NFL Free Agency 2013: Teams That Need to Make Quick Moves

The 2013 Free Agency signing period is now underway and certain teams cannot afford to sit and wait.

With Percy Harvin being traded to the Seattle Seahawks and Anquan Boldin landing with the 49ers already, the domino effect of the market could begin to take effect.  

Here are three teams that need to make quick moves in the free-agency pool.  

Detroit Lions

The Lions had an extremely disappointing season with a record of 4-12.  

Defense, the offensive line, and running back were the main areas of poor performance last season and need to be addressed immediately.  

With defensive end Cliff Avril and above average offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus unlikely to return, the Lions have some quick splashes they must make.  Defensive end will probably be taken care of via the NFL draft, but the Lions must make a quick move to boost the offensive line and ensure that injury prone quarterback Matthew Stafford will have adequate protection.  

The Lions also desperately need help in the secondary, and are linked to talks with the 49ers' Dashon Goldson as well as the Texans' Glover Quin.  The salary cap may not allow for much wiggle room for Detroit, but these are high commodity players in an otherwise weak free-agency class.

If the Lions hope to land one of those players, they need to pull the trigger early and get one of them to sign. 

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals struggled after a hot start to last season and brought in Indianapolis' wonder man and interim head coach Bruce Arians.  Arians lead the Colts into the playoffs and now he has a daunting task ahead of him.  

The Cardinals just released multiple players in the organization, including running back Beanie Wells, in order to fall below the salary cap.  

This team has many areas of concern, with expendable players and attempting to assemble a team suitable for Arians to work with.  

Quarterback is a position that is out of the question to pick up someone early in free agency, seeing as how no player is worth it.  Yet, running back has options with Reggie Bush available and linked to the Cardinals.  

Ultimately, the Cardinals situation comes down to them being a mediocre team that has a lot of maneuverability through cutting players and a new coach trying to build something successful.  

Arizona can take charge early by continuing to cut unwanted players, such as Kevin Kolb, and land some early free agents, such as a safety and running back.

New England Patriots

The Patriots will probably continue to be the Patriots, but they need to be on this list.  

New England is the epitome of an NFL franchise that runs more like a business and will only make the moves that are absolutely perfect for the team.  They are methodical and stingy when it comes to making free agency moves.  

Yet, this year is different.  

Once again, the Patriots were in Super Bowl contention, but have immediate areas of concern to address in order to get over the eight year hump to win a Super Bowl.  

With Harvin off the market and Danny "The Poor Man's Welker" Amendola as an unlikely option, the Patriots need to get star slot receiver Wes Welker under contract immediately.  Welker makes this offense go round, and both parties need to put aside their differences and settle on a deal.

New England's offseason revolves around the Welker situation, and if the Patriots can sign Welker early, then they still have more cap space to address other issues quickly and can turn focus to defense.  

The Patriots can try and sign cornerback Aqib Talib early and make a run at former defensive end Richard Seymour, too.  

All of free agency hinges on the Welker situation and what the Patriots would have to do if they lose Welker.  So New England must lock up Welker now and then jump early at other free agents to have a successful 2013 offseason.