2012 NFL Free Agency: One Need Player Every Team Must Add

Now that the NFL universe is back in order, teams can begin to fill out their rosters and go into the draft with more certainty. Now that a salary cap is back in place for the first time since the 2009 season, we can no longer blame "greedy owners" for underspending. 

On the other hand, a lot of teams, such as Tampa Bay and Kansas City, have a lot of money to spend to meet the cap minimum. 

Whatever each team's cap situation may be, here is one player each team must go after this offseason. 

Keep in mind, I made these picks assuming the rest of the team will remain intact; picking teams to just retain the same players or replacing potential free agents with free agents of the same position is just boring. 

New York Giants: Fred Davis

Jake Ballard made a few plays in 2011, but he is not the kind of player that  puts any kind of threat into a defense or forces double teams. He also tore his ACL in the Super Bowl, which renders his status as questionable for the start of the 2012 season, making tight end one of the biggest needs for the Super Bowl champs. 

Davis is a rising star and really came on when Chris Cooley was sidelined due to injury. With receiver Mario Manningham on his way out as a free agent, adding a guy like Davis will force the defense to roll their coverage to either Nicks, Cruz or Davis and let the opponent "pick their poison."

As an added bonus, signing Davis will keep him away from the Redskins, which will go a long way in ensuring that their divisional rivals stay in the "irrelevant" category. 

Philadelphia Eagles: Dashon Goldson

The two biggest needs for Philly are at linebacker and safety, and I have a hunch that Luke Kuechly, the linebacker from Boston College, will be their first-round selection, leaving a big hole at safety.

Goldson had a resurgence last season, picking off six passes, and was a force in run support. The Eagles were one of the worst teams against the run last year, and their safety play did not do much to rectify the situation. Goldson will immediately set a physical tone on the back end. 

Goldson is also a bit underrated as a center field-type guy, which is another area the Eagles could use help in. Juan Castillo tried some odd tactics, including moving Nnamdi Asomugha to safety on some snaps to make up for their lack of ball hawks on the back end. Adding Goldson would allow the Eagles to keep their corners in more comfortable situations. 

Dallas Cowboys: Cortland Finnegan

The Cowboys could use a new player at just about every position in the secondary. With the amount of talent they have on their front seven, especially if they are able to retain Anthony Spencer, even an average secondary should be able to push this defense into the "elite" range. 

Finnegan, perhaps most known for his brawl with Andre Johnson, has quietly been an effective and improving player over the past few seasons as a Titan. He's a physical, in-your-face kind of corner that is best in press-man coverage. Tennessee has hinted that they are not interested in retaining him, and he should hit the market. 

If the Cowboys can sign Finnegan and draft another corner, say, Dre Kirkpatrick from Alabama, they would have a ton of talent to work with on the back end.

Washington Redskins: Dwayne Bowe

When you scan the weapons on the Redskins roster, there simply are not many players that strike fear into defenses. 

Santana Moss and Jabar Gaffney are on the wrong side of 30, and neither player has shown much in the past year to make you think they are due for any kind of production explosion, no matter who their quarterback is. 

I expect to put all of their draft eggs in the Robert Griffin III basket, leaving free agency as the best option to solve their glaring need at quarterback.

Bowe is a big-play threat that can be a huge target in the red zone as well. He has some character concerns, but as we saw with the Albert Haynesworth situation, Mike Shanahan's ego will have no patience for diva-like behavior from Bowe.

Bowe isn't the best receiver on the market, but after spending a healthy amount of cash last offseason, he may provide the best value.  

Minnesota Vikings: Carlos Rogers

The Vikings may have had the worst secondary in all of football last year and gave up way too many big plays at the end of games that put the Vikings in such a high draft spot. 

Rogers had a Pro-Bowl caliber season in his first year in San Francisco. Rogers was always a good cover guy, but he was run out of Washington because he could not simply catch footballs for interceptions. Rogers solved this issue, adding six interceptions for the 49ers on his own. 

The 49ers are undoubtedly going to try to re-sign him, but keeping both him and Dashon Goldson will prove to be very difficult. Assuming the Vikings use their first-round pick on an offensive lineman, signing a corner in free agency must be a high priority, and Rogers could provide a lot of value. 

Green Bay Packers: Jarrett Johnson

The Packers defense regressed more than just about any other unit in football in 2011. Losing Nick Collins in Week 2 was a huge blow, but they did not get any kind of pass rush and production from the outside linebacker position opposite Clay Matthews. 

In a defense that features the names of Lewis, Reed, Suggs and Ngata, Johnson is the unsung hero of a Baltimore defense that has survived a lot of change in terms of age and coaching. He is not going to put up monster sack numbers, but he is going to go 100 percent on every play and divert at least some attention away from Matthews. 

An all-around solid outside linebacker could be all this defense needs to get back to being respectable after coming dead last in yards allowed in 2011.

Detroit Lions: Brent Grimes

With all of the talent the Lions have on their front seven, even just a solid secondary would be good enough to make this defense one of the best in the NFL. 

The Falcons are likely going to do all they can to retain Grimes, but after spending a lot on Dunta Robinson a few seasons ago, it is assumed that Grimes will want as least as much money as, if not more than, his teammate is making. Keeping both players could prove to be very difficult.

Eric Wright turned in a solid performance in 2011, but Chris Houston and Alphonso Smith are both liabilities when asked to start on the outside. Grimes would be a massive upgrade to anyone they have at the cornerback position. 

Chicago Bears: Jared Gaither

J'Marcus Webb has been a disaster at left tackle and needs to be replaced, either through the draft or free agency. However, to me, the need at left tackle is too big to risk to a rookie in the draft, and there is no certainty whether or not you will have the opportunity to draft the guy you want. 

In a slim class for offensive tackles, Gaither provides the best value. It appeared as if his career was just about over after being cut from the Chiefs, where he played just one snap, which was a false start by his own accord. 

He later was claimed by San Diego, where he played extremely well and played a big part of getting Philip Rivers back on track for yet another late-season surge. San Diego will try to retain him with the status of Marcus McNeil in question, but he could solve a lot of problems for the Bears as a pass protector. 

Seattle Seahawks: Kyle Orton

Kyle Orton is a solid player, but let's face it, no fan wants him to be the starting quarterback of their team. Orton is the epitome of mediocrity; he is not going to sell tickets, but he can win you games. 

In a division where Alex Smith was able to win 13 games, Seattle, with Orton at the helm, has the blueprint for similar success. The Seahawks have developed on of the better defenses in the NFL that stops the run as well as anybody. Like the 49ers, they have a young, maturing offensive line that features a quality back (assuming they bring back Marshawn Lynch).

However, unlike the 49ers, they have some considerable talent at the wide receiver position in Sidney Rice, Mike Williams and Doug Baldwin. Orton could easily make the transition to an offense that just needs some consistency to win games, and Tavaris Jackson has been anything but consistent during his career. 

To me, this looks like a perfect marriage between player and team. If Alex Smith can get his team to the NFC title game, why can't Kyle Orton?

Arizona Cardinals: Carl Nicks

The Cardinals can use a starter at just about every spot on the line. Odds are they can probably find a tackle in the draft, so signing a big-time guard like Nicks would really go a long way in giving this offensive line a facelift. 

It will be hard for the Saints to keep Nicks after paying fellow guard Jahri Evans recently. Arizona will have to compete with a lot of suitors to secure Nicks' services, as he is one of the best guards in football. 

Upgrading their offensive line could also help in their recruiting efforts for Peyton Manning.

San Francisco 49ers: DeSean Jackson

The 49ers don't have a lot of needs, but their hole at wide receiver was a glaring one. With both Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers being free agents, it will be tough enough to sign them both, so getting a top player like Vincent Jackson will be out of their price range. 

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson is going to be available for less that his talent level may suggest because of his inconsistent play in 2011. He short-armed some passes and did not get the kind of seperation he usually gets downfield.

Personally, I believe he was so concerned about getting another injury like the hit he suffered from Dunta Robinson in 2010 in a contract year that he put his foot off the gas pedal a bit, resulting in poor production and friction with his coaches. 

Once he finally gets his contract, working with a coach like Jim Harbaugh will get him back to his original form. Along with tight end Vernon Davis, having two guys who can break a game open on the field at the same time will go a long way toward making this offense more explosive. 

St. Louis Rams: Vincent Jackson

Fewer teams have been lacking a talented, ascending wide receiver as long as the Rams have. Bradford clearly regressed in 2011, but he was without any real targets to throw to, at least until Brandon Lloyd came in. Now that Lloyd is a free agent and will likely leave now that Josh McDaniels is gone, the hole at receiver is as wide open as ever. 

Jackson has some inconsistent hands, but he has a huge frame and is a big-time downfield threat that can stretch the field. If they can sign Jackson (or any other top-level free agent), it will allow them to focus on re-tooling the offensive line in the draft. 

Jackson is probably the top player in this deep free agency class, but he could be well worth it for what he brings to the field. Welker is not going to be the field-stretcher Jackson is, and the last thing a young quarterback needs is a diva like DeSean Jackson on his team. 

New Orleans Saints: Jason Jones

The Saints don't have a first-round pick from the trade for Ingram in the 2011 draft, so they will have a little extra cash to spend in free agency. 

They tried to fill their gap at defensive tackle with the signing of Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin, but they proved to be on a major decline, as the Saints struggled against the run all year. 

Jones will be able to not only help in run support, but he will provide an presence as an interior pass-rusher that the Saints have lacked for quite a while. Jones also has experience lining up as a defensive end in obvious passing situations. 

With Steve Spagnulo in the fold as defensive coordinator, a huge emphasis will be placed on filling the defensive line with pass rushing talent. Look for Jones to be on the Saints' radar. 

Atlanta Falcons: Ben Grubbs

The Falcons guards have been pretty average and a bit leaky in pass protection. Adding a guy like Grubbs will add a level of physcality to the Falcons line that they have lacked all season. 

Michael Turner has looked slower and slower with each season, but upgrading the offensive line could spark a resurgence in his game. Its no secret that the Falcons are at their best when they are running the ball well, so upgrading either the back of offensive line has to be a priority this offseason. 

Without a first-round pick, Atlanta is going to have to make some kind of splash in free agency. However, they will have a tough time upgrading their team if they overspend to keep Brent Grimes in Atlanta. 

Carolina Panthers: Marques Colston

Steve Smith had a resurgence with Cam Newton under center, but it is time that they added someone opposite him to take away coverage. 

Colston is not a burner, but he has great hands and is an excellent route runner that allows him to get separation. He is also a big-time threat in the red zone and wins a lot of jump balls for big plays. 

Newton had a great rookie campaign, but if the Panthers want him to continue to develop, they need to ensure that he has a good supporting cast around him. What better way to develop a young quarterback than to surround him with savvy veteran receivers who are always going to be in the right spot?

Plus, it's always nice to take away a weapon from a division rival. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Brandon Carr

With all of the cap room they have to spend, expect the Bucs to be among the most active teams this March. 

Tampa has some major issues on defense, particularly in the secondary. They gave up a ton of big players. Aquib Talib, who will have to deal with legal issues this offseason, had a miserable season. 

Brandon Carr may not be the biggest name, but he is a solid player that is coming off his best year in Kansas City. He brings a level of physicality to his game that the Schiano regime will fall in love with. 

Honestly, you could have put any corner in this slot, but you can count on the Bucs making significant changes to the back seven this spring. 

New England Patriots: Brandon Lloyd

Retaining Wes Welker will be the top priority in New England, but adding a deep threat is essential to prevent this offense from becoming too predictable. 

Now that Josh McDaniels is back to running the Patriots offense, Lloyd knows that following McDaniels is best for his bank account and has expressed interest in following him to New England. Lloyd is a smart veteran that still has explosion and knows how to get open.

His transition from Denver to St. Louis was seamless, so there is no reason to expect he should pull a Chad Ochocinco and struggle to find a role in New England. 

Knowing that significant dollars will go to Welker, the Patriots will not be able to afford a guy like Vincent Jackson. With all of their talent at tight end and quarterback, all they need is a guy like Lloyd to pose a downfield threat to defenses, and this offense could be something special. 

New York Jets: Mario Williams

With a weak draft class in terms of pass-rush, free agency will be the avenue for the Jets to finally solve their issues at outside linebacker. Aaron Maybin provided a spark, but the Jets need a guy who can play on every down. 

Williams made a nice transition to linebacker in 2011, so his scheme diversity will serve him well in Rex Ryan's multiple defense. With all of the talent they have at corner, with any kind of pass-rush, this defense has a chance to be something special if they can just add some speed and athleticism in the front seven.  

The biggest issue for the Jets right now is staying under the cap, as they have under a million dollars in cap room as a result of them moving contracts around in an effort to sign Nnamdi Asomugha last summer. However, we have seen Mike Tannenbuam do some crazy things with contracts over the years, so I wouldn't rule anything out. 

If they can find their pass rusher in free agency, it will allow them to find a replacement for right tackle Wayne Huner in the draft. 

Buffalo Bills: Robert Mathis

The Bills have tried some interesting strategies to to find a pass-rusher, such as signing Shawn Merriman to a long-term deal. 

So far, it hasn't worked, so it's about time they go out and spend on a proven veteran like Mathis. Moving to a 4-3 defense in 2012, Mathis will not have to learn how to stand up in a 3-4. With guys like Kyle Willaims and Marcel Dareus next to him at defensive tackle, Mathis should be able to produce in Buffalo right away. 

Given its location and lack of success in recent years, the Bills have had a tough time securing free agents at market value. But their pass rush has been so bad for so long that overpaying a bit may be worth it. 

If they can sign Mathis in March, they can focus on rebuilding the offensive line in the draft. 

Miami Dolphins: Matt Flynn

Personally, I'm not as high on Flynn as most, but if a team is going to roll the dice on him, Miami seems to be the most likely team to do it with Joe Philbin, his former offensive coordinator, as head coach.

Even if Flynn turns into a Kevin Kolb and disappoints, they still have Matt Moore on the roster to win them games. Moore really improved as the 2011 season went on and should at least compete with Flynn in training camp.

Either way, I would be very weary of giving Flynn a big contract after just two big performances as a pro. Perhaps an incentive-laden contract is the best way to go, so you only pay if he turn out to be everything he is hyped to be.  

Houston Texans: Mario Manningham

This team has to start saving money to pay its future stars, so it must be a bit careful in what it does right now in free agency. 

However, they could use a guy to take advantage of single coverage opposite Andre Johnson, and as we saw in the Super Bowl, Manningham is more than capable. He was a solid No. 2 target before the emergence of Victor Cruz. 

Manningham is going to want to cash in on his big play in the Super Bowl, and I would bet that he is not interested in being in the shadow of Cruz and Nicks for another five years. 

The Texans don't need to break the bank on a Vincent Jackson or DeSean Jackson, but getting a solid starter that won't command too much money like Manningham should solve their need to a playmaker opposite Andre Johnson. 

Indianapolis Colts: Corey Redding

To be honest, I would be weary of spending a lot of cash on free agents this offseason if I am the Colts. With a completely new regime and a new quarterback coming to town, throwing a bunch of money at a peaking or aging veteran makes little sense. 

Therefore, I gave the Colts a Corey Redding, who played under head coach Chuck Pagano when he was in Baltimore. Redding played at a very high level last season against the run, which is an area where the Colts have struggled, while getting 4.5 sacks from a five-technique position.

Most importantly, as we have see new head coaches do all the time, he would come in to help set the tone Pagano wants in his locker room from day one. 

Redding played defensive end in a 3-4, but depending on what the Colts decide to do with their defense, could make the move a three-technique in a 4-3 scheme. He is not going to command top dollars, and signing a solid player like him would be a great start for this new regime. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Stevie Johnson

Johnson certainly hurt his stock because of all of his on-field antics, but he is still a very solid receiver. He makes plays after the catch and has some speed, but most importantly, he knows how to get open. 

When you look at the receiving corps of the Jaguars, none of them put any kind of threat into a defense or gain seperation with an consistiency. Stevie may drop a ball or two, but at least he can get away from defenders, which will do wonders for the confidence for a young quarterback like Blaine Gabbert. 

It remains unclear if the Bills re-sign him, but if they do not, the cash-strapped Jaguars will have to find someone in free agency, and Johnson may provide the best value if you are willing to overlook his ridiculous celebrations. 

Tennessee Titans: Cliff Avril

The Titans were a hard team to pick for simply because they don't have a ton of weaknesses.

At the same time, they don't have any overwhelming strengths, and they could use a boost to their defensive line, especially if Jason Jones leaves via free agency. 

Avril is lightning off the edge and is coming off a productive season with 11 sacks. It appears as if they are going to lose Cortland Finnegan to free agency, so adding defensive talent becomes an even higher priority. 

Cleveland Browns: Matt Forte

If Forte can somehow survive the franchise tag, he would be a great addition to the Browns, who just lack offensive weapons across the board. 

To me, he looks like a great fit in Pat Shurmur's West Coast system, being able to make quick cuts and make plays in the passing game. 

If they choose not to re-sign Peyton Hillis, adding a back, either in free agency or through the draft, will be a huge prioity for the Browns. 

If they do add a back in free agency, it will allow them to concentrate all of their efforts in trading up for Robert Griffin III. After all, they do have some ammo from the trade with the Falcons in the 2011 draft. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tolbert

It is starting to look like Rashard Mendenhall will not be ready for the 2012 season, which means the Steelers will be in the market for a back this offseason. Plus, the Rooneys have made it clear with the firing of Bruce Arians that they want to get back to the old, run-first Steeler mentality. 

Pittsburgh must be careful not to overspend for a back, as they still have Mendenhall under contract. Tolbert is not going to command the kind of money that a guy like Ray Rice is, but he is a very physcial, hard-nosed runner that can handle a heavy workload. 

Out of all of the backs in this year's free agency class, Tolbert, to me, provides some of the ebst value. Once Mendenhall comes back, he and Rashard could form quite the tandem in the backfield. 

Baltimore Ravens: Wes Welker

Joe Flacco was anything but consistent in 2011, but in his defense, he was asked to make far too many difficult throws to covered receivers. Part of the blame for that is on offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, but at some point, your receivers must gain some separation from man coverage.

If you need a guy to get open, who is better at doing that than Wes Welker? If given a reliable target in the slot for the first time in his career, Flacco's numbers could skyrocket, and the Ravens offense would come to life.

It would take a lot more pressure off Anquan Boldin, as defenses will be more concerned with the developing Torrey Smith. 

Its tough to imagine Wes ever leaving New England, but he has been very patient in waiting for his turn to get paid. He is not going to take a hometown discount. 

Cincinnati Bengals: LaRon Landry

Landry has had some injury problems, which will kill his value in free agency, but he would be worth the risk for the safety-starved Bengals. 

If he can stay on the field, Landry would be a massive upgrade over Chris Crocker at strong safety. Landry is a physcial guy who flies to the ball. He takes good angles and can cover when asked to, which is something you can't say about the current set of safeties on the Bengals roster. 

After losing Leon Hall, the Bengals secondary really began to struggle, as they like to play a lot of cover-1 with talented corners. Adding a safety with great range like Landry will allow them to execute their style much more effectively. 

Denver Broncos: Michael Bush

Willis McGahee is not getting any younger. Knowshon Moreno just got a DUI (and was not very good in the first place). 

For a team that is so reliant on the run, they need to be more stable at the position. 

Ray Rice is going to be the best player on the market, but I would be surprised if Baltimore let him hit the market. Meanwhile, Bush can be a very effective back, especially in a split-duty role. 

Bush slowed down a bit toward the end of 2011, which will lower his value a bit, but if the Broncos were able to revive McGahee's career, why can't they do the same with Michael Bush?

San Diego Chargers: Anthony Spencer

One of the biggest need for the Chargers remains to be outside linebacker, as former first-round pick Larry English has not turned out to be the edge rusher they had hoped he would become. 

The picking are a little slim in terms of pass-rushers in this year's free agency market. However, Anthony Spencer, while he is not quite the terror off the edge the Cowboys hoped he would become, is a very solid player, especially against the run. 

He is still capable of putting pressure on quarterbacks, which is more you can say about anyone on the Chargers not named Shaun Phillips. 

The Cowboys have hinted that they are interested in retaining him, possibly with the franchise tag, but I would expect the Chargers to take a long look at him should he hit the market. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Antonio Garay

Kelly Gregg is a well-respected veteran, but it's about time the Chiefs get a stud to anchor their 3-4 defense. 

Garay has made the transition to the legendary Jamal Williams easy on the Chargers, but he had a bit of a down season in 2011. The Chargers would like to keep him, but at the right price. 

In other words, if there is a bidding war for his services, don't expect the Chargers to be a part of it. 

Adding Garay to a defense that will be getting Eric Berry back for 2012 could easily become one of the NFL's elite. 

Oakland Raiders: Richard Marshall

The Raiders have some serious cap issues, and I expect them to be very quiet in adding players this spring. 

However, they did release the overpaid Stanford Routt recently, leaving a gaping hole at the cornerback position. Richard Marshall, who has been up and down over the past few years, could offer to be a much more affordable option. 

At his best in man coverage, the coverage by which the Raiders are famous for utilizing more than anyone. He also played some safety in Kerry Rhodes' absence, giving him some scheme diversity. He is also very good in run support, and the Raiders' struggles against the run are well-documented.