2012 NFL Free Agents: How Top Free Agents Will Affect the 2012 NFL Draft

The 2012 NFL free agency period starts Tuesday, and as usual, its outcomes will have drastic effects on April's draft.

In the coming weeks, teams will be throwing cash at players in hopes that they can upgrade a weakness without using a first-round pick. Some will succeed, some will fail.

But regardless of who lands where, the free agency period is guaranteed to impact the draft. Here are the top free agents who will shake up April's main event.

Peyton Manning

The most famous free agent in this year's class will also have the biggest impact on the first round.

The Dolphins, Broncos and Cardinals are the current front-runners for Manning, and although it looks unlikely now, the Seahawks could get in the mix as well.

The three teams that strike out in the Manning sweepstakes will look to find their quarterback of the future early in the draft. None of them have a prayer of landing Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, but Brandon Weeden, Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler all have first-round potential.

If Manning lands in Denver, don't be shocked if Miami at No. 8 or Seattle at No. 12 reach for one of the second-tier quarterbacks. And if he goes elsewhere, the Broncos are in a perfect position to snag another quarterback with the 25th pick.

I'd be shocked if the Cardinals, who still have Kevin Kolb on the roster, decided to select a QB at No. 13.

Vincent Jackson

Jackson is the best wide receiver in this year's free agent class. He's got the size, speed and hands to dominate if he lands in the right situation.

Right now, the Bears, Redskins, Bills and Rams are all contenders for Jackson's services. But the teams he spurns will have to address their wide receiver needs through the draft.

Justin Blackmon is unquestionably the best receiver in the draft, and I'm expecting the Rams to select him at No. 6.

The Bills have the 10th pick, but I doubt Blackmon will be available then. However, they will have their choice between Kendall Wright, Michael Floyd and Alshon Jeffery.

The Bears, with the 19th pick, will be able to choose between two or three of those guys as well.

Unfortunately for the Redskins, they ditched their second-round pick, so they will have to get creative if they want to get another high quality receiver.

Michael Bush

Last season, the bruising running back proved he's ready to be someone's No. 1 option. He rushed for 977 yards and seven touchdowns while filling in for the injured Darren McFadden.

The Browns, Bengals and Giants could all use upgrades in the backfield, so expect them to pursue Bush aggressively.

I'm expecting Cleveland to select Alabama stud Trent Richardson with the fourth overall pick, but there's a possibility someone could trade ahead of the Browns and select him at No. 3. They'll definitely want to look at Bush.

The Bengals have the 17th and 21st picks, so they'll have a great opportunity to pick up one of the draft's other backs. LaMichael James, Lamar Miller and David Wilson all have first-round potential.

Meanwhile, the defending champion Giants recently released Brandon Jacobs, and Bush would be the perfect replacement. But if they can't reel him in, they'll be able to snag James, Miller or Wilson at No. 32.