2012 NFL Free Agency: Top 5 Players the Buccaneers Should Pursue

The Buccaneers turnaround on offense should not take that long.  All they really need is for Josh Freeman to play like he did in 2010.  If he can do that, the offense will be just fine in 2012.

The real problems are on defense.  Upgrading that defense should be the No. 1 priority of this offseason.  Here are five players who could help do just that. 

It's obviously unrealistic to expect Tampa Bay to add all five of these players, but adding one or two could make a huge impact right away.

5. Robert Mathis

Robert Mathis probably has two to three good years left in him. 

The question that Greg Schiano and the front office will have to answer is how long is it going to take this team to be good? 

If they think they can turn it around in one to two years Mathis makes a lot of sense.  If they are looking at a longer rebuild process, it's probably not a good idea to bring him in.

Mathis will be 31 in a couple of weeks, but his production has not dropped off at all over a couple of years. 

He has 41.5 sacks in the last four seasons with 9.5 of those coming on a terrible Colts team in 2011.

4. Carlos Rogers

Carlos Rogers would be a really good option for the Buccaneers. 

He's not a typical shutdown corner, but he's also not a liability.  He had the best season of his career in terms of interceptions in 2011 with six.

Rogers could fill a big hole for the Buccaneers and will not cost the money that a guy like Cortland Finnegan would.

3. Cliff Avril

Cliff Avril is not going to be the best pass-rusher on the market this season, but he's a really good one.  Avril has thrived in Jim Schwarz's system.  He has tallied 19.5 sacks in the past two seasons.

There really is not anything more important than a good pass rush in the today's NFL.  It is even better if you can get it without having to send an extra guy. 

Avril would give the Buccaneers that luxury.

2. Cortland Finnegan

Cortland Finnegan is going to be the best cornerback on the market this offseason. 

He's not one of the top five cornerbacks in the league, but he's probably in the top 10.  Corner is clearly a need for the Buccaneers, and adding Finnegan would free them up to take Trent Richardson with the 5th pick.

Finnegan had a down year in 2010 but bounced back in 2011.  He played a lot of nickel in Tennessee's defense, but there's no doubt he can hold his own against the best outside.  He would be an instant upgrade to the Tampa defense who will be desperate to add a corner.

1. Mario Williams

Mario Williams is going to be the best defensive player on the free-agent market. 

There's some concern about his healthy after the pectoral muscle injury that kept him out for most of 2011, but if he's healthy, he's an instant upgrade to any defense.

Williams has averaged almost nine sacks per season in his time in the NFL.  What makes that number even more impressive is that he has only played in 18 games in the past two seasons.  This year, he had five sacks in five games.

Adding a pass-rusher also makes the secondary even better.