Justin Blackmon: "Non-Elite Prospect" Could Free Fall to Buffalo Bills

Okay.  Say it with me.  "The chances of Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon being available to the Buffalo Bills with pick No. 10 in the NFL Draft are slim to none."  If you agree with me, you're a member of the majority.  But there is at least one football guru who begs to differ, and his name is Greg Cosell. 

As a football writer, I have scoured dozens upon dozens of mock drafts and have not found a single one that has Blackmon sliding past numbers three through nine.  So will the Bills be in shock if Blackmon free-falls to the tenth pick?  Cosell suggests they shouldn't be, because it could actually happen. 

So who is Greg Cosell?  And why would anyone listen to him?  

If the last name rings a bell it's because Greg is the nephew of the late, great Howard Cosell, who for four decades was one of sportscasting's most recognizable and controversial figures.  

As a former attorney, Howard loved to debate sports, the athletes who played them and the journalists who covered them.  Although he was never an athlete himself, he was widely recognized for "telling it like it is", with an advanced vocabulary and an obnoxious bravado.  

Greg Cosell is not nearly as outspoken as his famous uncle was, but he's a "chip off the old block", when it comes to knowledge and research.  

As a producer at NFL Films for the past 33 years, Cosell has access to every single clip imaginable, from stars of the past and present, to prospects for the future.  He has also spent more time in film rooms them most current NFL coaches.

For an intriguing read about his expertise, check out "Greg Cosell: The Wizard Behind the Curtain."  

Like his uncle before him, Cosell is unafraid to tell it like he sees it, especially when his eyes have a clear and objective view. 

Here's an excerpt from Cosell's Thursday interview with SiriusXM Radio's Ross Tucker, who is a former Bills offensive lineman.

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"I struggle with Justin Blackmon.  He's not an elite prospect like Andre or Calvin Johnson." 

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Cosell was downright serious and then stated that Notre Dame's Michael Floyd is "right there" with Blackmon, when it comes to choosing a receiver in the the draft's first round.

The film extraordinaire may have a point, because Floyd recently measured 36 feet and one-half inches in his vertical leap and broad jumped 10' 02".  Blackmon had a 35' vertical and broad jumped 10'04". The two also had nearly identical times in the forty-yard dash, despite the fact that Floyd is taller and heavier then Blackmon.   

Tucker agreed with Cosell and stated the facts.

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"Floyd ran a 4.47 on a slow track at the NFL Combine, while Blackmon ran 4.46 on a fast track on his Pro Day."

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Tucker added that he "won't be surprised if Blackmon falls out of the top six, but both he and Floyd will be gone by pick No. 17."   

If teams in the top six agree with Cosell and Tucker, Blackmon could conceivably slide, despite recent reports that speak on the contrary.

On Wednesday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer confirmed that the St. Louis Rams are very interested in being trade partners with the Browns to target Blackmon. The Rams own the sixth and 33rd selections in the draft and would likely package them to move back up in the draft (to No. 4), after dealing the No. 2 selection to the Washington Redskins.  

If that transpires, Cleveland will be described as a team that errs on the side of caution, when it comes to using a high pick on a potential difference-maker.  But that may be impossible for them to do, no matter who they select.

Experts are all over the place when it comes to Cleveland's intentions.  Some project the Browns will stay at No. 4 to reach for Texas A & M QB Ryan Tannehill. Meanwhile, others are torn between Blackmon or Alabama RB Trent Richardson.

If Cleveland remains at four and chooses Tannehill or Richardson, Tampa Bay would become the primary trade partner for teams interested in Blackmon.  The Buccaneers are reportedly interested in LSU CB Morris Claiborne, which makes them a viable candidate to consider trades.  

So how does Buffalo shuffle into this discussion?  

First of all, the Bills could have a Plan B, if Blackmon begins to slip.  Some of the teams ahead of them could have the same agenda, but the best offer will win, as the Atlanta Falcons proved last year, when they pulled off a draft day trade for WR Julio Jones. 

Like every NFL team, the Bills prepare for the draft by grading each and every player.  They also establish a board that lists prospects in an order of preference. 

All 32 teams have needs, but it doesn't necessarily mean they draft for need with every pick.  Often times, they'll settle for the "best player available" that is next on their board.

In my opinion, the Bills will take Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff, if they stay at No. 10 and he is available to them.  But if Blackmon is higher than Reiff on Buffalo's board and they have a chance to conduct a trade to move up, I wouldn't put it past them.

The free agent status of Bills left tackle Demetrius Bell could also play a significant role in Buffalo's first-round decision.  If he decides to re-up with the Bills, their offensive line need will be answered. 

In a Tuesday interview on NFL Network, Bills Lead Journalist Chris Brown suggested that Floyd was a player of interest for the Bills.  He then wrote these words in his blog on BuffaloBills.com:  

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"Floyd is widely considered the second best receiver in the draft class, after Blackmon. With 4.47 speed and a 6’3″ 220-pound frame, he could certainly be an option to line up opposite Stevie Johnson on the outside."

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To me, that doesn't come across as a sure-fire endorsement of Floyd.  I would also bet my bottom dollar that if Buffalo has a choice between him and Blackmon, general manager Buddy Nix will think long and hard about their overall skill sets. 

Nix, of course, has expressed numerous times that he wants a tall, athletic receiver who can out-jump and out-muscle defensive backs.  At just over six feet tall, that description doesn't seem to match Blackmon.  

But would Nix pass on a collegiate star who hauled in 121 passes for 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns last season?  

Greg Cosell thinks seven teams ahead of Buffalo will, but Mr. Nix should feel free to disagree.

Joe Versage is a NFL Correspondent at Bleacher Report.  He previously covered the Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens as a television beat reporter.  Follow him on Twitter at: @dcjoev.