2012 NFL Free Agents: Teams with Biggest Holes to Fill

The NFL is a team sport. All 11 moving parts must be in sync at the same time or the play will turn out to be a disaster.

Why did the New York Giants win the Super Bowl? They didn’t have a glaring weakness on either side of the ball. Sure their secondary wasn’t great, but it was able to hold their own.

For the following teams, they have a position to fill where, last year, the players couldn’t hold their own and the results were brutal.

Here are five teams that need free agency to fill the massive hole at a specific position that was evident either during the 2011 season or through losing a key player to free agency.

Miami Dolphins—Quarterback

This is an easy one.

Chad Henne wasn’t able to win a single game before a shoulder injury knocked him out for the rest of the year. He is now a free agent and will likely end up as the backup to Mark Sanchez in New York. Matt Moore played decent ball down the stretch, but you aren’t going to the playoffs with the journeymen.

Who They Need: Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn

Manning makes Miami a Super Bowl contender. With two solid running backs, Brandon Marshall and an underrated O-line...look out. The Dolphins are not that far away, and Manning would put them over the top.

Flynn is a decent backup plan. New head coach Joe Philbin was the Green Bay Packers' offensive coordinator since 2007, and nobody is more familiar with Flynn’s abilities. Manning is the dream; Flynn is the more likely scenario.

Chicago Bears—Wide Receiver

Name me the last impact receiver the Bears had...I’m waiting.

Roy Williams turned out not to be the answer (shocking), and Jay Cutler needs a guy that can stretch the field so Matt Forte isn’t the top receiving threat again.

Who They Need: Vincent Jackson, Brandon Lloyd

Both players have the speed to blow by defenders, yet possess the route-running skills that allow them to catch that key third-down slant.

Jackson is the obvious first choice, and Chicago has the money to shell out a big contract. This would be a great match.

Cincinnati Bengals—Running Back

The Bengals relied on the run to keep pressure off rookie QB Andy Dalton, and the results were OK.

That about sums up Cedric Benson in his career. Now, he’s a free agent, and the odds of bringing him back are about the same as Drexel winning the NCAA tournament.

Who They Need: Michael Bush, Mike Tolbert

Bush has been one of the premier backups in the league and is now ready to be the No. 1.  He has the frame to handle 20 carries a game and the speed to rush for 1,200 yards. This is a perfect match.

Tolbert may not be able to handle the full-time starter role, but his versatility brings a lot to the table.

Denver Broncos—Tight End

The Broncos got almost zero production in this category, and Tim Tebow needs a reliable safety valve that is capable of throwing blocks for him downfield.

Who They Need: John Carlson, Scott Chandler

Carlson missed the entire 2011 season with a torn labrum, which means he will be available for a cheap price. In three years, he has 1,519 yards and 13 TDs and is one of the best blockers at the position. He is the perfect fit.

Chandler is coming off a 389-yard, six-TD season in his third year in the league. His upside is greater than Carlson's, but his blocking aren’t quite in the same class.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers—Pass-Rusher

Not only did the Bucs finish last in the league in sacks with 23, they were behind 31^st-ranked Tennessee by five. In other words, they were by far the worst.  

Who They Need: Mario Williams, Frostee Rucker

Williams is one of the best pass-rushers in the game and would instantly shore up what ails the Bucs. Tampa is one of the few teams that can essentially hand him a blank check.

Rucker is a more realistic option. He is coming off the best season of his six-year career. He had 44 tackles and four sacks and brings a strong motor to the table. The lifeless Bucs could certainly use a high-energy guy like Rucker. 

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