2012 NFL Mock Draft: Peter King Projects The Rams' Pick

Peter King from Sports Illustrated has his version of a 2012 NFL Mock Draft coming out in the next edition of the magazine. We here at Turf Show Times appreciate print as much as the next person, but are not particularly inclined to wait. And we won't. King's mock draft is now available online. His pick for the Rams is a common one, though less common in recent weeks.

King gives the Rams Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon.

That's who King says the Rams will take, but who does he think they should take?

The answer to that question is Blackmon too.

Here's King:

Consider it a gift for quarterback Sam Bradford. The Rams love Trent Richardson (join the club), and the 6'1", 207-pound Blackmon doesn't have the size they prefer: Calvin Johnson has him by four inches and 29 pounds. But St. Louis is woefully deficient at receiver, and Blackmon's ability to get open on quick slants and deep routes is beyond instinctive.

I have my doubts. Why compromise on a receiver when they should still be able to find a bigger guy with higher upside in the top of the second round, where they have two picks?

If the Rams wanted another possession receiver, they could also grab Marvin Jones who also has a little upside as a downfield threat. Of course, they could also find themselves a downfield threat later in the draft, someone line Joe Adams from Arkansas.

The sixth pick is a no win situation, to some extent. If Kalil, Richardson and Claiborne are all off the board - and they will be barring a trade up by someone wanting Ryan Tannehill - the Rams have a relatively flat pool of players to choose from with the sixth pick, players that would be better value in the teens and twenties.