2012 NFL Draft: Mike Mayock's Top Five By Position

The 2012 Senior Bowl has been taking place in Mobile, Alabama this week, and as such, 2012 NFL Draft talk has been ramping up in some circles. We're easing into it this year thanks in large part to the fact that free agency will precede the draft as usual once again - and there isn't a better way to be eased in than by Mike Mayock of the NFL Network.

Mayock released his top five prospects by position earlier today, and in typical Mayock fashion, he's got more than a few surprises thrown in. (Keep in mind that a "surprise," in this case, is how he ranks players as opposed to the Mel Kipers and armchair scouts of the world.)

After the jump, we'll take a look at Mayock's top five players at four positions that have been widely projected as potential Round 1 targets for the Buffalo Bills: wide receiver, offensive tackle, cornerback and pass rushers.

WIDE RECEIVER
1. Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
2. Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
3. Kendall Wright, Baylor
4. Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina
5. Chris Givens, Wake Forest

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
1. Riley Reiff, Iowa
2. Matt Kalil, USC
3. Jonathan Martin, Stanford
4. James Brown, Troy
5. Zebrie Sanders, Florida State

PASS RUSHER
1. Quinton Coples, North Carolina
2. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
3. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
4. Nick Perry, USC
5. (tie) Chandler Jones, Syracuse
5. (tie) Andre Branch, Clemson
* Courtney Upshaw ranked as top linebacker

CORNERBACK
1. Morris Claiborne, LSU
2. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama
3. Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
4. Leonard Johnson, Iowa State
5. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama

We'll have much more on these prospects, as well as many more, in the coming months. For now, which of these prospects are among your early favorites?