2012 NFL Mock Draft: Playoffs Highlight Top Draft Need for San Francisco 49ers

For a team that relied so heavily on the running game in 2011, 81 combined drop backs for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith this postseason seemed like an awful lot.

But the number of passes called really isn't the most shocking statistic regarding the 49ers offense in the 2011-12 NFC playoffs. The fact that Smith completed just eight total passes to wide receivers during those two games should help highlight the 49ers' unquestioned top draft need for this April.

Let's take a quick look back at the receiver production in two playoff games for the 49ers. 

In the divisional round against the Saints, Smith completed four passes for 25 yards to Michael Crabtree (who also dropped two passes), two for 13 to Kyle Williams and one for 11 to Ted Ginn, Jr. That's a total of seven completions for 49 yards.

It got even worse in the NFC Championship Game. Facing the Giants, Smith completed one pass—a three-yarder to Crabtree—to receivers. And he did target receivers nine times, so it wasn't without attempt.

Add it up, and my University of Wisconsin math tells me the 49ers had just eight completions for 52 yards in two playoff games.

Ouch.

Now, would it be a huge stretch to say that if the 49ers had another competent receiving threat on the roster, San Francisco would be the team three days away from playing the New England Patriots in Indianapolis instead of the New York Giants?

I think not. 

While hypotheticals will drive you crazy, the 49ers do have the opportunity now to fix that hole this April at the NFL draft. Despite picking at No. 30 in the first round, there should be a couple of players the 49ers could target.

One would be Rutgers' Mohamed Sanu, who was a reception machine in college and has an NFL-ready game. He could be an impact player in Year 1 but should be available when the 49ers pick in the first round.

Another name could be Kendall Wright, Baylor's breakout receiver who helped Robert Griffin III win the Heisman Trophy by terrorizing opponents both as a slot receiver and downfield threat.

Other less likely names include Alshon Jeffery and Michael Floyd, but both should be gone before No. 30 if they run reasonable times at the NFL combine.

Regardless, the 49ers should have the ability to draft an impact receiver in the first round if they so please. Of course, there are certainly other positions they could go, and it's possible that a better value pick comes knocking in April.

But judging by the performance of the 49ers passing game to receiver this postseason, it's clear San Francisco needs to make the position one of its draft priorities in the 2012 NFL draft.

Eight for 52 simply doesn't cut it. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft      

1.  Indianapolis Colts—Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

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

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   

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

20.  Tennessee Titans—Zach Brown, OLB, UNC

21.  Cincinnati Bengals—Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

22.  Cleveland Browns—Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor  

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

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

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