Breaking Down Jacksonville Jaguars' Heated Wide Receiver Battle

The addition of Rashad Greene in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft made an already-interesting situation for the Jacksonville Jaguars and their receivers a bit more intense.

The Jaguars don't have the top receiving corps in the NFL, but they've got a competitive one.

Greene is a true slot player, a need for the Jaguars, so his addition doesn't necessarily add that much more fuel to the fire, but he's a new addition all the same. A crowded Jaguars lineup at WR means a lot of battles between now and the cut days.

As it stands, the Jaguars have 12 receivers on the roster:

• Allen Robinson
• Allen Hurns
• Marqise Lee
• Arrelious Benn
• Damian Copeland
• Tandon Doss
• Rashad Greene
• Neal Sterling
• Tommy Streeter
• Bryan Walters
• Tony Washington
  
• Ace Sanders

No other position on the roster is this deep, although I wouldn't say it's deep in terms of talent—just in quantity. So, how does a team deal with this massive amount of receivers?

Cuts, obviously, but the approach shouldn't be as simple as cutting the least talented receivers. We have to respect the tiers at the position.

The three second-year players in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee sit at the top, now enjoying their standing following the departure of Cecil Shorts III during free agency. What about the rest?

In the next tier, I would place Greene, Walters and Doss. All three have something to offer the team, something that the rest cannot—at least not at their level of talent.

Greene isn't the only player who can play the slot, but he's definitely the best. Doss and Walters are both accomplished special teams players as well as decent receivers, and because of that, I think they're relatively safe for the time being.

Mike Groll/Associated Press

The only other name I would throw out at the moment is Sterling, and that's because he'll most likely play more tight end. The only reason he's on the list is that he is still listed as a WR.

As for Benn, Copeland, Streeter, Washington and Sanders, there is a battle to be had. There will be other battles for ranking, but I'd say most—if not all—of those players will be around come the start of the season.

The interesting part here is that there is a good chance none of these players will make the team. Sure, one or two can make it, but it wouldn't be surprising if none do. With six roster spots already taken by receivers, is there room for more?

Maybe.

Benn was a solid third/fourth receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010 and 2011, but he hasn't played since the 2012 season. His 836 yards between his first two seasons may give the Jaguars hope he can contribute.

Copeland and Washington have never played a snap in the NFL, but I liked Copeland a lot in college due to his consistent hands and ability in the slot, where he could back up Greene. Wrist surgery cost him the entirety of the 2014 season, and I think he might deserve another shot.

Washington worked his way through a workout, but I don't know if he has the overall ability to compete in the NFL. While he's not a bad receiver by any means, I don't think he has anything that helps him stand out.

Streeter's 6'5", 215-pound body makes him an attractive option regardless of his ability. However, I don't see where he can contribute except for being a mediocre special teams player, which isn't what the Jaguars are looking for.

Finally, there's Sanders. He showed a lot of promise with a 484-yard rookie season, but his suspension set him back, and he only had six receptions for 55 yards in 2014. Sanders has also done a decent job returning punts, but compared to the electric plays he made in college, he's been a bit disappointing.

Of the five, I think the choice is between Copeland and Sanders. There's a chance neither will stay and there's a chance that both will stay, but the pick of the two—if it comes to that—has to be Sanders.

John Raoux/Associated Press

As much as I liked Copeland, the Jaguars know what they're getting with Sanders. They don't have to guess or hope—they can work with Sanders. He seems to be back on his feet after his disappointing 2014, but you can never tell.

Any of the choices above are a risk, but Sanders has concrete evidence for and against him.

For a team that has been smart and at times conservative, I think Jacksonville will go with the guy it knows can serve as a solid backup and decent punt returner.

All stats were provided by ESPN.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Jacksonville Jaguars. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.