2012 NFL Mock Draft: Where Will Justin Blackmon, Alshon Jeffery Land?

By now, you know all about Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, including which team they will most likely play for. And free agency has mostly cooled down, especially now that Peyton Manning is headed to Denver and Mario Williams is headed to Buffalo.

Still, there are two premier wide receivers that do not know where they will be drafted, or which team will draft them.

Justin Blackmon (6'1", 207 pounds) and Alshon Jeffery (6'3", 216 pounds) are the two top wide receiver prospects in this draft in my opinion. Blackmon's stats and consistency have sent him to the top of many teams' draft boards, while Alshon Jeffery has constantly made big-time plays in college's toughest conference, the SEC.

Watching the league's recent game of quarterback musical chairs inevitably leads us to wonder who they'll be throwing to. As far as talent and production, I think Blackmon and Jefferey are among the best. But where will they be drafted?

There are six teams who really need a wide receiver, and St. Louis, Minnesota, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Carolina and Houston are teams that, based on their roster and their style of play, could start either Blackmon or Jeffery right away.

Justin Blackmon to Rams, No. 6 Overall

For months, people have linked Justin Blackmon to the Rams. Fortunately for St. Louis, they were able to trade down (with Washington) to acquire additional picks, while maintaining a high first round selection.

Brandon Lloyd signed with the Patriots on March 18, and even if Lloyd stayed in St. Louis, the Rams would still have needed help at the wide receiver position.

Blackmon could mesh well with Rams quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford is good at setting his receivers up for success by "throwing them open", and they both played collegiate football in the Big XII within two years of each other, so there's familiarity there.

Blackmon doesn't have many weaknesses. He can win most jump-ball situations, and is even better at running after the catch. His size and speed will give Bradford a lot of options. In other words, Blackmon and Bradford have abilities that will compliment each other.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys were close to playing for a national title last season, thanks in large part to Blackmon's production. He will start from Day 1, which is something his college career has helped him prepare for.

Alshon Jeffery to Panthers, No. 40 Overall

In his three seasons at South Carolina, Alshon Jeffery averaged 61 receptions, 1,014 yards and eight touchdowns per season. For his career, Jeffery averaged 16.6 yards per reception.

The only knock on Jeffery is his speed. People say he looks slow on tape, and that he will take time to reach his full potential. While that may be true, he's still an elite red-zone threat for a college prospect.

Cleveland (No. 22/37), Houston (No. 26), Minnesota (No. 35), Jacksonville (No. 38) and Carolina (No. 40) are teams that could really use Jeffery in their offense, and he figures to be a late first-round or early second-round selection, which fits right in with those projections.

Houston is stacked and could take their pick of any available prospect at No. 26, which may preclude them from taking Jeffery. Minnesota needs a wide receiver as well, but may go defense with their second pick after they will surely take offensive tackle Matt Kalil third overall. And honestly, Cleveland and Jacksonville seem clueless.

Carolina has been the team I've been projecting Jeffery to go to for months. Even if they took him ninth overall, I'd be a little surprised, but not shocked.

It makes so much sense for the Panthers to select Jeffery, especially with the 40th overall pick. Cam Newton has shown he's a legitimate NFL starting quarterback after only one season. I know the Pro Bowl is somewhat of a joke, but Newton made it as a rookie. That's not a fluke.

The Panthers also have a strong backfield, with DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert, all of whom are capable of having big games.

The tight end position is set with Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey. And Steve Smith just came off his sixth season with at least seven touchdown receptions. Carolina's offensive line is strong as well.

The only thing the Panthers are missing is a wide receiver opposite Smith who can make defenses think twice about devoting extra resources to covering No. 89.

Jeffery presents the size to go along with Smith's speed, plus Jeffery played college football less than two hours from Charlotte, which will have an immediate marketing effect. And if the Panthers took him with the 40th pick, it would actually be a bargain for them in terms of salary negotiation.

Let's put it this way. Carolina is getting close to contending for the NFC South title. With the wreck in New Orleans, the post-season shortcomings in Atlanta and the uncertainty in Tampa Bay, Jeffery to the Panthers could be just the move to put them back in the postseason for the first time since 2008.