimes D, if you can't.
Let the auction begin.
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