2012 NFL Mock Draft: The Most Dangerous Mid-Round Wide Receiver Prospects

Every year, a few wide receiver prospects picked in the middle rounds of the NFL draft become solid contributors at the next level. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed Mike Wallace in the third round in 2009. Mario Manningham was snagged by the New York Giants in the third round the year before. Lastly, Brandon Marshall was a fourth-rounder in 2006 when the Denver Broncos selected him out of Central Florida. 

Let's try to find this year's mid-round sleeper wideouts. 

Juron Criner, Arizona 

At 6'3'' and 224 pounds, Criner initially looks the part of a big, possession wide receiver. During his time in the desert, he was the go-to downfield target for quarterback Nick Foles, as well as being the team's primary chain-mover. 

He has a innate knack for coming down with the football in traffic and uses his body and leaping ability in the red zone. 

Although he's not the speediest straight-line guy, he has enough acceleration to create some separation at the pro ranks. 

When watching him over the last three seasons, I saw a lot of Dwayne Bowe-esque characteristics in Criner. 

Brian Quick, Appalachian State

Quick was a menace at the Division II ranks for the Mountaineers last season. He reeled in 71 catches for 1,096 yards with 11 touchdowns.

At the combine, he measured in at 6'4'' and weighed a hefty 220 pounds, which compares closest to Notre Dame's Michael Floyd. 

Quick is a downfield demon that uses his basketball background to go up and snatch the football at its highest point with relative ease. 

While he might struggle getting off the line in the NFL and isn't a burner, his big-play ability would be ideal for a vertical offense. 

He reminds me of a lot of Jonathan Baldwin, a guy who was picked in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs last year. 

Jordan White, Western Michigan

White was the nation's most productive wideout in 2011 after he hauled in 140 passes for 1,911 yards with 17 touchdowns. 

He's 6'0'' and 208 pounds, but his vertical allows him to play bigger than that. 

There aren't many receivers more polished than White, who's a precise route-runner with soft hands and great cutting ability. 

This Broncos star is physical and shouldn't struggle too much with press coverage at the next level, although his lack of speed might hinder his ability to work down the field. 

He should be a great intermediate option that can occasionally pick up a huge chunk of yardage down the field. 

Without question, White is NFL ready. 

2012 NFL Mock Draft (March 1, Post-Combine Update)

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins (trade with St. Louis Rams): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California

4. Cleveland Browns: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams (trade with Washington Redskins): Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame  

8. Miami Dolphins: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

9. Carolina Panthers: Michael Brockers, DL, LSU

10. Buffalo Bills: Nick Perry, DE, Southern California 

11. Seattle Seahawks: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

12. Kansas City Chiefs: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford 

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama 

16. New York Jets: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina 

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina 

20. Tennessee Titans: Zach Brown, LB, North Carolina

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama 

22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta): Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State  

23. Detroit Lions: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 

25. Denver Broncos: Devon Still, DT, Penn State 

26. Houston Texans: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 

27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

28. Green Bay Packers: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina

29. Baltimore Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

30. San Francisco 49ers: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech 

31. New England Patriots: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

32. New York Giants, Kelechi Osemele, OL, Iowa State

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