2012 NFL Mock Draft: How Free Agency Has Changed the 1st Round

The 2012 NFL free agency season has dramatically altered the scene of the league with a few unprecedented moves. But looking deeper, these signings will shift the strategies teams employ during the first round of the draft.

Teams have uncharacteristically plugged large holes successfully through the acquisition of free agents. 

The Green Bay Packers broke with tradition and utilized the market to address their offensive and defensive lines.

The Denver Broncos suddenly don't need to worry about their quarterback any longer as they broke a prize Colt.

Yet underneath the surface, these moves will shake up which players that teams will target in the first round.

Let's take a look.

The Denver Broncos Can Suspend Their Quarterback Search

The Denver Broncos would have been hunting for a first-round quarterback prior to signing Peyton Manning. It was an educated guess before, but now it seems almost certain.

John Elway was never comfortable with Tim Tebow being the starting signal-caller in Denver. Elway knew he had to tiptoe with his comments to avoid any schisms among the fanbase.

However, the Broncos got their man and have certainly made a win-now move. Such a signing requires Denver to use its first-round selection to find someone who can help them improve instantly.

Thus, they will not be using any high picks on a quarterback of the future.

The Miami Dolphins Have Inflated Ryan Tannehill's Stock

The Miami Dolphins weren't able to land one of the two viable free-agent quarterback options.

Once Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn were off the board, the Dolphins were suddenly stuck talking themselves into Ryan Tannehill as the answer.

Tannehill is a nice player and has potential. Yet, there is a reason nobody was talking about his Top-10 talent until Robert Griffin III was no longer available.

Miami is desperate to show the world that it is doing something about its quarterback situation. Matt Moore is a decent stop-gap, but he is probably not leading the team to a playoff victory like the immortal Jay Fiedler.

The Green Bay Packers Will Bolster Their Offensive Line

The Green Bay Packers have taken NFL free agency by storm. Relatively.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson is known for developing his own talent as opposed to cherry picking other teams' players.

However, he has bucked that trend this year with the signings of center Jeff Saturday and defensive end Anthony Hargrove.

Hargrove isn't a long-term answer, but he provides enough of a presence for Green Bay to address their offensive line in the first round.

Chad Clifton and Saturday have staved off the early-bird specials for some time and the Packers must keep Aaron Rodgers healthy.

Especially since Matt Flynn left town.

The New Orleans Saints Can Reload the Offense

Much like the Green Bay Packers, the New Orleans Saints utilized free agency to shore up a defensive deficiency.

With the likely suspension of Jonathan Vilma looming, the Saints signed Curtis Lofton. Lofton is a young linebacker who has already put together a solid career.

New Orleans is having difficulty coming to a multi-year agreement with franchise quarterback Drew Brees. Might a new offensive toy or a replacement for Carl Nicks entice him to take a little less money?

The San Francisco 49ers Still Need a No. 1 Wide Receiver

The San Francisco 49ers have been making all sorts of moves to address their wide receiver situation.

Yet, the signings of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham don't fix their lack of a No. 1 playmaker. 

Manningham is a nice second option but has never required a defense to focus on him.

Moss obviously enjoyed top billing earlier in his career. Now the 49ers are simply hoping for one or two vertical plays a game.

It is unlikely that San Francisco will find the receiver they are looking for at the 30th spot, so don't rule out the possibility of a trade.

A Lack of Free Agency Has Already Helped the Washington Redskins Land RGIII

The Washington Redskins knew from the outset of free agency that they weren't going to be major players this year.

The prospect of losing $36 million in cap space had to color the Skins' decision to move mountains for Robert Griffin III.

It was the right move.

Washington needed to do something to keep people interested and sell tickets. The team hasn't made the playoffs in five years and there was little reason to think they would this year in a loaded NFC.

The New England Patriots Will Not Select a Wide Receiver

To be sure, the prospect of Bill Belichick selecting a wide receiver in the first round was remote. But now it has gone from unlikely to impossible.

The New England Patriots haven't selected a wide receiver in the first round since Terry Glenn in 1996.

The Pats ensured that pattern won't change by franchising Wes Welker, signing Donte Stallworth and Brandon Lloyd and retaining Deion Branch.

It would appear that Tom Brady's cupboard is stocked for 2012.

The rest of the league is on notice.