Justin

Blackmon

The paper also believes the Browns will take “a long, hard look” at Alabama RB Trent Richardson if they pass on Griffin and let free agent Peyton Hillis walk. The odds seem high that the Browns will use at least one of their first-round picks on an offensive skill player for the first time since they selected Brady Quinn at No. 22 overall in 2007.

Blackmon, who was listed at 6-foot-1, 215 as a Cowboy, measured an eighth of an inch smaller and eight pounds lighter in Indianapolis. While Blackmon plays bigger on the field, he’s considerably smaller than the “elite” draft-eligible receivers of offseasons past. If Blackmon is drafted in the top ten, he’ll be the smallest wideout to do so since Ted Ginn (5'11/190) in 2007.

He’ll wait for the Cowboys’ March 9 Pro Day. Oklahoma State has a notoriously “fast track,” so Blackmon may crack the 4.4s in Stillwater. For instance, Kendall Hunter ran a 4.53 at the 2011 Combine. His Pro Day time was a full tenth of a second faster. Keep this in mind for Blackmon’s forty in two weeks.

“I struggle with Justin Blackmon,” Cosell said. “He’s not an elite prospect like Andre or Calvin Johnson. (Michael) Floyd’s right there with him.” Floyd has a couple of inches and at least five pounds on Blackmon, and ran 4.47 on a slow track at the Combine. Blackmon didn’t run in Indy, but ran 4.46 on a fast track at his Pro Day. On tape, they are similar prospects. Don’t be surprised if Blackmon falls out of the top six, but both he and Floyd are gone by pick No. 17.

Some have speculated that the Rams might move up to No. 4 to secure Justin Blackmon, but it’s not happening. Rams GM Les Snead suggested that the team may get offers to move back if Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill gets by Cleveland. “Nowadays the quarterback position’s so important,” Snead said. “If you don’t have one, sometimes you have to do what you’ve got to do to go out and get one. They’re hard to find and they’re hard to get.”

Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd is not in the mix. The Vikes have all three players listed as equals on their draft board, with no favorite yet to emerge. Spielman hopes to have a decision by Wednesday after spending the weekend pouring over film with his staff. Although the team has fielded trade calls, Spielman plans to hold off until Thursday night to see what develops on that front.

King’s report stated that Blackmon “would be his pick” at No. 4 if Heckert wasn’t overruled by president Mike Holmgren. “I haven’t spoken to Peter King in years so I have no idea where that came from,” Heckert said. “Everything you have heard is complete nonsense. It’s just this time of year and I understand that.” Look for the Browns to select Alabama RB Trent Richardson. Assured Heckert, “Everybody is on the same page here with who we are considering.”

Grossi believes OT Matt Kalil (if passed over by Minnesota) and WR Justin Blackmon are only options if the Browns end up trading down. “I know who that No. 4 is going to be, if we stay there,” GM Tom Heckert said. “We’re all on the same page.” Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill doesn’t appear to be in the mix. “If you’re not gonna take a quarterback, I think you have to take Trent Richardson,” NFL Network’s Mayock said Thursday.

“I recruited Michael to LSU when I was coaching at LSU. Obviously he went to Miami,” Sullivan said. "... I think (Blackmon) has got some of those innate characteristics of guys that play the game really well.” Sullivan also praised Blackmon’s “I got it” quality. Like Irvin once did in Dallas, Blackmon will play the Z (flanker) position in the pros.

“We got a playmaker on offense,” said Smith. “Obviously Justin can play inside or outside, but we’re looking for that X receiver when given single coverage we can win one on one. We feel like he’s capable of doing that.” Most had Blackmon penciled in at flanker, but it appears Laurent Robinson will get the nod there. Although Blackmon will be listed as a split end, expect to see him lined up all over the field.