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Continuing our 2012 AFC position-by-position rankings, here are the receivers. It’s a young, fairly unproven group that lost top players Vincent Jackson and Brandon Lloyd in the past year:

1. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City: With Jackson gone, Bowe, who received the franchise tag by the Chiefs this offseason, is the clear top receiver in the division.

2. Malcom Floyd, San Diego: Floyd is good, but he probably wouldn’t be ranked this high in most divisions. If he can stay healthy, he can be a star.

3. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland: I have a lot of respect for Heyward-Bey for taking a big step during the 2011 season. He still is not perfect and he has to prove he can be a consistent player, but he has a chance.

4. Demaryius Thomas, Denver: I bet Thomas will be ranked at least No. 2 on this list next year. The sky is the limit.

5. Eric Decker, Denver: Peyton Manning is already talking him up. You know what that means -- lots of catches.

6. Denarius Moore, Oakland: Moore showed flashes as a rookie and he has star potential. He will be given a chance to shine.

7. Robert Meachem, San Diego: Meachem is not as good as Jackson was, but he fits the Chargers’ vertical offense and he will make his presence felt.

8. Jon Baldwin, Kansas City: Baldwin has large potential and he easily could be in the top three on this list next year. He has to show he’s ready for the challenge.

9. Jacoby Ford, Oakland: I’m a big Ford fan, but his health and the presence of Heyward-Bey and Moore may make him a third option.

10. Vincent Brown, San Diego: The Chargers love this kid. Expect nice, big numbers this year.

11. Steve Breaston, Kansas City: He’s a solid, steady receiver who can help his team win.

12. Andre Caldwell, Denver: He will be interesting to watch. The Broncos think this free-agent pickup could make his presence felt.

13. Louis Murphy, Oakland: Murphy can’t stay healthy and other receivers may have bypassed him. But he’s a pro who knows how to come up with the big catch.

14. Eddie Royal, San Diego: The former Denver receiver will be given a chance to shine in the Chargers’ rotation.

15. Devon Wylie, Kansas City: This is a projection pick. The Chiefs love him and think he can come in and make some catches as a fourth-round pick.

Monday, Denver executive VP John Elway said the Broncos weren’t as worried about their situation at defensive tackle as folks on the outside.

Well, there had to be some concerns because the Broncos made sure they got better at the position during the weekend.

The Broncos targeted the position and are in better shape with two sharp picks. Early in the fifth round on Saturday (via a pick obtained for receiver Brandon Lloyd in a deal with the Rams last year) Denver took underrated Tennessee defensive lineman Malik Jackson.

He is a versatile player who can play both inside and outside and he may end up being an end. He is a disruptive force who should help against the run. Expect Jackson and Derek Wolfe, taken with the No. 36 pick out of Cincinnati, to help Denver immensely and expect both to be instant parts of the defensive line rotation in Denver.

As soon as free agency began Tuesday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills had a plane waiting for New Orleans free agent receiver Robert Meachem.

The Bills flew him north and dined with him Tuesday night. The Bills had a full itinerary waiting for him Wednesday. Then, Vincent Jackson left the Chargers. All Buffalo bets were off.


With Jackson and several other receivers off the market quickly Tuesday, the San Diego Chargers -- who NFL.com reports showed late interest in Pierre Garcon before he signed with the Redskins -- went from showing no interest in Meachem early in free agency to becoming his most ardent pursuer. In addition to Buffalo, the Chargers blew away two other teams with a huge offer for Meachem.

And now the speedster is going to be Philip Rivers’ newest toy.

Meachem agreed to a four-year, $25.9 million deal with $14 million guaranteed in the first two years of the deal. The agreement came hours after Jackson signed with the Buccaneers for five years and $55.5 million.

There is no doubt Meachem is not as accomplished as Jackson and the Chargers would be best served to add another receiver in free agency. The best options are Brandon Lloyd, Laurent Robinson and Mario Manningham. They also could use their first-round pick on someone such as Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd. I think Lloyd could be an interesting option.

Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace would cost a first-round pick as a restricted free agent if the Steelers didn’t match a deal. I think the Meachem agreement ends that possibility. Perhaps San Diego could look at Oakland’s Chaz Schilens, who played at San Diego State. He’d fit the Chargers’ mold of big receivers.

Meachem does give the Chargers a terrific vertical threat. He has 4.3-second speed in the 40-yard dash. He will be a good fit with Rivers and No. 2 starter Malcom Floyd, who also is a field stretcher. Like Floyd, Meachem has had some durability issues. Vincent Brown likely will be the No. 3 receiver in his second season.

Meachem had 40 catches for 620 yards last season for the Saints, where he often was lost in a strong receiving crew. Meachem, the Saints’ first-round pick in 2007, had 129 catches and 20 touchdowns in the past three seasons, and has averaged 16.1 yards per catch in his career. There is no doubt Meachem has big-play flair and he will fit in Norv Turner’s system, but I still believe the Chargers need to add to their receiving crew.

UPDATE: I caught up with Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. on Wednesday morning. Here are his thoughts on the Chargers’ day at receiver:

“Meachem isn’t Vincent Jackson. He is very talented, though, and I do think his most productive football might be in front of him. He also is a deep threat, which is absolutely key in San Diego’s deep passing attack. But, to me, there was only one No. 1 receiver on the market, and he just signed with Tampa Bay.”

This is not a good day in San Diego.

Vincent Jackson has walked away.

While there were indications in recent days that the Chargers were not prepared to match an enormous deal for Jackson, there has long been the thought that the Chargers -- who are heavily pursuing New Orleans’ Robert Meachem on Tuesday night -- couldn’t afford to let Jackson leave.

This is a critical offseason in San Diego and it has not started well. In addition to Jackson leaving, the Chargers saw longtime standout guard Kris Dielman retire because of a severe concussion he suffered last season, the team cut left tackle Marcus McNeill because of a neck injury and valuable running back Mike Tolbert is poised to visit AFC West rival Kansas City on Wednesday. The Chargers also have priority free agents in left tackle Jared Gaither and defensive tackle Antonio Garay. San Diego’s lone bright spot, thus far, was the re-signing of standout center Nick Hardwick on Tuesday to a three-year deal.

The Chargers must get better. They must do some things in free agency.

Owner Dean Spanos upset the fan base when he brought back coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith in January.

Fans expected Spanos to show a commitment to them by getting better in free agency, and the Chargers still could get better.

But seeing Jackson leave is not going to convince the San Diego fan base the Chargers are truly committed to getting back to the playoffs for the first time since the 2009 season.

Jackson is a premier receiver and he was a great fit for quarterback Philip Rivers, who has to be wondering what is going on with his offensive line and receiving crew.

The Chargers gambled by not giving Jackson the franchise tag for a second year because it jumped to more than $13 million this season. He is averaging just more than $11 million per season with Tampa Bay. The Chargers took a shot at Jackson, but they likely never got close to what Tampa Bay offered.

Now, the Chargers have to go find a top receiver. The only receivers on the roster are No. 2 starter Malcom Floyd (who is injury prone) and second-year player Vincent Brown.

The free-agent class is drying up. The best options may be Brandon Lloyd, Meachem, Mario Manningham and Laurent Robinson. Meachem may soon sign with the Bills even though the Chargers are pushing for him. Robinson flourished in Dallas last season after not making the Chargers’ roster last September. I’m not sure any of those players will make anyone forget about Jackson. The Chargers, who badly need a top pass-rusher, may have to consider taking someone such as Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd with the No. 18 overall pick in the draft.

Here is one way I think the Chargers can regain the trust of fans, but it’s a long shot. They could step in front of Buffalo and sign monster pass-rusher Mario Williams and then sign Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace to an offer sheet the Steelers couldn’t match. The restricted free agent would cost the Chargers their first-round pick if he signed. But adding Williams (the best free agent on the market) and having Wallace replace Jackson would show San Diego’s fans the team is serious about getting better.

Again, don’t expect it to happen, but the Chargers must improve and getting creative may be necessary.

Adam Schefter is reporting Vincent Jackson has left the San Diego Chargers to go to Tampa Bay on a five-year deal. He will be paid $55.5 million.

This is a blow to the Chargers who gambled by not giving Jackson the franchise tag. The Chargers need to win now under Norv Turner and A.J. Smith and this is not a good start. Those close to Jackson have maintained that he would have gone back to San Diego had the Chargers' deal been competitive.

The Chargers will now look for a new receiver. Among the names to consider are Reggie Wayne, Brandon Lloyd, Laurent Robinson and Robert Meachem.

I be back later with some more thoughts on Jackson’s departure.

If the San Diego Chargers want Vincent Jackson back -- and they do very much -- they better hope the Tampa Bay Buccaneers don’t offer him too much.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting Jackson and the Buccaneers are negotiating a deal. The Buccaneers more have than $40 million in salary-cap room. The Chargers have less than $20 million. If the Chargers’ offer is competitive with Tampa Bay’s, I think Jackson will opt to stay in San Diego. But the Buccaneers can make it very difficult for the Chargers to keep Jackson. The Chargers opted against giving Jackson the franchise tag for the second straight year. He would have been paid more than $13 million this season had he received the tag.

If Jackson goes, the Chargers may turn to Reggie Wayne or Brandon Lloyd.

There has been other movement at receiver by teams that wanted Jackson.

Chicago traded Miami for Brandon Marshall and Colts’ free-agent receiver Pierre Garcon announced he will sign with the Washington Redskins. Another team expected to make a push for Jackson, the Buffalo Bills, are pursuing New Orleans receiver Robert Meachem.

Here’s another indication that the Raiders will soon cut pass-rusher Kamerion Wimbley. NFL.com reports that it will be done Tuesday. Wimbley’s release has appeared to be a foregone conclusion for days; expect San Diego to be in play once he becomes free.

Matt Leinart has been cut in Houston. He could be a candidate to join the Raiders. He played in Houston under new Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Knapp. The Raiders will very likely be in the market for a backup quarterback, so it is very plausible that Leinart could back up Carson Palmer — just as he did when both were at USC.

The Chiefs gave inside linebacker Jovan Belcher a second-round tender. Thus, the restricted free agent will likely be with the team in 2012 and it could preclude Kansas City from being interested in Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly with the No. 11 pick in April's draft.

With the Raiders suddenly in the market for a reliable veteran tight end, one option could be Houston’s Joel Dreessen. He played for Knapp in Houston.

NFL.com thinks former Denver receiver Brandon Lloyd could be in play in San Diego. If Vincent Jackson leaves, Lloyd could be an interesting fit. The Chargers will have a need.

The Chargers are holding onto two key exclusive-rights free agents.

A Denver columnist thinks Peyton Manning has slayed Tebow-mania in Denver.

New England could be a possible landing spot for Denver free agent tight end Daniel Fells.

NFL.com reports New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien could be moving to the the Kansas City Chiefs in the same role. Former Denver coach Josh McDaniels, however, is a favorite to be the offensive coordinator in Kansas City if Romeo Crennel is made the permanent coach.

Meanwhile, former Denver Broncos and current St. Louis Rams receiver Brandon Lloyd said he wants to follow McDaniels next season wherever the coach lands. Lloyd is a free agent. Making the situation even more interesting is the fact that Lloyd is from Kansas City. The Chiefs' No. 1 receiver Dwayne Bowe, who will be a free agent, is better and younger than Lloyd. But Lloyd is a quality player who thrilled under McDaniels and he would be less expensive than Bowe.

We’re trying to connect some dots here, but an interesting scenario could play out for the Chiefs in the next couple of months.

As expected, Kansas City interim coach Romeo Crennel told reporters Kyle Orton will start Sunday against Green Bay.

Let’s look at some keys for Orton, who was claimed off waivers from Denver last month, as he makes his first start as a Chief.

Rust/injury: This will be Orton’s first start since Week 5. He has thrown one pass since and he hurt his index finger on his throwing hand when he made his debut as a Chief at Chicago two weeks ago. Orton wouldn’t be playing Sunday if he were still injured, but it will be interesting to see if he takes a while to get going after being inactive.

Packers will defend aggressively: Orton faced the Packers in Week 4. He threw three touchdown passes in a blowout Denver loss. But he was also intercepted three times. Expect Green Bay to attack him again.

Chemistry with Dwayne Bowe: Orton has connected well with top receivers such as Brandon Marshall and Brandon Lloyd. Let’s see how he connects with Bowe. Bowe can be a game-changing receiver and I expect the veteran Orton to rely on him, even though their partnership may be temporary.

Play-action ability: Like injured Kansas City starter Matt Cassel, Orton has been among the league’s better passers in play-action situations. Because both Cassel and Orton were comfortable with play-action passing, the offense should suit Orton nicely.

How long will his leash be? If Orton doesn’t play well in the next couple of weeks, I could see fifth-round pick Ricky Stanzi getting a chance to play before the season is over. But if Orton is serviceable, he will get the nod because he gives the Chiefs the best chance to win.

The Denver Broncos got a win Sunday.

They will get a fifth-round pick from St. Louis in the 2012 draft instead of a sixth-round pick because Brandon Lloyd caught 30 passes for the Rams. The upgrade was a stipulation in the October trade the sent Lloyd to St. Louis.

Lloyd had five catches Sunday and he has 31 catches with the Rams.

The Brandon Lloyd deal between the Denver Broncos and the St. Louis Rams at the trade deadline last month is working out just fine for both teams.

Lloyd, who had a Pro Bowl season last year for the Broncos at the age of 29 after being a career journeyman, has been solid for the receiver-needy Rams. He has 21 catches, 255 yards and two touchdowns for St. Louis. He had 19 catches for 283 yards and no touchdowns for Denver

If Lloyd catches nine more balls this season, the Rams will owe Denver a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft. If not, the Rams will send Denver a sixth-round pick.

Denver doesn’t miss Lloyd and is 3-1 since the trade. Denver’s other win this season came in a game that Lloyd was injured. One of the reasons why Lloyd was traded was because he was staunchly in the Kyle Orton camp. He was traded before Tim Tebow's first start.

One of the reasons why the Denver Broncos shipped receiver Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis (Adam Schefter has the details of how the Broncos can get a fifth-round pick in 2012 out of the deal) is the rebuilding they want to do.

The Broncos want to give 2010 draft picks Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker a chance to grow at receiver as they begin the Tim Tebow era.

Thomas, a first-round pick, has been out all season with Achilles and finger issues. He might be able to play Sunday at Miami. Decker has been one of Denver’s better players this season. The former third-round pick has 22 catches and four touchdowns.

Watch for Denver to see how Decker and Thomas can develop with Tebow the rest of this season.

“We feel strong about our receiving corps moving forward,” Denver coach John Fox said Monday. He also called the current receiving crew a team strength.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. is interested to see these two receivers develop.

“I certainly like Decker and see him as a true No. 2 receiver,” Williamson said. “But he doesn’t have a lot of big-play ability. Thomas could be that guy … Like Tebow, Denver needs to know all they can about Thomas before this offseason. But if Thomas does work out, which is very questionable at this point, they still need one more guy. But I do have a hunch that they are very high on their young tight ends, namely Julius Thomas.”

The Denver Broncos' trade of Brandon Lloyd is not the kind of deal that makes fans of the trading team excited, but they are necessary.

Denver shipped the 30-year-old receiver to the St. Louis Rams for a sixth-round draft pick that could become a fifth-round pick next year. Again, receiving a late-round pick for a starter does not get the blood flowing. But there are reason that makes this trade valuable for the Broncos.

Lloyd, 30, was going to leave as a free agent at the end of the year. There is was no need for Denver to give Lloyd a big-dollar contract because of his age. The Broncos are beginning a rebuilding phase. They want to see what young receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker can do.

Plus, Lloyd didn’t want to be there anymore. He said on “SportsCenter” on Monday that his departure was amicable. But he wants to go somewhere where they would pass the ball more. Lloyd reunites with former Denver coach Josh McDaniels in St. Louis. McDaniels is the offensive coordinator in St. Louis.

Lloyd, who has 19 catches this season, has long been a supporter of former Denver quarterback Kyle Orton. Now that Denver is moving toward the Tim Tebow era, the Broncos are probably better off moving on without a player who supported Orton.

Again, the Broncos are moving to youth all over the field. Lloyd just doesn’t fit in for the future.

Lloyd was a journeyman when he arrived in Denver in 2009. The Broncos signed him essentially as a street free agent. Not much was expected from him when he signed. So, for Denver to get a Pro Bowl season out of Lloyd and now a draft pick, it was a pretty good relationship with Lloyd.

But it’s clear it was time for the relationship to end.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting that the Denver Broncos have traded receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams.

The Broncos will get a sixth-round draft pick that could become a fifth-round pick based on performance. The trade reunites Lloyd with former Denver coach Josh McDaniels. He is the offensive coordinator in St. Louis.

Lloyd had a breakout year at the age of 29 last year under McDaniels’ guidance. I will be back with more thoughts on this deal later.

It could be an interesting 48 hours in Denver.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen are reporting that receiver Eddie Royal joins receiver Brandon Lloyd on the trading block. The trade deadline is Tuesday.

Both players are free agents at the end of the season and likely not in Denver’s long-term plans. If the rebuilding team can add a couple of draft picks in return for the players, it’d probably jump at the chance.

The Rams and the Patriots are reportedly among the teams interested in Lloyd. I could see Washington looking into Royal. Mike Shanahan drafted Royal and he had great success as a rookie in Shanahan’s offense.

Meanwhile, Mortensen is reporting Denver likely will not deal quarterback Kyle Orton before the deadline. Orton is being replaced by Tim Tebow moving forward.