2012 NFL Free Agents: 10 Teams That Still Need to Shore Up Holes

The frenzied period of free agency has come and gone. So too has the draft and the rush for unsigned prospects thereafter. And yet, still nearly one-third of the league's teams have blaring holes at key positions. 

The opportunities to address these holes are dwindling, making action or at least preventative planning necessary.

Here's a look at 10 teams that still need to address major issues on their roster. 

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins have made some head-scratching decisions regarding the wide receiver position this offseason. No one would suggest Brandon Marshall was all that the Dolphins could have hoped for, but he was far and away the most talented wideout on the roster. 

Now he's a Chicago Bear, and Miami has largely failed to fill his shoes. Point to Legedu Naanee and Clyde Gates as additions, sure, but those two better step up with just the likes of Davonne Bess and Brian Hartline ahead of them. 

Not like Ryan Tannehill was their first choice anyway, but the Dolphins could have done a much better job of setting their rookie quarterback up with some more experienced weapons to throw to. 

Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens will try to rely on Jacoby Jones this season as their third receiver and punt returner. They got a good look at him in last year's divisional-round win over the Houston Texans. 

Jones made his name known in the game by fumbling a punt return, which ended up being recovered by the Ravens on the Texans' two-yard line. He made up for it by adding zero catches to the scorecard. 

Bottom line is that, while Jones may have some value in specific roles, he has very limited upside as a receiver. He's never started more than 10 games and has surpassed 500 yards only twice in his six seasons.

Jones is knocked for his unwillingness to take hits, and he's not going to add much of a dynamic threat to an offense already burdened with a 31-year-old Anquan Boldin.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals already made their bed prior to the offseason with regards to the quarterback position, and they'll get to sleep in it in 2012. 

With the steep investment in Kevin Kolb, logic suggests even the team brass is rooting for him to win the job. But it's not a closed competition as John Skelton is expected to see plenty of reps with the first-team offense. 

The Cardinals have been trying to find the answer, or at least an answer, at quarterback since 2009, and it looks like they're no closer to that goal than when they first started looking. 

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers' receiving corps will again showcase the ever-amazing Steve Smith show in 2012. That's due in part to Smith's unique skill set and also because the team failed to bring in anyone to threaten for snaps. 

Instead, the hope is that Brandon LaFell can take the next step up in his third year and produce like a starter is expected to. He's got long-ball talent, but his potential as a complete receiver is yet to be determined. 

That potential will be tested and relied on heavily, and I'm not so sure there weren't better alternatives available. 

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions ranked 20th in the league in passing yards allowed and 22nd in passing touchdowns allowed. That was with Eric Wright, who just signed a five-year, $37.5 million deal with the Buccaneers. 

Since then, the Lions have done nothing to account for the free agent attrition. They invested three picks in the defensive secondary in April's draft, but how much can seriously be expected of a third-rounder and two late-round fliers?

Detroit had a big hole and failed to address it this offseason. Hopefully, for their sake, their investment in the pass rush will account for that lack of talent in the secondary. 

New York Jets

It's not that the New York Jets didn't address the receiving corps, because they signed a free agent and invested an early draft pick at the position. 

It's the fact that they needed to provide Mark Sanchez with immediate help and simply didn't do it. Chaz Schilens was a former seventh-round draft pick, and his durability and production thus far has shown it. 

Stephen Hill is indeed a highly regarded prospect at a position of need, but again, he won't be able to help like the Jets will need him to. As Bill Barnwell of Grantland.com explains:

"

As a rule, if a receiver with Hill's physical gifts isn't worth a first-round grade, his skills are years away from actually appearing at the professional level. There have been 27 receivers who were 6-foot-3 or taller taken in the second round of the draft since the merger, and they averaged 18 catches, 262 yards, and two touchdowns as rookies. Only one managed to bust out a 1,000-yard season during his rookie campaign: Cris Collinsworth.

"

So history suggests Hill will have a minimal impact at a time of great need for production. 

Oakland Raiders

Prior to the 2011 season, the Oakland Raiders expected to start Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson at cornerback.

Routt played, posting one of his best seasons with 15 passes defended and four interceptions. But he also cost too much for the Raiders' liking, so he was cut this offseason. Johnson played in just four games, getting a pink slip of his own this offseason. 

So one full year later, Oakland is forced to completely rebuild their defensive backfield after losing both perceived starters. The likes of DeMarcus Van Dyke, Shawntae Spencer, Pat Lee, and Ron Bartell will have to cut it for now. 

St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams, much like the Jets, needed to provide their young signal caller with a reliable target at receiver. Both teams made investments, but of the long-term variety.

Brian Quick and Chris Givens join the ranks of pass-catchers in St. Louis this season, but again expectations should be realistic. Not many rookie receivers step in and immediately fill the type of role this team needs. 

A veteran signing a wideout could have gone a long way towards making Sam Bradford at the very least minimally comfortable behind the putrid Rams offensive line. 

Tennessee Titans

Commend the Tennessee Titans for not investing an inane amount of money in Cortland Finnegan just to retain him. That was probably a wise non-investment, but those are all of the nice things I have to say about the Titans' offseason plans at corner. 

Not wasting an exorbitant amount of money is one thing, but not even attempting to replace a All-Pro caliber player is quite another. 

The Titans invested a fourth rounder in Coty Sensabaugh but will likely lean heavily on Alterraun Verner and Jason McCourty in 2012. 

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals finally rung the last drip of production out of Cedric Benson's legs in 2011 and moved on from the veteran this offseason. 

That created a massive hole on the running-back depth charts, as Benson averaged 300 touches a season since 2009. 

Enter BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The Bengals seem to think they've found their answer in the former Patriots undrafted free agent. Benny is a great story and has a number of great qualities, but starting material he is not. 

He's never carried the ball more than 229 times, and health concerns limited him to only 181 carries for just a 3.7 average in 2011.

Best of luck with your new starter, Cincy.