NFL 2012: Receiving Corps Power Rankings | Football Nation

Yup….

1. New England Patriots (A ) The Patriots head into 2012 with a receiving corps that is head and shoulders above all others in the NFL. Not only do the Patriots have the best slot receiver in the league in Wes Welker and arguably the most dangerous tight end in Rob Gronkowski, they also have incredible depth. Perhaps the best way to understand their depth is just to consider out that they had to cut Chad Ochocinco. He’s not the player he once was, but there are very few teams out there that would cut him after taking a chance on him.

The Patriots had one of the toughest wideout groups to sort through in terms of who will be cut and who will stick around for the regular season. I really couldn’t narrow it down past six receivers, and I think it’s feasible that they head into the season with that number. Even if Donte’ Stallworth and Deion Branch don’t contribute on special teams as much as Bill Belichick would normally look for out of his fourth and fifth wide receivers, I can’t see either of these players being cut. The Patriots probably had the best receivers in football before the addition of Brandon Lloyd. Adding him was just overkill.

Wide Receivers

1. Wes Welker A

2. Brandon Lloyd B

3. Jabar Gaffney B-

4. Deion Branch C

5. Donte’ Stallworth C

6. Julian Edelman C-

Tight Ends

1. Rob Gronkowski A

2. Aaron Hernandez B

3. Daniel Fells D