2012 NFL Draft: 10 Players Who Will Replace Key Free-Agent Losses

The NFL season is never over even after the Super Bowl ends. Teams have to make difficult decisions regarding free agency. If a tough call is made not to bring back a player, where do you look to? The NFL Draft of course. 

The draft is the perfect way to retool after a big loss in free agency. More and more teams are willing to pass on spending big money, instead going for younger and cheaper options.

Here are 10 guys in this year's draft who will replace key free agents on teams.  

Cleveland Browns, Trent Richardson

After having a career year in 2010, Peyton Hillis struggled with the Browns last season. He played in 10 games only rushing for 587 yards and three touchdowns. In addition to the injuries, questions of his toughness and contract issues came into play. 

The Browns came to the conclusion they no longer wanted to deal with Hillis, so they let him sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Browns also knew they would be in a perfect position to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson. 

Richardson is by far the best and most complete back in the draft since the Vikings' selected Adrian Peterson. Not only will Richardson come in and fill the void of Hillis, but he will be an upgrade in the Browns' backfield. 

St. Louis Rams, Justin Blackmon

The Brandon Lloyd experiment in St. Louis last year did not go so well for both parties. Now Lloyd is reunited with Josh McDaniels in New England. The Rams traded down from their No. 2 spot because they didn't need a quarterback, they needed a weapon for the one they have. 

What better way to get Sam Bradford the weapon he needs and make Lloyd a distant memory than to draft Justin Blackmon? Blackmon is the the best wide receiver in the draft. Last season he had 121 receptions for over 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns. The year before that he had 111 receptions for over 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns. 

You hear that? That's Sam Bradford saying thank you. 

Seattle Seahawks, Luke Kuechly

Inside linebacker David Hawthorne is still a free agent. Even though he is only 26 years old and had a very productive season last year, it looks like Seattle will not re-sign him. It's going to be tough to replace the 350 tackles Hawthorne accumulated over his four-year career, but there is one guy in the draft up to the task. 

Luke Kuechly is a stud inside linebacker from Boston College. He's a tackling machine who shows great leadership in the defense and recorded double-digit solo tackles four times last season (including 17 in one game). 

The Seahawks need a pass rush, but it would be tough for Pete Carroll to pass up an anchor in the defense for years to come. Seattle will build offensively around Matt Flynn, but Kuechly will be the quarterback of the defense.  

Cincinnati Bengals, Cordy Glenn

The Bengals have yet to re-sign longtime starter Bobbie Williams. He's played in every game at guard since 2004 (except for last year when he only played nine due to a broken ankle) but at 35 years old, he doesn't look to be in the plans of the Bengals going forward. 

Enter Cordy Glenn. He is only 22 years old and is the best guard in the draft after David DeCastro. If he falls to the Bengals at No. 21, the team will not hesitate to draft him. He would prove to be a viable option on the interior part of the line for years going forward. 

Denver Broncos, Devon Still

The Broncos have clearly upgraded their offense with Peyton Manning, but what about the defense? The team let defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley go to the Saints after just one season. They did this because they knew defensive tackle is one of the deeper positions in the draft. 

Devon Still is a mammoth space eater. He is 6'5'' 303 lbs and could prove to be an inside force with the Broncos. His strength and brute force on the inside would go well with Von Miller and Elvis Dumerville on the outside. 

The Broncos can take the next step towards a Super Bowl this season. To do so, they are going to have to upgrade the defense and it starts here with Still at the 25th pick.  

Houston Texans, Nick Perry

It will be very difficult for the Texans to replace the production of former No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams. During his six seasons in Houston, he racked up 53 sacks and 11 forced fumbles. 

It will be a tall task for Nick Perry, but he has the talent to make up some of those numbers. While he's not the big-time pass rusher like Williams, he has the ability to get to the quarterback and drop back in coverage. Perry still managed nine-and-a-half sacks in 11 games last season. His production should go up in a Wade Phillips defense. 

The Texans need another wide receiver, but it will be tough to pass up on Perry knowing they have a gaping hole at the defensive end/ outside linebacker position. 

New York Giants, David Wilson

Even though Brandon Jacobs had a successful career helping the Giants win two championships, he never seemed to be on the same page with the team and its staff. Jacobs is now in San Francisco and the team will be looking for more running back help. 

David Wilson is a very good option at running back in a draft that may not be so deep at the position. He averaged 5.9 yards per rush last year with over 1,700 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

Ahmad Bradshaw will need some help next year. Wilson is the kind of guy who can come in right away to form a very good backfield for the Giants.  

Indianapolis Colts, Rueben Randle

The Colts turned over their roster significantly. One thing they were able to do was re-sign Reggie Wayne, but they lost receivers Pierre Garcon and Anthony Gonzalez. New weapons are now needed for the arrival of Andrew Luck. 

Ruben Randle should be available at the start of the second round. He was productive last season despite LSU's struggles at the quarterback position, totaling 53 catches for over 900 yards and eight touchdowns. 

Having a quarterback and receiver grow together is important. What could be even more important is Andrew Luck being able to throw to a 6'4'' 208-pound receiver. With questions surrounding some of the receivers in the draft at this point, it will be tough to pass up on Randle. 

New York Jets, Doug Martin

The Jets seem to be done with LaDainian Tomlinson. The experiment really didn't work out and now it's time for both parties to move on. The Jets will look to run the ball even more with Mark Sanchez still on the team and the addition of Tim Tebow. 

Doug Martin seems like a Rex Ryan kind of player. He comes in at 5'9'' 215 lbs and loves to pound the football. Last year he gained 1,299 yards on the ground at almost five yards per carry and rushed for 16 touchdowns.

Shonn Greene may or may not be an every-down option, but he doesn't have to be when Doug Martin comes in. Expect Rex Ryan to get back to his roots of ball control smash-mouth football with this pick in the second round.  

San Diego Chargers, Harrison Smith

Remember Bob Sanders on the Chargers last year? Didn't think so. That's because he had only 12 tackles in two games for them last season. They thought Sanders could regain some of his All-Pro form, but he ended up back on injured reserve again. 

Now the Chargers are in the market for a safety. Harrison Smith is an interesting option. The safety position is very weak in this year's draft so by default Smith is the second best on the board behind Alabama's Mark Barron. 

Smith is a larger safety at 6'2'' 213 lbs. He could allow Eric Weddle to play closer to the box because Smith's strengths come as a center field-type player. It will be very hard for the Chargers to pass on Smith knowing they may not see another solid safety in the draft.