2012 NFL Mock Draft: Could 5 Receivers Go in the First Round?

As the NFL transitions more and more into a passing league, teams will have to re-focus how they value certain positions in the NFL draft. One of those may be receiver, where it's possible that clubs might look to grab difference-makers early on. 

In our 2012 NFL Mock Draft, we take a closer look at which teams might pick those game-changing receivers in the first round.

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 

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

No one is expecting the Rams to stay put at No. 2, so if they take Blackmon, bank on it being a handful of picks down from here. Still, St. Louis desperately needs weapons for Sam Bradford, and Blackmon has "drama-free Terrell Owens" written all over him. 

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—Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

7.  Jacksonville Jaguars—Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

The Jaguars can't go through another season with kind of receiving weapons they possessed in 2011. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert simply won't get any better without that group. Jeffery can give them an immediate No. 1 receiver. 

8.  Carolina Panthers—Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

9.  Miami Dolphins—Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

10.  Buffalo Bills—Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

11.  Kansas City Chiefs—Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

12.  Seattle Seahawks—Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

13.  Arizona Cardinals—Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

14.  Dallas Cowboys—Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

15.  Philadelphia Eagles—Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College 

16.  New York Jets—Nick Perry, LB, USC

17.  Cincinnati Bengals—Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

18.  San Diego Chargers—David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

19.  Chicago Bears—Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

The Bears haven't had a true No. 1 receiver since the days of Marty Booker and Marcus Robinson. Floyd would be the first step is changing that. 

20.  Tennessee Titans—Zach Brown, OLB, UNC 

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

We have the Browns taking Robert Griffin at No. 4, but that's without factoring in trades. If the Browns did get Griffin, however, they need to surround him with playmakers. Who better than his college teammate at Baylor who rocketed himself up draft boards during the 2011 season? 

23.  Detroit Lions—Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

24.  Pittsburgh Steelers—Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia 

25.  Denver Broncos—Devon Still, DL, Penn State

26.  Houston Texans—Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

27.  New England Patriots—Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin 

28.  Green Bay Packers—Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois 

29.  Baltimore Ravens—Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

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

The 49ers' lack of receivers was painfully obvious during their NFC Championship Game loss to the Giants. Alex Smith completed just one pass to that position for three yards. Adding help for Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis is a must sometime in this draft. 

31.  New York Giants—Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama    

32.  New England Patriots—Mark Barron, S, Alabama