2012 NFL Mock Draft: Alshon Jeffery and Other WRs Who Will Go in First Round

If you've been asleep for the past four months, maybe you wouldn't know about the passing revolution that's going on right now in the NFL. Three quarterbacks threw for 5,000 yards in 2011 and another seven finished with at least 4,000. That's obviously a level of production that we've never seen before in the NFL.

With all the passing going on in the game right now, receivers are players that may increase in value in the draft. Let's take a quick look at some of the potential first-round receivers in the 2012 NFL draft.

1. Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams—Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma State

Most still expect the Rams to ransom off this pick to a team that wants to ensure they get their hands on Robert Griffin III. For the sake of everyone's sanity, trades aren't included in this mock. So if the Rams did stay at No. 2, or even if they ended up trading down a couple spots, picking Blackmon looks like a solid choice.

A lot of people compare him to Terrell Owens, who was actually a guy that the Rams considered signing a few years back. He'd be an instant upgrade for Sam Bradford in the Rams passing game. 

3.  Minnesota Vikings—Matt Kalil, OT USC 

4.  Cleveland Browns—Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor 

5.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Morris Claiborne, CB LSU

6.  Washington Redskins—Alshon Jeffery, WR South Carolina

A quiet season in 2011 has tempered the draft stock of Jeffery for some, but don't look too far into college production. Jeffery has Brandon Marshall's body, comparative athleticism and better hands. Those traits will outshine some of the dark moments of the 2011 during the combine and pre-draft workouts.

The Redskins need a quarterback of the future, but they could go the route of the Bengals in 2011—first-round receiver and a safe quarterback pick in the second.  

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Riley Reiff, OT Iowa

8.  Carolina Panthers—Michael Floyd, WR Notre Dame

It will be interesting to see how some of Floyd's off-the-field flags, which include a DUI arrest that led to a suspension, will affect his draft stock. From a purely talent standpoint, Floyd can match both Blackmon and Jeffery. Everything about his game screams No. 1 receiver in the NFL.

If all the background checks are cleared, there's a chance he could sneak into the top 10. Teaming Floyd with Cam Newton and Steve Smith could help push the Panthers offense into the elite range in 2012. 

9.  Miami Dolphins—Quinton Coples, DE North Carolina 

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB Alabama

11.  Seattle Seahawks—Landry Jones, QB Oklahoma

12.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB Alabama

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford

14.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB Boston College

15.  New York Jets—Ronnell Lewis, LB Oklahoma

16.  Oakland Raiders—Zach Brown, LB North Carolina

17.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG Stanford

18.  Chicago Bears—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB Alabama

19.  Dallas Cowboys—Janoris Jenkins, CB North Alabama 

20.  Tennessee Titans—Melvin Ingram, DE South Carolina

21.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DT Penn State

22.  New York Giants—Stephon Gilmore, CB South Carolina 

23.  Cincinnati Bengals—Kendall Wright, WR Baylor

The rise of Robert Griffin III helped highlight the big-play ability of Wright. His size (5'11", 190) isn't exactly what you want in a first-round receiver, but how many teams do you think regret passing up Mike Wallace (6'0", 195)? Wright could have that same effect early on.

The Bengals have A.J. Green as a deep threat, but teaming him with Wright could give Andy Dalton a scary set of receivers for 2012. 

24.  Houston Texans—Dont'a Hightower, LB Alabama

25.  Cleveland Browns—Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

26.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB Nebraska

27.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL Georgia

28.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, LB Arizona State

29.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C Wisconsin

30.  San Francisco 49ers—Mohamed Sanu, WR Rutgers

Sanu is going to be a guy that could rise up boards as April gets closer. He is a polished route-runnner, big enough to get physical with cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage and, above all, has great hands. That package of skills will make him a hot commodity.

The 49ers, who need another passing target with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, would get a lot better on offense with this pick.   

31.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S Alabama

32.  Green Bay Packers—Nick Perry, OLB USC