2012 NFL Mock Draft: First-Round Picks to Replace High-Profile Free Agents

Whenever a team has the potential to lose a key piece to free agency there are two options to fill the void. The franchise can either find a replacement on the open market or use an early draft pick to select somebody who can enter the lineup right away.

Due to financial reasons, more often than not the draft is the way teams go. After all, if they had the money for a free agent they would have kept the player they had in the first place.

With that in mind, here's a full mock draft of the first round featuring players who will be filling holes left by free agents.

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-14): Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Unless something dramatically changes before Peyton Manning's bonus is due next month, his days as a member of the Colts are numbered. That decision has been helped along by the fact Indianapolis has the top overall pick.

Luck is the best prospect at the position since Manning himself, which will lessen the blow of releasing the face of the franchise. He possesses a similar skill set to Manning, so it's just a matter of letting him develop. Don't forget that No. 18 went 3-13 with 28 interceptions in his rookie season.

It's a situation where everything fell exactly right for the Colts. After having Manning lead the team for more than a decade, an injury allows them to draft an elite replacement. There's a bunch of teams that haven't had that caliber of quarterback at any point since 1998 and now the Colts will have two.

2. St. Louis Rams (2-14): Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Blackmon gives Sam Bradford a much-needed top target.

3. Minnesota Vikings (3-13): Matt Kalil, OT, USC

The Vikings need to upgrade their line with a truly elite talent like Kalil.

4. Cleveland Browns (4-12): Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin would be the piece to finally turn things around for the Cleveland offense.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-12): Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Richardson's playmaking skills would be a welcome addition to the Bucs.

6. Washington Redskins (5-11): Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

After a season of lackluster quarterback play, Tannehill is Washington's best option with its first pick.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars (5-11): Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

There's no way the Jaguars can pass on Claiborne, who's ceiling is basically unlimited.

8. Carolina Panthers* (6-10): Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

Coples' stock has gone up and down like the stock market, but is a nice fit for Carolina.

9. Miami Dolphins* (6-10): Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

The Dolphins have several needs, but offensive line is among the most important to fill right away.

10. Buffalo Bills (6-10): Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama

Upshaw would give the Bills speed off the edge they haven't had in a long time.

11. Seattle Seahawks* (7-9): Devon Still, DT, Penn State

The Seahawks need somebody who can make an immediate impact to stop the run. Still fits the bill.

12. Kansas City Chiefs* (7-9): Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Jamaal Charles will return to lead the offense next season. Martin would be a nice piece to open more holes for him.

13. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Kirkpatrick will pair with Patrick Peterson to form one of the best young cornerback duos in the NFL.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8): Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly is the type of consistent contributor the Cowboys need in the middle of their defense.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8): Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

There still hasn't been a resolution when it comes to wideout DeSean Jackson. The assumption is Philadelphia will franchise tag him should another deal not be reached, but things change at a rapid pace during an NFL offseason so you can never be quite sure what's going to happen.

Even if Jackson is brought back for another season, the Eagles would be well-served to plan ahead by taking a wide receiver in this year's draft. Michael Vick needs a lot of targets spreading the field to be successful, so the team can't afford to lose a key piece without immediately replacing him.

The best option as this spot would be Floyd, who has fended off Kendall Wright to be the second receiver selected. He has a terrific combination of size and hands that will make him a perfect fit for the Eagles, who have relied on small receivers for quite some time.

16. New York Jets (8-8): David DeCastro, G, Stanford

The Jets need DeCastro to bulk up a disappointing offensive line.

17. Cincinnati Bengals (via OAK 8-8): Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Ingram would be another tremendous young piece for one of the league's rising teams.

18. San Diego Chargers (8-8): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC

The Chargers must upgrade their pass rush this offseason. Perry would be a start.

19. Chicago Bears (8-8): Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Konz and the Bears are a match made in heaven after the team's interior line struggles.

20. Tennessee Titans (9-7): Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Brockers is rising up draft boards faster than any other prospect.

21. Cincinnati Bengals (9-7): Lamar Miller, RB, Miami

Cedric Benson is due to be a free agent this offseason and the Bengals would be better off letting him walk than signing him to any type of long-term extension. He's simply not worth that type of commitment at this point in his career.

One trend that appears to be taking the NFL by storm is multipurpose running backs. Players like Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy and Maurice Jones-Drew are able to help their respective offenses in so many more ways than a simple rusher.

That's why Miller would be a good fit for the Bengals. They need more playmakers on offense to complement A.J. Green. Miller would certainly fit that mold with his ability to separate from defenders, and should continue to grow as a receiver out of the backfield with more experience.

22. Cleveland Browns (via ATL 10-6): Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Jeffery would give the Browns an extremely talented option for either Griffin or Colt McCoy.

23. Detroit Lions (10-6): Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

The Lions know how important a strong offensive line is after Matthew Stafford's health woes.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4): Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia

Glenn has the ability to strength Pittsburgh's otherwise inconsistent offensive line.

25. Denver Broncos (8-8): Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State

Denver should be ecstatic if they could get an elite defensive tackle prospect this late.

26. Houston Texans (10-6): Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Wright can provide the Texans with an upgrade to either Kevin Walter or Jacoby Jones.

27. New England Patriots (via NO 13-3): Alfonzo Dennard, CB, Nebraska

Dennard is the first piece of many that will be required to fix New England's secondary.

28. Green Bay Packers (15-1): Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

The Packers, like the Patriots, need to improve in the defensive backfield.

29. Baltimore Ravens (12-4): Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict might rub some people the wrong way, but that won't make the Ravens shy away.

30. San Francisco 49ers (13-3): Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers

Sanu is a more complete receiver than people are giving him credit for so far.

31. New England Patriots (13-3): Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Bill Belichick is going to load up on young defensive talent and carve out a solid defense.

32. New York Giants (9-7): Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Allen will start gaining more momentum after the Scouting Combine, but is a solid option for the defending champions.