Discussion of late has been mounting regarding the draft stock of Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon. If you believe some online, Blackmon shouldn't be considered in the top 10 while others say he's been surpassed by Michael Floyd of Notre Dame.
Justin Blackmon’s draft stock appears to be on the downturn
Polling seven teams, five told Rob Rang of CBS Sports that Blackmon was the top receiver in the draft. One said it was Floyd and another claims to have Kendall Wright of Baylor at the top.
Perhaps more surprisingly, K.C. Joyner of ESPN.com ranks Blackmon as the sixth-best wide receiver in the class. (That’s ESPN In$ider content, FYI) Joyner graded the top wide receivers in the class based in numerous, with vertical yards per attempt, stretch vertical yards per attempt and other advanced statistics.
In Joyner's rankings, Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech came out on top. Players like Wright, Arkansas' Jarius Wright and Illinois' A.J. Jenkins are in front of Blackmon.
Blackmon is also starting to slip in mock drafts. In Matthew Fairburn’s mock today, Blackmon went 10th to the Bills. He falls even further in the latest mock from Dane Brugler of CBS Sports. Brugler has Blackmon 13th to the Cardinals, behind Floyd whom he has going 10th to the Bills.
Most think Blackmon will be considered by the Cleveland Browns with the No. 4 pick or the St. Louis Rams with the No. 6 pick. If not Blackmon, the Browns are often paired with quarterback Ryan Tannehill or running back Trent Richardson. The Rams, however, aren't as cut and dry. There has been growing momentum in mock drafts matching the Rams with defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. That's what Brugler does in his mock. It's a move that was first popularized by Lance Zierlein of the Sideline View. He has Blackmon going eighth to the Dolphins.
Where do you view Blackmon’s stock three weeks before the 2012 NFL Draft? Also make sure to check out this video from SB Nation breaking down Blackmon:
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