NFL Draft: Best-case scenarios for Blackmon, Weeden

The NFL Draft is about nine hours away, which means Justin Blackmon quickly will learn his fate. Stay tuned on whether Brandon Weeden does, too. But what are the best- and worst-case scenarios for OSU’s stars? Let’s look.

JUSTIN BLACKMON

Best-case scenario: Minnesota, at No. 3. Aside from the prestige of being the first pick past the two obvious quarterbacks, the Vikings are not a bad place to land for a receiver. Minnesota has a history of showcasing elite receivers, going all the way back to Gene Washington and continuing into the Brett Favre era with Sidney Rice. Christian Ponder actually showed some potential last season as a rookie quarterback.

Next-best scenario: St. Louis, at No. 6. The Rams have a quarterback in Sam Bradford and a desperate need at receiver. Blackmon could catch a ton of balls as a Ram. Of course, the beleaguered Ram offensive line might make it  difficult for Bradford and Blackmon to connect.

Intriguing scenario: Carolina, at No. 9. Cam Newton appears to be the real deal at quarterback. Steve Smith is a quality Panther receiver, but he’s not a long-term partner for Newton. Blackmon would be.

Worst-case scenario: Uh, take your pick. Cleveland, I guess, at No. 4. The Browns have quarterback issues. Even if Weeden gets picked by the Browns and becomes Blackmon’s QB, the future isn’t bright. Cleveland is where offensive careers go to die. Not that Tampa Bay, Jacksonville or Miami would be any better. Remember when the Florida schools always had great college quarterbacks? It’s the reverse in the NFL; not a decent quarterback among the three Floridian NFL teams.

BRANDON WEEDEN