2012 NFL Free Agents: Power Ranking Teams in Dire Need of WR Help

Having a dynamic game changer at wide receiver can significantly help a team in the NFL, and there are a few teams that desperately need elite talent this offseason.  

The list of NFL free-agent wide receivers started off very strong, and even though a few top guys have been given the franchise tag, there are still plenty of great wideouts up for grabs for those needy teams. 

A lot of money will be spent on guys like Marques Colston, Vincent Jackson and Mike Wallace, but there are also great value pickups as well, such as Mario Manningham or Brandon Lloyd. 

That being said, here are five teams in dire need of wide receiver help. 

Chicago Bears 

Jay Cutler and the rest of the Bears offense is one true No. 1 wide receiver away from being extremely dangerous.

While with Denver, Cutler and Brandon Marshall were very strong together. If Cutler can get another legitimate wideout—something he hasn't had since coming to Chicago—the Bears will be a team to fear in 2012 and beyond. 

Chicago's biggest need this offseason is a wide receiver, and the Bears' best bet is to land one in free agency as opposed to waiting for the draft. 

San Francisco 49ers 

If the 49ers plan on reaching the Super Bowl, they're going to have to get more playmakers on offense.

When your best receiving threat is a tight end, you have a problem. Not that there's anything wrong with having that good of a tight end, because there isn't, it's just that in order to have the best chance at winning, the 49ers need a top-notch wide receiver to help stretch the field. 

With Jim Harbaugh as head coach, Alex Smith will continue to thrive, but he has to have a better group of wide receivers if he and the 49ers are going to win it all.

Jacksonville Jaguars 

Blaine Gabbert needs weapons to work with if the Jaguars are going to win in the NFL. I would say better weapons, but that would imply he had some to begin with, which is definitely not true. 

Jacksonville has no elite receivers for Gabbert, which has to change if the young quarterback is going to thrive in the AFC South. 

The Jaguars may wait until the draft, but if they were smart, they'd grab a skilled wideout for good value in free agency, while also drafting one of the top overall receivers in the draft. 

Cleveland Browns 

Colt McCoy is going to keep struggling if the Browns don't surround him with better talent. He has the skills to win in Cleveland, but he isn't good enough to get the job done on his own. 

By signing a top-notch receiver, the Browns will be able to then further boost the offense by drafting Trent Richardson, the best running back in the draft class. 

These types of moves would prove that the Browns are serious about winning in the NFL. 

St. Louis Rams 

Sam Bradford will continue to get better as his career goes on—if he can stay healthy, that is. If St. Louis wants to speed up his growth and development, giving him a skilled wideout like Jackson or Wallace would be a great idea. 

The Rams could use some more protection for Bradford as well, but there's no denying Bradford needs stronger wide receivers.

Re-signing Brandon Lloyd would be a good start, but adding another receiver with him will help the Rams become contenders in the NFC West.