2016 NFL Draft: Best wide receivers available for Day 2

After the three teams drafting ahead of the Bengals selected a wide receiver in the 2016 NFL Draft, Cincinnati picked a cornerback in a move that shocked many. For those who follow the Bengals' draft patterns, it shouldn't be too much of a surprise though as it follows their best player available approach. After getting William Jackson III in the first round, it might be time to finally find another wide receiver on Friday in Rounds 2 or 3 of the Draft.

With Baylor's Corey Coleman, Notre Dame's Will Fuller, TCU's Josh Doctson and Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell gone, an already thin group could be seen as underwhelming, but there is still plenty of talent available on day two for the Bengals to get another weapon for quarterback Andy Dalton. Picking at numbers 55 and 87, it is possible that the best receivers left are already gone by the time the Bengals are on the board, but if the Bengals take a chance on a wide receiver today it should be one of these:

Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma - Read his full draft profile

Shepard is a slot receiver by trade with lots of speed but with some flaws that could derail his career early on. Most analysts seem to agree that Shepard is more quick than fast and that he lacks the frame to play against physical defenders, but with the way the NFL is going on right now, a playmaker like him inside could be pretty good for any team. NFL.com's Gil Brandt says he has great hands and that he reminds him of Wes Welker.

Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh - Read his full draft profile

A possession receiver who might lack the speed to play deep balls in the NFL, Boyd has great body control, but did not run much of the route tree in his time with Pitt. Boyd can do a little bit of everything, just like former Bengals receiver Mohamed Sanu, but is also prone to being careless as ball carrier. He is not a lock to hear his name in the second round. The Bengals met with Boyd at the NFL Combine.

Michael Thomas, Ohio State - Read his full draft profile

The local hero could be the Bengals' top rated receiver remaining and the best of the bunch. It remains to be seen if he is still available at all when Cincinnati is on the clock, nonetheless, if the Bengals were lucky to grab him, they'd get a receiver with good size, great speed and quick feet. Thomas is not a deep threat yet, but he has outstanding footwork and builds up speed well. The Bengals worked out Thomas in Cincinnati and attended Ohio State's Pro Day. There have also been rumors of Thomas being the Bengals' top rated receiver.

Braxton Miller, Ohio State

Miller transitioned from starting quarterback at Ohio State to wide receiver with relative ease. Miller could become the Swiss Army knife every team wants to have, but has to overcome his lack of route running ability and experience after playing the position for only one year. He still relies much on his athleticism and speed but can also be a disruptive force on the open field. The Bengals worked out Miller in Cincinnati with Thomas and as mentioned above, attended OSU Pro Day. There were rumors about the Bengals being interested in Miller early in the draft season. And, Miller is reportedly going to be training with Chad Ochocinco Johnson this spring and summer.

Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina

Cooper is a playmaker with the ball in his hands, but as a wide receiver, he has substantial room for improvement, like running more sophisticated routes. Cooper can play all over the field and despite his small frame he is not afraid of contact and goes quickly after the hole. The Bengals attended his Pro Day at South Carolina.

Rashard Higgins, Colorado State

Higgins excels at improvising to get open in space and provides his quarterback with a great opportunity to hit him in stride. He was named first team All-Mountain West by vote of media and coaches and played in 12 games with 11 starts in 2015, recording 75 receptions for 1062 yards and eight touchdowns. The thing is, he is not super fast or big and has some issues breaking tackles due to his lean frame. But, he does have great footwork and could look to bulk up as he heads into his first NFL season.

Leonte Carroo, Rutgers

Carroo was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2014, a season in which he had 1,068 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. His production declined as a senior when he had a high-ankle sprain and faced a suspension for an assault arrest for which the charges were dropped. Carroo has great size, footwork and hands and was a leader in the Rutgers locker room. Carroo could be a good replacement for fellow Rutgers star Mohamed Sanu.

2016 is not the greatest draft to plug a hole at wide receiver but there's definitely some intriguing talent that could help to alleviate the pain of losing Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu.