10 Reasons Justin Blackmon Is Exactly What the St. Louis Rams Want

With all the debate going on about what the Rams should do with their top 10 pick, the general consensus is that either Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon will be the first player chosen by St. Louis. 

The USC tackle has all the tools to be a franchise blocker, and would be a worthy top selection. However, the Rams are more importantly in desperate need of a playmaker on offense besides Steven Jackson and a go-to guy for Sam Bradford.

There are a lot of options that will be open to St.Louis, but in the end, making Justin Blackmon a Ram should be a no-brainer.

The Offense (Steven Jackson) Needs Some Help

S-Jax has carried the offense for all of his career. He is one of the most talented running backs of the last few years, but has lacked spotlight and been held back because of a lot of mediocre teammates around him.

Jackson still has some dominance left in him. But similar to the problem that Adrian Peterson faced, there is no other offensive threat than him, which allows teams to constantly stack the box against the run.

Adding Justin Blackmon would be more than just a threat. He has the potential to demand a double team from the moment he steps on the field and open up the lanes for S-Jax.

Blackmon Will Take Pressure off of the Other Receivers

The Rams have a lot of No.3 receivers, and a few No. 2's.

Last season, everyone was looking for someone from that group to step up, but none of the pass catchers could elevate their games. Brandon Lloyd was a good pickup, but was constantly doubled as there were no other threats.

The addition of Justin Blackmon would ensure that either he or Lloyd would receive single coverage most of the game, something both of them could take advantage of. And guys like Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander will benefit greatly from being increasingly open and less pressure to perform.

He Is an Awesome Route Runner, Reminiecent of a Past Great

Blackmon isn't the biggest or the fastest receiver available, but his skill set is probably the most complete of all, with his athleticism and route running being particularly good.

With credit to Matt Miller's scouting report, in the clip, Blackmon is shown to sell the run perfectly before blazing past the cornerback on the way to a long touchdown. He is very polished when it comes to route running, which helps in gaining separation.

This skill will remind St.Louis management of Issac Bruce, one of the best route runners in NFL history, and cornerstone of the Greatest Show on Turf. When that thought comes to mind, it will go a long way to dispelling any doubts they have about drafting him.

Sam Bradford Needs to Continue Improving

And getting him a real No.1 receiver is a great way to make sure that happens.

Mark Clayton, Donnie Avery, Brandon Gibson, Laurent Robinson, Danny Amendola, Greg Salas.

These are some of the receivers that Bradford has had in recent years. And most of these guys are injury-prone, busts, disappointments or just inadequate.

Just look at how having a game breaking target like Calvin Johnson makes Matt Stafford that much better, and you'll see that Justin Blackmon would bring out the best of Sam Bradford's game.

Blackmon Has "T.O" Talent...

Of all the comparisons there are for Blackmon, Owens is the most prevalent one. Both are similar in terms of the size and speed combination, as well as explosiveness and the ability to get significant yards after the catch.

Whether or not Blackmon also develops Owens' penchant for dropped passes remains to be seen. The OK State wideout has great hands, but has been a little inconsistent with them.

As Well as a Classy Attitude

Blackmon isn't a diva receiver. He won't be a negative influence or cause problems in the locker room, and other than his DUI arrest, has no character concerns to worry about.

A perfect example of the good guy that the Rams would getting is in the heartwarming story of his friendship with a young cancer patient.

Blackmon Would Provide the YAC, and Big Play Threat

The Rams have no receiver who is near as good as the OK State wideout in turning a small gain into a big play. And unless the corner has been beaten, and the QB makes a near-perfect throw, no one brings the constant home run threat the way Blackmon does.

Once he gets the ball, Blackmon has a wide array of jukes and spin moves to get past the first defender and get upfield, as well as some good field speed to go with that.

He'll Finally Be the Game Breaker That Has Been so Long Needed

Wide receiver has been a need of the Rams not just this year, but for several years now. The team had chances to get players like Torrey Smith and Titus Young in past drafts who would've been able to contribute immediately and fill that need, but neglected to do so.

Justin Blackmon would flourish in a role as the go-to guy for the Rams, and would remain that guy for a long time.

Blackmon Has a Track Record to Back Up His Highlights

The receiver out of Oklahoma State has perhaps the best track record of any of the top rated wideouts in the draft. A forgettable freshman year, followed by two successive seasons of 1500+ yards and 15+ touchdowns. 

Despite the high number of first-round wide receiver busts, the Rams would be getting an incredibly talented player who has also proven to be a consistent, high-performance player.

Blackmon Isn't Flashy, but He Gets the Job Done.

The Oklahoma State wideout has drawn comparisons to Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin, but perhaps the truest comparison that there has been is to Hakeem Nicks.

He doesn't have eye-catching physical attributes like Alshon Jeffery's size, or Kendall Wright's speed, but like Nicks, Blackmon has a great all-around skill set. He won't get as much of the spotlight as some of the more physically gifted receivers in his class, but in the end, Blackmon will be as good, if not better than any of them.