NFL Draft 2012: Teams That Must Replace High-Profile Free Agents

With the selection of the right players in the upcoming draft, certain teams will be able to watch high-priced free agents walk away without freaking out. 

This will allow them to save cap money and get younger in the process. Let's take a look at three teams in a position to do just that. 

Atlanta Falcons

Free Agent: DE, John Abraham

John Abraham is going to have no shortage of teams or healthy offers to choose from this offseason. 

This is a pass-rushing defensive end who has played in at least 15 games in each of his past five seasons and has 22.5 sacks in his last two seasons.

But the Falcons have too many needs to give the 33-year-old Abraham a huge deal. They need to spread out their cash to address needs on the offensive line and secondary. 

This will allow them to add some youth to their defensive line as they find a replacement in the draft. 

San Diego Chargers

Free Agent: WR, Vincent Jackson

Jackson and the Chargers have been at a contract stalemate for years now. It is time to either get a long-term deal done or watch him walk, and the best choice here is to watch him walk. 

V-Jax posted his third straight 1,000-yard season, but he struggled with consistency. It's also going to take a big deal to sign him. 

Jackson is 29, and his productivity is about to fall off a cliff. Philip Rivers has shown he can make average receivers look great, and San Diego will have plenty of opportunities to draft a quality WR in this draft. 

New Orleans Saints

Free Agent: OG, Carl Nicks

New Orleans inked Jahri Evans to a seven-year deal worth $56.7 million in 2010. It is going to take a similar contract to sign Nicks. 

Nicks has done a great job for the Saints, and their offensive line is one of the strengths of the team. However, it is not practical to have two guards making approximately $16 million a year. 

The Saints will be able to find a starting-caliber interior offensive lineman with one of their first two picks. They need to do just that and spread out their cap room on other positions.