2012 NFL Free Agency: 5 Teams with the Most Pressure After Recent Signings

For the last 19 days, NFL free agency has caused a constant flow of signings and surprises.

There were teams that signed low-key free agents to improve their special teams and their overall depth. There were also teams that signed big-name players to big-time money. Naturally, the ladder gained more attention.

Usually a team that is a big spender in free agency will get an average immediate return from that player, since that player's immediate desire to sign a lucrative contract (salary, length) has been satisfied.

Although those types of signings bring positive energy, fan support and extra media attention to the team, it also brings more pressure to win now.

There are five teams who have a lot of pressure on them after their recent free agent signings. These are teams that are in contention for at least a division title or who are good enough to defeat the defending division champion.

There are three NFC teams and two AFC teams that made the list. Every divisional region (North, South, East, West) is represented at least once. Here they are.

Buffalo Bills

New Free Agents signed in 2012:

Mark Anderson, defensive end, New England (four years, $27.5 million)

Mario Williams, defensive end, Houston (six years, $96 million)

The Buffalo Bills spent $123.5 million over the next six years for two defensive ends. Forty-seven percent of that money ($58 million) is guaranteed.

Sure that's a lot of money. But in a division with Tom Brady, the best thing you can spend your money on is a pass-rusher.

Between Anderson and Williams, they only started six games last season. However, they combined for 15 sacks. They are both entering their seventh NFL season, so the Bills defensive line should be strong for the foreseeable future.

Williams has started in every game he's played in (all for the Texans) since being drafted first overall in 2006. Anderson, however, has played for four different teams while only starting 21 times in his first six NFL seasons.

Although Buffalo is under pressure to perform after shelling out all that money, these two players shouldn't take long to get re-acquainted. In 2010, Anderson played on the Texans for 11 games, recording 4.0 sacks. In that same year, Williams notched 8.0 sacks for Houston.

You saw in Super Bowl XLVI that if a defense can pressure Brady, that gives its team the best chance to win. Between Anderson and Williams, they have 85.5 career sacks.

Regarding the Bills' free agent signings, pressure is most certainly the operative word.

Chicago Bears

New Free Agents signed in 2012:

Michael Bush, running back, Oakland (four years, $14 million

Jason Campbell, quarterback, Oakland (one year, $3.5 million)

Blake Costanzo, linebacker, San Francisco (two years, $2 million)

Devin Thomas, wide receiver, New York Giants (one year, undisclosed)

Eric Weems, wide receiver, Atlanta (three years, $4.2 million)

Of all the players listed above, none of them will likely start in 2012. The Bears didn't have to spend a lot to enhance their depth.

Chicago is under pressure because they gave a four-year contract to Michael Bush, a big, versatile, productive running back who is set to back up Matt Forte. The Bears franchised Forte recently, presenting him with a one-year tender worth $7.7 million.

Forte had started every game of his career, until he injured his right knee against the Chiefs in Week 13 of last season. Since he entered the NFL in 2008, Forte has rushed at least 200 times and has caught at least 50 passes in every season.

Knowing how productive Forte has been since Day 1, the Bears risk alienating their star running back. After 2012, Forte would be in a position to leave Chicago, as the franchise tender is only good for one year.

Green Bay is strong. Detroit is getting better, quickly. With Adrian Peterson on offense and Jared Allen on defense, the Vikings always have a shot.

For Chicago to optimize their chances at a division title and keep as much pressure off Jay Cutler as possible, they need to sign Forte to a long-term deal.

Denver Broncos

New Free Agents signed in 2012:

Mike Adams, free safety, Cleveland (two years, undisclosed)

Andre Caldwell, wide receiver, Cincinnati (two years, undisclosed)

Joel Dreessen, tight end, Houston (three years, $8.5 million)

Caleb Hanie, quarterback, Chicago (two tears, undisclosed)

Peyton Manning, quarterback, Indianapolis (five years, $96 million)

Tracy Porter, cornerback, New Orleans (one year, $4 million)

Jacob Tamme, tight end, Indianapolis (three years, $9 million)

You can't blame the Broncos for pursuing Peyton Manning.

But is he worth $96 million coming off multiple neck surgeries? That is the question.

Even with Tim Tebow as quarterback for most of the season, Denver made it to the playoffs as AFC West champions. If they can do that with Tebow, what can't they do with Manning?

Denver brought in Andre Caldwell, Joel Dreessen and Jacob Tamme to go along with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker. In 2011, Caldwell, Dreessen and Tamme combined for 84 receptions and 10 touchdowns.

The Broncos also signed defensive backs Mike Adams and Tracy Porter to help improve their 18th-best pass defense of a year ago. Since 2010, both these players have made plays all over the field for their respective teams:

• Adams: 109 tackles, 12 passes defensed, five interceptions
• Porter: 112 tackles, 15 passes defensed, two interceptions

Last season, Denver finished with an 8-8 record, while sporting the 23rd-ranked offense in the entire league. Them making the playoffs with that offense says they are capable of much better.

So you see, the pressure lies mainly on Manning, not the Broncos.

Houston Texans

New Free Agents signed in 2012:

Donnie Jones, punter, St. Louis (one year, $890,000)

The Texans made the list because of who they let go. Houston was one score away from the AFC Championship game in 2011. They got to that point on the strength of their second-ranked defense.

Houston lost a premier pass-rusher in Mario Williams (Buffalo) and a good cornerback in Jason Allen (Cincinnati) to free agency. Not only that, they traded away their captain, DeMeco Ryans, to the Eagles for a fourth-round draft pick.

What? Really?

Ryan has encountered injuries in his NFL career, but he's performed at a Pro Bowl level still. From 2006 (rookie season) to 2009, Ryans averaged 130 tackles per season. He also started every game in that span.

In addition to their defensive losses, the Texans failed/chose not to re-sign guard Mike Brisiel, tight end Joel Dreessen, fullback Lawrence Vickers and tackle Eric Winston. Each one of those players played a vital role in helping Houston boast the second best rush offense in the league last year.

If you're a Texans fan, you better hope Matt Schaub stays healthy.

New Orleans Saints

New Free Agents signed in 2012:

Brodrick Bunkley defensive tackle, Denver (five years, $25 million)

Chris Chamberlain outside linebacker, St. Louis (three years, undisclosed)

Ben Grubbs left guard, Baltimore (five years, $36 million)

Curtis Lofton middle linebacker, Atlanta (five years, undisclosed)

After Carl Nicks signed with the Buccaneers, the Saints were fortunate to sign Ben Grubbs and not skip a beat at the left guard position.

New Orleans also signed three defensive studs (Brodrick Bunkley, Chris Chamberlain, Curtis Lofton) to bolster the defense, which is in need of help. That trio combined for 271 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions last season.

Speaking of the Saints defense, they will need a lot of help coming back from all of the fines and penalties levied against them in the wake of their bounty scandal.

In case you missed the particulars, here is the press release sent from the NFL regarding the disciplinary actions taken against the Saints.

Here's the gist of the actions taken by Roger Goodell:

- Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt is suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season, without pay.

- General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season, without pay.

- Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the entire 2012 season, without pay.

- Former defensive coordinator Greg Williams is suspended indefinitely. His status will be reviewed by Goodell at the conclusion of the 2012 season.

- The Saints were fined $500,000, and forfeited their second-round draft picks in 2012 and in 2013.

If you thought that was pressure, they have yet to sign their franchise quarterback Drew Brees to a long-term contract. Although the Saints offered Brees the franchise tender, a one-year deal worth $15.76 million, Brees has yet to sign it.

If there is one person in that entire organization that shouldn't have to be inconvenienced, it's Brees.

Although New Orleans' recent signings helped them, the penalties incurred by their bounty scandal, along with the inability to sign Brees to a long-term contract puts as much pressure on them as there is on any team in the league.