Quote:Logistically, it is important. Actually, I would love to see Blackmon make a comeback, and be a great underdog story. But otherwise, if he were in football shape, and was a real threat on the field, we might not be talking about drafting a WR in the first few rounds this year.

This front office has been very forthcoming when they say that Blackmon is viewed as a luxury and not something they have any control over.  Logistically, he's not on this team as far as they're concerned, and may never come back.  That's been their approach since the suspensions began. 

 

He's not going to be in football shape.  There's no way he could possibly accomplish that being out of the game for basically 2 years. 

 

Nobody in the organization is saying the team is going to pursue a WR early in the draft.  That's simply media speculation.  If you're relying on the media or fans to get a feel for what the team is going to do in the draft, you're almost certainly going to be misled.  They don't have any idea where the front office is leaning.  That should be crystal clear after what transpired last year.  If you're using the visit list to back up that speculation, good luck.  They brought in 10 guys last year.  How many guys that were brought in for visits wound up on the team?  2?  They're doing their due diligence by bringing in the top tier players in the draft.  At the end of the day, they have to be prepared for any scenario. 

 

The odds of them using a first or second round pick on another receiver are about the same as them drafting another QB in the early rounds.  Too many other real needs. 

 

Now, that doesn't preclude them from drafting another receiver somewhere in the draft.  I just don't see them using early picks for that position.

---