While the St. Louis Rams are mulling what to do with their No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Super Bowl matchup between the New York Giants and New England Patriots demonstrates that impact wide receivers can be found later in the draft process. Oklahoma State Cowboys wide receiver Justin Blackmon has been linked to the Rams in countless mock drafts, but looking at the starters on the Giants and Patriots perhaps cuts against going with a wide receiver that high in the draft.
The New York Giants have a particularly talented group of wide receivers, including Hakeem Nicks, Mario Manningham and Victor Cruz, but only Nicks was selected in the first round. They drafted Manningham in the third round (No. 95) and Nicks at No. 29 overall, while Cruz joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Meanwhile, Patriots star WR Wes Welker also went undrafted in 2004 and Deion Branch came to Patriots in the second round in 2002 (No. 65 overall).
Looking at the Super Bowl teams is by no means a way to establish a conclusive model for building the Rams, but both teams certainly demonstrate that quality wide receiving talent can be acquired outside of the top 10 picks in NFL draft. Perhaps the Rams would do well to select an underrated receiving talent later in the draft regardless of what they do with their No. 2 overall pick.
For more on the Patriots and their Super Bowl run, check out SB Nation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit as well as SB Nation Boston. For more on the Giants and their Super Bowl appearance, visit Giants blog Big Blue View and SB Nation New York.