2012 NFL Draft Predictions: Michael Floyd's Big Workout Will Shake Up the Top 10

Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd caught 100 passes for over 1,100 yards in 2011 for the Fighting Irish, and after a strong series of workouts the 6'3" 220-pound senior is making the claim that he, and not Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon, should be the first wideout chosen in the 2012 NFL draft.

The NFL Network's Gil Brandt was at Notre Dame's recent pro day. Brandt came away from the workout not only impressed with Floyd's overall skill set but also believing that Floyd, and not two-time Biletnikoff Award winner Justin Blackmon, is the top prospect at his position in this year's draft class.

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After the excellent workout Michael Floyd had at Notre Dame’s pro day Tuesday, I feel he conceivably could be drafted before fellow blue-chip receiver prospect Justin Blackmon.

Representatives from 18 NFL teams were there, including Bears coach Lovie Smith, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, and the receivers coaches for the Ravens, Browns and Bears. Prospects ran indoors on FieldTurf.

Floyd is very fluid and runs good routes. He’s a big target, has excellent speed and caught the ball extremely well. He likely got a boost from having former Irish QB Jimmy Clausen throwing the ball to him, because the two are comfortable with each other.

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"Floyd really moved himself up the charts Tuesday, and again, his performance should at least have people putting him side-by-side with Blackmon; as I wrote, personally, I would rank Floyd higher. Floyd is a little faster and a little taller, and he’s been pretty productive in college."

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Jeff Reynolds of CBS Sports concurs with Brandt's assessment of Floyd's workout, and while Reynolds still ranks Floyd behind Blackmon among wide receivers the gap appears to be narrowing fairly quickly.

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Three months and a week after his college season ended with a Champs Sports Bowl loss to Florida State, Floyd looked every bit the part of the top 10 pick most analysts now project ND's all-time leading receiver as in the three-day, seven-round draft to be held April 26-28 in New York. NFLDraftScout.com ranks Floyd as the No. 2 overall receiver in the draft behind Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State.

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Regardless of whether Blackmon or Floyd come off the board first, the next handful of of picks after the St. Louis Rams pick at sixth overall will be filled with intrigue, as the Jacksonville Jaguars (7th), Miami Dolphins (8th), Carolina Panthers (9th) and Buffalo Bills (10th) all have a need at wide receiver and may be targeting one of these talented pass catchers.

So, not only is it looking less and less like a foregone conclusion that Justin Blackmon will be the first wide receiver drafted in April but it also appears more and more likely that Blackmon will not be alone among wideouts taken in the top 10 of the 2012 NFL draft.

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