2012 NFL Free Agents: Teams Sure to Spend Big This Offseason

We're just about a week away from the start of the NFL free agency period. Time to get ready for the inevitable rush of madness.

This is going to be a great free agent season. There are some pretty big names about to hit the market, and we all know big names command big dollars. Be ready to hear some ridiculous numbers change hands.

Some teams are going to be more active than others this offseason. If you want to know who the big spenders will be, just take a look at the teams listed below.

Note: the salary cap situation is a little messy at present, so I'll be going primarily off of the cap projections published by Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in February.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have already made a significant splash this offseason, agreeing to terms with former Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt.

The Chiefs are far from being finished. Per Kelly, the Chiefs are going to have roughly $50 million in cap space to work with, and goodness knows they have plenty of holes that need fixing.

The Chiefs have the makings of a good team, but you can expect them to target offensive line help in free agency, and they may also be on the lookout for help in the trenches on the other side of the ball as well.

No doubt the Chiefs will look into all sorts of players in the coming weeks. They have to know that the AFC West is a wide open division at present, and their cap wiggle room puts them in a position to make significant improvements for a push at the division title in 2012.

4. Denver Broncos

The Broncos have even more holes to patch up than the Chiefs. Thankfully for them, they have just as much money to throw around as the Chiefs do. Kelly projects the Broncos to have over $48 million in cap room.

The Broncos will likely spend this offseason shoring up their depth, as they're perilously thin at several key areas.

Quarterback is one of them. The Broncos have Tim Tebow under wraps, and he's the starter heading into 2012, but he's the only quarterback they have on their roster. If the Broncos don't re-sign Brady Quinn, they'll have to scour the market for at least one backup.

The Broncos could also use help on their offensive line, defensive line, their secondary and at running back. Expect them to spend to find help for these areas.

3. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers aren't going to have an excess of cap space to work with in the coming weeks, but I consider them a candidate to make a couple of big-splash signings.

More than anything, the 49ers could benefit from signing a stud wide receiver, and it just so happens this year's wide receiver crop is pretty deep, even without all the big-name players who have been franchised.

The 49ers also need offensive line help, and they may be forced to go sign a cornerback if they can't re-sign Carlos Rogers.

The 49ers will basically do whatever it takes to make sure they're stronger in 2012 than they were in 2011. They surprised a lot of people, but they have to know that teams are going to be gunning for them next season.

2. New England Patriots

At least the Patriots don't have to worry about re-signing Wes Welker. They placed the franchise tag on him on Monday (see report from The Boston Globe).

But the Patriots still have a ton of work to do if they want to head into 2012 even stronger than they were in 2011. They don't have a ton of space to work with, but they have enough to make an impact signing or two.

Mario Williams, for example, might be on New England's radar. The National Football Post reported over the weekend that it is being speculated that the Patriots will make a run at him.

I wouldn't put it past the Pats to make a run at any big-name player, really. They need as much help as they can get.

1. Washington Redskins

Redskins czar Dan Snyder has done enough to prove he's not afraid to dish out big bucks to free agents, even if the free agents he targets don't deserve big bucks.

This year, Snyder has roughly $41 million in cap space to work with, according to Kelly. His team has holes all over the place, most notably at quarterback and wide receiver. It's time to fill those holes.

The Redskins have been linked to Peyton Manning, and you have to figure he will be on the team's radar if he parts ways with the Indianapolis Colts this week.

If not Manning, Snyder is bound spend big on players he thinks can help Mike Shanahan. He'll never get a better opportunity to do so than in this offseason.