NFL Draft 2011: A.J. Green Not the First Receiver off the Board?

We have seen this scenario before. Michael Crabtree was the top rated receiver by nearly every scout in America when he came out. Just before the draft, there were murmurs about a potential Jeremy Maclin selection by the Raiders, even if Michael Crabtree was on the board. In one of the most shocking picks in the history of the draft, the Raiders bypassed both, taking Darrius Heyward-Bey.

The 2011 draft could see a similar situation. In this crop of receivers, A.J. Green appears to be the most complete and NFL ready. Julio Jones could make a late surge, as he is a physical receiver with great top end speed.

The dark horse in the draft is Jon Baldwin, a guy who has to prove that he isn't just a straight-line runner. He also has character issues, which could come into play. At this point, it doesn't look like a team is going to invest in Baldwin if Green is on the board, but Jones could be a different story.

Jones is one of the biggest receivers in his draft. He dominates with his physical style of play and his hands are much better than advertised. Combine that with the fact that he run a sub-4.4 40 yard dash, Jones could appeal to the better nature of a team at the top of the board.

Jones may be a better deep thread than Baldwin and is comparable to Green in every other respect. He burst onto the scene as a true freshman and will be a reliable outlet for any quarterback he is coupled with in the NFL.

Prior to the off-season, it appeared as though St. Louis may be a natural fit for Jones. At this point, it doesn't appear he is going to make it all the way down to number 14, where the Rams draft.

Cincinnati, with the fourth pick, is the team to watch. They will likely lose Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens this off-season. They need to fill the void, especially with the Carson Palmer saga up in the air. The Bengals could consider drafting back and bypassing on Green at four if they feel Jones will be available 5 to 10 picks later.

If a receiver is not drafted by the 4th pick, the Redskins could use a wideout and the Texans need a guy to play opposite Andre Johnson.

A.J. Green is being viewed as the sure-fire first receiver selected, and he very well may be. The problem for Green is that Jones is turning heads at the combine, and he has the tape to back it up. This race is much closer than most are making it out to be.