Peyton Manning Release Rumor: 5 Scenarios That Would Shake Up 2012 NFL Draft

We'll all be sorting out the ripple effect of Peyton Manning finding a new home for weeks after he decides where he wants to play, assuming Chris Mortensen's report that Manning will be released is true.

But we can anticipate how his potential homes will affect the upcoming draft.

The merry-go-round of pairings between quarterbacks and teams will begin to turn once Manning is released—looking like later today. Here's a glimpse at how the most likely scenarios could affect what happens at the NFL draft in Radio City Music Hall on April 26:

Washington

A Manning signing means Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill would then be out of play for the Redskins and the top wide receiver on their board would be a target, assuming they don't land a big name at the position in free agency.

Jacksonville, Carolina and Buffalo fans that are hoping for Justin Blackmon would have to be disappointed, but Miami fans that are hoping for Tannehill would be heartened.

Miami

Tannehill would be off the board for the No. 8 pick, and free agent Matt Flynn would lose of one his two most likely suitors.

Cleveland is the other, and the lack of competition for Flynn's services would give them more incentive to lock him up before the draft.

The Redskins would be left as the prohibitive favorite to complete a trade-up for Robert Griffin III. The Dolphins would be freed up to take their favorite pass-rushing OLB prospect at No. 8—possibly South Carolina's Melvin Ingram.

Seattle

The Seahawks, like the Dolphins and Redskins, would cross Tannehill off the list of possible targets at No. 12.

Also like the Dolphins, the Seahawks could then turn their focus to bolstering the pass rush with their first-round pick. Ingram or Nick Perry, a Trojan under Pete Carroll, would be the top options.

Kansas City

The Chiefs are one of the longer shots to land Manning, but a chain of events could unfold that makes Tannehill fall into their lap. As laid out above, Miami signs Manning, Cleveland signs Flynn, and Washington trades up for Robert Griffin III.

The Chiefs would only have to worry about a team like Arizona or Seattle jumping ahead of them for the consensus No. 3 QB on the board.

Arizona

The Cardinals should have a sense of urgency to sign Manning because Kevin Kolb is due a $7 million roster bonus on March 17.

Kolb would likely be released and become available as a possible solution for any of the teams listed above, plus Cleveland, whose head coach Pat Shurmur knows Kolb well from their time together in Philadelphia.

The Cardinals would likely then shift their focus to a No. 2 wide receiver to play opposite Larry Fitzgerald. With the No. 13 pick, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd makes sense.