In today's pass-heavy NFL, wide receivers are more important than ever.
You see as much reflected in free agency, where players like Allen Robinson and Sammy Watkins receive huge contracts to reward middling production. You see it too in the draft, where seemingly every year brings a handful of new hyped receivers to the league, including last year, when three (Corey Davis, Mike Williams and John Ross) went in the first nine picks.
In fact, since 2009, as many as six and an average of four receivers have been picked in the first round.