Mel Kiper Jr. is back
with his third 2012 NFL mock draft for the first round.
We discussed the previous one before the combine and covered the updated one relating to the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
The St. Louis Rams, owners of the second overall choice, round out the series.
2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Kiper's give: Go ahead and put a big asterisk here, because I think this pick will be taken (most likely) by the Browns, with the Redskins also right there. The Browns can do a little more in terms of draft compensation, all things being equal, but if Dan Snyder really wants his man, I'd never assume he'd come in second in a bidding war. Blackmon we know could fit with the Rams, even if they draft at No. 4 or No. 6, just based on how the picks could line up.
Sando's take: The Rams' maneuvering ability will depend upon how teams value Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III, and also upon which teams land veteran quarterbacks before the draft. Cleveland (picking fourth) and Washington (sixth) appear to be the prime candidates for moving into the No. 2 overall spot. Griffin's mobility would seem more valuable for Mike Shanahan's version of the West Coast offense than for the one Pat Shurmur runs in Cleveland. That wouldn't matter much if the Redskins landed a veteran quarterback. Having Peyton Manning land somewhere other than Washington would seem to give the Rams their best chance at maximizing trade value for the second pick. Kiper sent Blackmon to the Rams in his previous mock as well. The general idea makes sense. The Rams do need playmakers, no matter where they wind up picking in the first round. Their leadership is committed to Sam Bradford and must find weapons for him.