NFL Draft 2012: Justin Blackmon Will Be Biggest Steal in This Year's Draft

While QBs Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III are grabbing headlines in the upcoming NFL Draft, the most talented player entering professional football is Justin Blackmon.

Blackmon is among the most talented WR prospects in recent memory.

Many scouts try to find comparisons—A.J. Green, Julio Jones—but Blackmon is better. He helped win the Fiesta Bowl over Andrew Luck on January 1st and enters the NFL at the top of his game.

While Blackmon elected not to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine due to an injured hamstring, his route-running and ball handling skills were superb.

He is the head of the class and a league above Jeffery, Hill and Floyd.

Just as Calvin Johnson transformed the identity of the Detroit Lions, Blackmon can offer an explosive impact on any NFL team.

The 21-year-old is 6’1” and 215 pounds. He had an impressive three years at Oklahoma State.

In 2010, Blackmon touted 20 touchdowns, 16.1 yards per reception and 1782 total yards in the air. The following year, Blackmon got more looks and improved on his 2010 reception total by reeling in 121 catches.

At his size and speed (his goal is to run a 4.2 40-yard dash, although he is typically seen to have a time closer to 4.4 seconds), his value is exponentially high.

This season A.J. Green was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. NFL owners are aware that Blackmon can reach that same kind of potential.

“I’d like to look to be sort of like [Owens] because his work ethic is real good and I like to work as hard as I can,” said Blackmon. That work ethic is going to serve him well in the NFL.

Recently, NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irving said, “The Rams need to do everything to make sure they draft him.”

Blackmon offers extraordinary hands, stellar hand-eye coordination, sharp route-running and good football instincts. He is explosive off of the ball and is a very aggressive runner.

After recording 3,118 yards in two years as a starter in college, his crafty skills make him an elite candidate to be an above average playmaker in the NFL.

Look for whatever team that lands Blackmon to be incredibly pleased with the skill set that they’ve inherited with an early first-round pick.

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