2012 NFL Free Agents: Power Ranking Best Available Wide Receivers

The available wide receivers in this year's free agent pool is a stacked group, but who's the best available?

Wes Welker and Dwayne Bowe have been franchise-tagged by their respective teams and Marques Colston agreed to stay with the New Orleans Saints, which hurts the overall depth, but there are still plenty of quality pass-catchers.

Here's a look at who will be fought over the most when free agency starts in a couple of hours. 

4. Robert Meachem

Meachem has always shown the potential to be a top receiver in this league, but he's never taken full advantage of it.

Maybe that's because Drew Brees spreads the ball around so well, but it could also be argued that Meachem has benefited from having the future Hall of Famer throw it to him.

He has, after all, managed 20 touchdowns in the last three years. Whether or not he can do that without Brees should be a big question mark. Buyer beware. 

3. Reggie Wayne

Wayne certainly had a down year in 2011 (960 yards, four touchdowns), but that had more to do with the absence of Peyton Manning than Wayne slowing down (he's 33 years old).

The former Hurricane won't serve as a top downfield threat anymore, but as long as he follows his buddy quarterback, he'll be a quality No. 2.

2. Brandon Lloyd

If there is such a thing as a "late bloomer" in the NFL, it's Lloyd. He didn't start putting up elite production until 2010, when he was 29 years old.

However, this 30-year-old has been one of the toughest players in the NFL to cover in the last two seasons (2,414 yards and 16 touchdowns) and his age shouldn't scare teams off.

Lloyd has a lot left in those legs (alliteration intended). 

1. Vincent Jackson

V-Jax has had trouble with the law in the past and he may give his future team some headaches, but his production on the field will serve as the Tylenol. 

Last year for the Chargers, Jackson pulled in 60 catches for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns, and the 6'5" receiver has the potential for even bigger seasons.

Nonetheless, he serves as a dangerous deep threat and would immediately step in as the No. 1 receiver for almost any team.