2012 NFL Free Agents: Bucs' Signing Bonanza Makes Them Early Offseason Winners

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are looking like they are going to win the 2012 NFL offseason.

Besides having the No. 5 pick in the draft, which is going to likely land them an elite franchise player, the Bucs are in the midst of a signing spree in free agency.

They locked up the best available receiver in Vincent Jackson, giving him a five-year, $55.5 million deal to take his talents from San Diego to Tampa Bay.

Then they got the best guard, giving former-Saint Carl Nicks a five-year contract worth $47.5 million with $31 million guaranteed.

The Bucs also got some depth at cornerback by locking up Eric Wright for five years and $37.5 million with $15.5 of that guaranteed.

It was quite a frantic two-day period for Tampa Bay and it proves they are committed to winning with new coach Greg Schiano.

They are also retooling a team that took a giant step backward in 2011-12 compared to their excellent 2010-11 campaign. They are hoping that they can rekindle the fire that nearly led them to the playoffs and there is no better way to do that than adding impact free agents and, soon, rookies.

QB Josh Freeman certainly should be happy, although there are going to be increased expectations in his fourth year now that he has an elite guard blocking for him as well as a top receiving threat.

Expect him to return to 2010 form, when he threw for 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions while leading his team to 10 wins. Compare that with his 2011 season, in which he threw 22 INTs and just 16 TDs, and the franchise compiled a mere four victories.

Winning an offseason is huge, but just ask the Redskins or Eagles about how that can fail translate onto the field. Tampa has to put in the work to make their new signings a success. For their sake, hopefully things pan out.