2011 NFL Mock Draft: A Look Back at First Round WRs Since 2001, No Guarantees

Going back to the 2001 NFL Draft, there have been a total of 40 total first round receivers that have been drafted.

The draft is really a process of making the best case guess for any position because there is no sure thing.

This is just a message to address caution in simply assuming that A.J. Green or other receivers could become the next Calvin Johnson or Larry Fitzgerald.

Here is a list of all the receiver drafted in the first round since 2001.

2001 NFL Draft First Round WRs

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 03: Receiver Reggie Wayne #87 and Joseph Addai #29 of the Indianapolis Colts stands on the sideloines while taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field on October 3, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars won 31-28

Pick 8 - Chicago Bears - David Terrell

Pick 9 - Seattle Seahawks - Koren Robinson

Pick 15 - Washington Redskins - Rod Gardner

Pick 16 - New York Jets - Santana Moss

Pick 25 - Philadelphia Eagles - Freddie Mitchell

Pick 25 - Indianapolis Colts - Reggie Wayne

Quick thoughts:

Moss and Wayne are the highlights in this group and they are true top-tier Pro Bowl talents that have produced solid and consistent numbers since they were drafted.

2002 NFL Draft First Round WRs

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ATLANTA - NOVEMBER 11: Donte' Stallworth #18 of the Baltimore Ravens against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on November 11, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Pick 13 - New Orleans Saints - Donte' Stallworth

Pick 19 - Denver Broncos - Ashley Lelie

Pick 20 - Green Bay Packers - Javon Walker

Quick thoughts:

Stallworth is the only one still left in the NFL even though all three looked promising early on in their careers. All three should be considered first round busts.

2003 NFL Draft First Round WRs

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HOUSTON - OCTOBER 10: Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans in action during the game against the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Pick 2 - Detroit Lions - Charles Rogers

Pick 3 - Houston Texans - Andre Johnson

Pick 17 - Arizona Cardinals - Bryant Johnson

Quick thoughts:

Andre Johnson by far is the name to talk about from this first round draft class and he has quietly become one of the top five receivers currently in the NFL.

2004 NFL Draft First Round WRs

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SEATTLE - OCTOBER 24: Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field on October 24, 2010 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Pick 3 - Arizona Cardinals - Larry Fitzgerald

Pick 7 - Detroit Lions - Roy Williams

Pick 9 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Reggie Williams

Pick 13 - Buffalo Bills - Lee Evans

Pick 15 - Tampa Bay Buccaneeers - Michael Clayton

Pick 29 - Atlanta Falcons - Michael Jenkins

Pick 31 - San Francisco 49ers - Rashaun Woods

Quick thoughts:

Fitzgerald is the top receiver from this class and even though Evans is still a starter with the Bills, his career has been plagued by inconsistent quarterback play. Roy Williams has been on and off with both the Lions and now with the Cowboys.

2005 NFL Draft First Round WRs

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 24: Roddy White #84 of the Atlanta Falcons against the Cincinnati Bengals at Georgia Dome on October 24, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Pick 3 - Cleveland Browns - Braylon Edwards

Pick 7 - Minnesota Vikings - Troy Williamson

Pick 10 - Detroit Lions - Mike Williams

Pick 21 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Matt Jones

Pick 22 - Baltimore Ravens - Mark Clayton

Pick 27 - Atlanta Falcons - Roddy White

Quick thoughts:

Edwards has had his issues with inconsistency, drops and an ego--so that makes the pick of this class easily White, who is another under-the-radar receiver who can be spoken in the same breath as the top 10 receivers in the NFL right now.

2006 NFL First Round WRs

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 21: Santonio Holmes #10 of the New York Jets celebrates after his fourth quarter touhdown against the Houston Texans on November 21, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Jets defeated the

Pick 25 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Santonio Holmes

Quick thoughts:

Holmes is a Super Bowl MVP and a playmaker on offense in the past for the Steelers and currently for the Jets this season.

2007 NFL First Round WRs

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GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 03: Calvin Johnson #81 of the Detroit Lions runs toward the end zone against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on October 3, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Lions 28-26. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty I

Pick 2 - Detroit Lions - Calvin Johnson

Pick 9 - Miami Dolphins - Ted Ginn Jr.

Pick 23 - Kansas City Chiefs - Dwayne Bowe

Pick 29 - New Orleans Saints - Robert Meachem

Pick 30 - San Diego Charger - Craig Davis

Pick 32 - Indianapolis Colts - Anthony Gonzalez

Quick thoughts:

Johnson stands high above in this class but Bowe is quickly becoming more dangerous as the weeks go by for the Chiefs and Meachem is the deep threat on a potent Saints' offense too.

2008 NFL First Round WRs

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PHILADELPHIA - NOVEMBER 21: DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after a first down against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

There were no receivers taken in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft but there were 10 taken in the second round.

DeSean Jackson highlights that list and he was selected by current Browns' general manager Tom Hekert.

2009 NFL First Round WRs

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INDIANAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Hakeem Nicks #88 of the New York Giants is pictured during the NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Pick 7 - Oakland Raiders - Darius Heyward-Bey

Pick 10 - San Francisco 49ers - Michael Crabtree

Pick 19 - Philadelphia Eagles - Jeremy Maclin

Pick 22 - Minnesota Vikings - Percy Harvin

Pick 29 - NY Giants - Hakeem Nicks

Pick 30 - Tennessee Titans - Kenny Britt

Quick thoughts:

This class is looking to be the most talented crop of receiver talent in recent memory with Nicks leading a very promising group in his second season as of Week 12, but do not doubt that Crabtree, Maclin and Britt can all becoming primetime players too.

2010 NFL Draft First Round WRs

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - NOVEMBER 14: Dez Bryant #88 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against the New York Giants on November 14, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Pick 22 - Denver Broncos - DeMaryius Thomas

Pick 24 - Dallas Cowboys - Dez Bryant

Quick thoughts:

Thomas was considered a reach and has been fighting through injuries this season which have plagued him even coming into the 2010 Draft.

Bryant had a ton of critics and drama surrounding him coming out of college, but he is putting all of it to rest showing that he is indeed a playmaker in the NFL and he will be Pro Bowl bound sooner than later.

2011 NFL Draft First and Second Round WR Talent Possibilities

The following at the top receiver talents who could be in next April's 2011 NFL Draft. (* denotes juniors)

A.J. Green*, Georgia, 6-4, 208 lbs.

Julio Jones*, Alabama, 6-4, 211 lbs.

Jon Baldwin*, Pittsburgh, 6-5, 230 lbs.

Michael Floyd*, Notre Dame, 6-3, 225 lbs.

Ryan Broyles*, Oklahoma, 5-11, 183 lbs.

Leonard Hankerson, Miami, 6-3, 205 lbs.

Ronald Johnson, USC, 6-0, 185 lbs.

Greg Little, North Carolina, 6-3, 220 lbs.

Niles Paul, Nebraska, 6-1, 220 lbs.

Titus Young, Boise State, 5-11, 170 lbs. 

Nick Toon*, Wisconsin, 6-3, 218 lbs.

Quick thoughts:

Green is on top of this list, but a player to watch is Baldwin--he has tremendous size and speed and if he declares for the draft early, then he could be a gem in the second or third round too.

In theory, if all of these juniors declare early for the Draft in 2011, then look for the teams like the Cleveland Browns to pick one and possibly two of these receivers since this class would be loaded.