2012 NFL Free Agents: Teams That Improved the Most This Offseason

In the NFL, franchises can greatly improve themselves through free agency much more quickly than waiting for drafted players to develop. This offseason three teams have greatly improved themselves by making big additions through free agency.

Here is a look at the franchises that did the best to improve themselves by adding free agents.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After a disappointing 4-12 season in 2011, the Buccaneers really needed to make some big moves. They jumped in with both feet in free agency to start getting back on the right track.

Tampa Bay opened things up by signing the top receiver on the market, Vincent Jackson, to a five-year, $55.55 million contract. It was a risk to give Jackson $26 million in guarantees, but the Bucs feel he can be the kind of instant impact guy they can build a passing offense around.

Then Tampa Bay inked massive guard Carl Nicks to a five-year, $47.5 million deal ($31 million guaranteed) to shore up the interior of the team's offensive line. Nicks was arguably one of the top five players on the market, so landing both him and Jackson sent the message that the team was not messing around.

The Bucs then reached a bit and signed cornerback Eric Wright to a five-year, $37.5 million deal. Wright has struggled with consistency during his career but has the talent to be a legitimate No. 1 cornerback. Meanwhile, adding Dan Orlovsky as a backup quarterback was a quiet but solid pickup, as was landing defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.

Tampa Bay made the biggest moves in free agency this offseason, and they are vastly improved as a result.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills made headlines by landing defensive end Mario Williams with a six-year, $96 million contract. They then went out and inked Mark Anderson to a four-year, $27.5 million deal. Those two moves will instantly give the Bills one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.

It will be almost impossible for teams to protect quarterbacks or run the ball against a front that includes those two and defensive tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams. 

The Bills will be counting on the offense to improve with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller in the backfield and quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick comfortable as the returning starter. But defensively, Buffalo made those two big moves that might be as important as any in the entire offseason. 

San Diego Chargers

The Chargers needed to make some drastic moves after finishing just 8-8 last season and losing top receiver Vincent Jackson at the opening of free agency. General manager A.J. Smith had a plan and went to work quickly to improve his squad.

San Diego inked wide receiver Robert Meachem to a four-year, $25.9 million deal quickly, then ended up grabbing Eddie Royal and Roscoe Parrish to cheap deals. The sum of those three is greater than Jackson and cheaper too. 

The Chargers then focused on defense, adding tough, hard-nosed outside linebacker Jarret Johnson (four years, $19 million) who was a key cog in the Baltimore Ravens' defense for the past few years. Johnson is a leader who will improve those around him thanks to his presence in and out of the locker room. The Bolts also landed safety Atari Bigby on a cheap two-year, $2.5 million contract.

After running back Mike Tolbert departed for Carolina, the Chargers inked former Pro Bowler Le'Ron McClain to a three-year, $8.25 million deal. Again, McClain is a tough, hard-nosed player who will immediately improve the team's toughness.

The Chargers needed to get tougher on both sides of the ball. All the guys they signed this offseason immediately improve them in that respect. They are much better than they were a few months ago.

Honorable mention: New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos