NFL Free Agency: 5 Teams That Need to Keep Spending on New Players

Not only have the Cincinnati Bengals lost a ton of talent this offseason, but they have not done enough—even with the latest signings—to change that fact either.

The new CBA set the salary cap for the 2011 season at $120.4 million ($123.4 if you include the one-time exemption allowed each team). The Bengals, who have been under high scrutiny since the Carson Palmer situation, have approximately $41 million in cap room available, a current league high.

According to Pro Football Talk's calculations, the Jaguars ($34 million) and Browns ($30.4 million) trail the Bengals in a race that could be called "the league's cheapest team."

But overall, there are 11 teams with over $20 million still available in cap room, and hardly catching us by surprise, only three of these teams had a winning record last season.

Contrary to public belief, these do not have to reach the minimum salary floor this year. The entire league has to spend enough cash to account for 99 percent of the salary cap, but the individual teams do not have to reach a minimum this year.

In 2013 this rule changes, but this year the Bengals, Jaguars and Browns, or any of the other "cheap" teams, do not have to spend any more money.

This is true financially, but here is a list of five teams that need to take advantage of their current cap space.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($30.2 Million Available)

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed seven players in addition to their rookies so far this offseason. Of the seven players, six of them were Buccaneers last year and the one new addition is punter Michael Koenen from Atlanta.

This team went 10-6 last year but ultimately missed the postseason.

They have a ton of young talent led by quarterback Josh Freeman. The Buccaneers also upgraded their defensive front four with major additions in the draft, but they failed to pull the trigger on anything big in free agency.

Davin Joseph is by far the biggest move they have made. The former first-round pick inked a seven-year, $53 million deal with $19 million guaranteed.

They actually overpaid a bit for Joseph, but they also had plenty of money to spend.

The Koenen move, which was a six-year deal, is actually a solid move as he is a former Falcon, consistent, and will take over kickoff duties for the team.

But I still think this team needed to make a move for a cornerback, especially considering the relative risk they are taking by keeping Aqib Talib. They obviously did not move on Nnamdi Asomugha, Jonathan Joseph, Antonio Cromartie or Josh Wilson, but there are still cornerbacks worth looking at.

Former Redskin Carlos Rogers is still available, as is Falcons restricted free agent Brent Grimes. The Bucs are in a division with high-powered attacks in New Orleans and Atlanta. Spending more money on the secondary certainly could not hurt. 

4. Jacksonville Jaguars ($34 Million Available)

The Jaguars actually have spent good money so far this summer, but they should not be complacent.

Jack Del Rio is still fighting for his job, but landed two linebackers—Paul Posluszny and Clint Session—that should help a weak unit immediately. Safety Dawan Landry was a solid move, although he never truly reached his full potential. Landry is an upgrade for the Jags at a major position of need.

Guard Jason Spitz was also a very solid get from Green Bay.

The one position that has bothered me since the departure of Mike Sims-Walker is wide receiver. The 6'2" receiver was more valuable to this team than they realize. They do not have a true No. 1 threat for quarterback David Garrard to depend on, and more importantly, for rookie Blaine Gabbert to get familiar with.

Mike Thomas is their best outside weapon and he's 5'8" tall.

They have a ton of young, inexperienced players at the position, but would benefit greatly from adding a proven veteran to the group.

Unrestricted free agents like Braylon Edwards, Steve Smith (NYG—coming off major injury), Malcolm Floyd, Terrell Owens and Mark Clayton are still available.

Floyd and Edwards are ready-made No. 1s with good experience and decent youth as well. Owens would be a stretch, but was still very productive a year ago. There is not a receiver on the Jags roster that is better than any of the aforementioned available players.

3. San Francisco 49ers ($30 Million Available)

Alright, honestly, it is not funny anymore. Do the 49ers know that free agency has started and they are allowed to spend money?

The biggest move the 49ers have made so far is cutting Nate Clements, letting him walk to Cincinnati and not replacing him with anyone yet.

The 49ers have signed aging kicker David Akers, defensive tackle Ray McDonald and former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith.

All in all, they have done literally nothing. Oh, and they also lost center/guard David Baas to the New York Giants.

The cornerback position had a number of players available, including their own Nate Clements after they cut him, and the 49ers have yet to address the position.

Currently the best available option is former Redskin Carlos Rogers.

The other surprising thing is why the 49ers have not re-signed Dashon Goldson, or at least addressed the safety position at all. There are actually a plethora of safeties, including Goldson, still on the market and safety is hardly a strength for the 49ers.

I do not know exactly what new coach Jim Harbaugh is playing at, but this team is not getting any better by not spending money. 

2. Cleveland Browns ($30.4 Million Available)

I am actually not opposed to how the Browns have handled free agency so far, and I think the signings of Usama Young and Brandon Jackson will go a long way for this team.

Both players have spent time with Super Bowl-winning organizations, they are both ready to handle their respective roles for this team, but outside of them the Browns have not brought on much talent.

And this surprises me most at the wide receiver position. Rookie Greg Little is facing a steep learning curve in the NFL and former draft picks Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie are anything but No. 1 receivers. 

In fact, the Browns' leading receivers last year were tight end Ben Watson, running back Peyton Hillis and wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, in that order.

Stuckey, who has spent time with both the Browns and Jets, is not even in Cleveland anymore.

Obviously this team is not about to bring back Braylon Edwards, but they certainly stand to gain a lot from a player like Terrell Owens or Malcolm Floyd.

If they truly want to see what Colt McCoy has then they better give him another legitimate weapon on the outside.

1. Cincinnati Bengals ($41 Million Available)

The Bengals, essentially, have traded off Jonathan Joseph for Nate Clements and Carson Palmer for Bruce Gradkowski.

They also shipped out Chad Ochocinco and do not plan on re-signing Terrell Owens while picking up career underachieving linebackers Thomas Howard and Manny Lawson.

Returning safety Gibril Wilson is staying put longer than a year for the first time since winning the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2007, but the Bengals saw 17 other players leave including the release on Antwan Odom.

With over $41 million left unspent, and even with the free agent market shrinking quickly, the Bengals are not doing themselves many favors by holding onto this much cash.

There are still talented players to be found at positions of need, and Brown's reluctance to do anything with Carson Palmer drags this situation down even further. 

Cincinnati technically doesn't have to spend any more money, but they will be paying for their lack of execution this offseason in the very near future.