NFL: 8 NFL Teams That Didn't Get What They Needed in Free Agency

Now's the time of year when every team's players, coaches and fans get to be optimistic. Everyone believes their team has gotten better, but at the same time they forget that EVERYONE got better.

There's always things on a team's roster to nitpick, but some are more dire than others. When the offseason rolls around teams should have a good idea of what positions are in the biggest need of improvement and then go out and do it.

Here are a few of the teams that failed to get the message this year.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins had a poor corps of wide receivers when Brandon Marshall was on then the team, then they traded him away.

Davone Bess and Brian Hartline are solid receivers but are not nearly talented enough to No. 1 or No. 2 receivers.

The signing of Chad Ochocinco doesn't do much to assuage the situation either, as he was unable to even get on the field all 2011 with New England.

Adding another receiver while Marshall was there was a need, but now the team is in dire straits. 

Houston Texans

The absence of Andre Johnson, who has now missed 12 of the team's last 32 games, put the team's lack of depth at receiver in the spotlight.

Kevin Walter and Jacoby Jones were far too inconsistent to be relied upon. Despite the team's magnificent running game, NFL team's don't win championships that way anymore.

Johnson isn't getting any younger, and the team failed to provide him with anyone capable of drawing coverage away from time to time.

If Johnson and Matt Schaub (missed five-plus games in three out of five seasons with the team) can stay healthy, this offense is a machine, but that's a big if.

Cincinnati Bengals

With slot receiver Jordan Shipley still recovering from ACL surgery, along with the departures of Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell, the Cincinnati Bengals entered free agency in dire need of receiver help.

Instead of finding any experienced options, the team has filled its offseason roster with 12 receivers—none of which have more than four years of experience.

Sophomores Andy Dalton and A.J. Green have their work cut out for them if they want to improve on their rookie campaigns. 

Carolina Panthers

The addition of Cam Newton transformed the Carolina Panthers' offense from a two-headed rushing attack to a high-flying modern day offense.

With Newton at the helm the team scored more than twice as many points as they did in the 2010 season.

The defense, on the other hand, was beyond atrocious. With holes all over the defense, the team failed to fix enough of its deficiencies.

Detroit Lions

The Lions have one of the league's most explosive offenses. Both Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson were downright dominant in 2011. 

Stafford threw for more than 5,000 yards in his first full season as the team's starting quarterback, and Johnson creates matchup problems like no other receiver in the game.

Bolstering the running game was a must for the team to take a step forward in its development. Injuries tore through the position in 2011.

Second-round pick Mikel Leshoure missed the entire season with an Achilles tendon injury, Jahvid Best missed most of the year due to concussion and Jerome Harrison missed the year due to a brain tumor.

However, it looks like the team will be fielding the same injury-riddled crop of backs hoping for better results.

Tennessee Titans

Titans fans and fantasy football owners alike asked themselves one question when talking about Tennessee: "What the heck happened to Chris Johnson?"

The blame seemed to be split between CJ2K himself and poor offensive line play. Titans brass seemed to agree when the signed guard Steve Hutchinson and brought in a parade of free agent centers.

Yet, the team came up empty on signing a free agent center or drafting one. Instead, incumbent starter Eugene Amano is in a battle to remain the starter against several undrafted prospects.

Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons may have been a tad overzealous in trading up for wide receiver Julio Jones in 2011 NFL draft, thinking he would be the final piece of their Super Bowl puzzle.

Instead, the team was once again ousted from the playoffs in one game. In three postseason appearances, quarterback Matt Ryan has been less than stellar (584 yards, 3 TDs, 4 INTs).

The team has maintained good balance between the pass and run since bringing Ryan in, but the power-running game has always been the offense's backbone.

Even so, the team is placing a heavier emphasis on the pass, meaning the team needs more athleticism on the offensive line to provide protection.

Peter Konz was drafted to help out on the interior, but there are no strong options at left tackle. 

New York Jets

As aggressive as Rex Ryan's defense has been, it still lacks a legitimate pass-rushing threat.

Aaron Maybin had flashes of production, and Calvin Pace provided the dogged consistency of a veteran player, but having a player that can consistently put pressure on opposing quarterbacks remains a void.

The team hopes they've found one in raw, third-round pick Demario Davis, but he will likely take time to develop.