With the 2012 NFL season in the books and the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Champions, 31 clubs are left unsatisfied and scurrying to improve in the New Year.
Free agency beings March 1 and the Entry Draft is in April, so front offices will be hard at work formulizing plans to correct their team’s problem areas.
Chat Sports examined all 32 franchises and identified their weaknesses, the best free agents on the market and college players in the draft pool, as we take a look at the 2013 NFL Off-Season.
Today, we breakdown the AFC:
Baltimore
The Ravens entered the playoffs a long shot to win it all as the six seed, but overcame the odds to send Ray Lewis off with a second Super Bowl ring. After winning the big game, they have less needs than other teams, but will need to bolster their squad if they hope to defend.
With Lewis gone, the Ravens will likely look to fortify the middle linebacker position. Their biggest focus, though, will be securing a long-term deal for QB and Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Flacco is an unrestricted free agent and if they can’t come to an agreement, they’ll be forced to use the Franchise Tag.
Greatest Team Need: LB
Best Available Fits: Rey Maualuga (UFA, Cincinnati), Brian Urlacher (UFA, Chicago), Manti Te’o (Draft, Notre Dame)
Buffalo
The Bills have been cellar-dwellers in the AFC East for the better part of a decade, plagued by porous defense and shaky quarterback play. Ryan Fitzpatrick gained a new deal to make him the franchise QB in 2011, but the move hasn’t paid dividends, with the Bills finishing 6-10 the past two seasons.
The team will look to garner a new signal-caller but also needs help on the other side of the ball, where new coach Doug Marrone (from Syracuse) is installing a hybrid defense which will require new players. Marrone has announced an open competition at QB between Tarvaris Jackson and Fitzpartrick, but it’s possible someone will be added to the mix.
Greatest Team Needs: QB, LB
Best Available Fits: QB-Ryan Nassib (Draft, Syracuse), Alex Smith (Trade, San Francisco)
LB-Paul Kruger (UFA, Baltimore), Connor Barwin (UFA, Houston)
Cincinnati
The Bengals qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive season behind a dynamic offense led by A.J. Green and Andy Dalton. The Bengals rushing attack was far behind the passing offense though, ranking 18th in the league. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was solid, but could use a complement in the backfield.
The team’s No. 1 priority will be to retain pass rushing defensive end Michael Johnson, who will be a hot commodity on the free market after positing 11.5 sacks in 2012.
Greatest Team Need: RB
Best Available Fits: Rashard Mendenhall (UFA, Pittsburgh), Rashad Jennings (UFA, Jacksonville)
Cleveland
The Browns are in dire need of a jump-start to their franchise. After hiring Pat Shurmur to coach the team in 2011, he was quickly exiled after the club finished 9-23 under his guidance. In steps Rob Chudzinski from the Carolina Panthers, who will look to bring the team to its second playoff appearance in 15 years.
The Browns have an anemic offense and 2012 first round pick Brandon Weeden did little to inspire confidence he can get the job done. Trent Richardson was everything he was advertised to be at running back, the Browns are in dire need of a playmaking wide receiver (or two) to see if Weeden is the answer.
Greatest Team Need: WR
Best Available Fits: Greg Jennings (UFA, Green Bay), Dwayne Bowe (UFA, Kansas City), Mike Wallace (UFA, Pittsburgh)
Denver
The Broncos enjoyed a great 2012 on the arm of rejuvenated future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Receivers Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas were consistent performers and the backfield has a number of backs who can be the feature guy.
There were problems on defense though, as he secondary struggled at times in 2012. The team could use a playmaking safety to fortify the defense and there are ample options in free agency.
Greatest Team Need: S
Best Available Fits: Kenny Phillips (UFA, New York Giants), Dashon Goldson (UFA, San Francisco)
Houston
The Texans continued to improve, turning in their best season as a franchise in 2012 with a 12-4 record and a first round playoff win. They lost to the Patriots in the Divisional Round, but have a lot to build on in 2013.
Andre Johnson is one of the game’s best wideouts, but he constantly faces double teams and needs a weapon on the other side to take some attention away from him.
Greatest Team Need: WR
Best Available Fits: Mike Wallace (UFA, Pittsburgh), Greg Jennings (UFA, Green Bay), Danny Amendola (UFA, St. Louis)
Indianapolis
The Colts were one of the biggest surprises of 2012, jumping from 2-14 in 2011 to 11-5 in 2012. They made the playoffs but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Ravens in the opening round.
No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck was excellent behind center, but the running game struggled to a No. 22 ranking and an upgrade is needed at feature back.
Greatest Team Need: RB
Best Available Fits: Reggie Bush (UFA, Miami), Felix Jones (UFA , Dallas)
Jacksonville
The Jaguars turned in another disappointing effort last season, coming in dead last in the NFL with a putrid 2-14 record. This follows a 5-11 campaign in 2011 and resulted in the ouster of head coach Mike Mularkey, who lasted just one season.
In steps Gus Bradley to revamp the once-proud franchise and he has a lot of work to do with new GM David Caldwell. QB Blaine Gabbert is young, but it wouldn’t be a total surprise if they looked to the draft for a new quarterback. What is certain is that the team needs to improve its league-worst pass rush (20 sacks) and No. 30 ranked rush defense.
Greatest Team Need: DL
Best Available Fits: Michael Johnson (UFA, Cincinnati), Richard Seymour (UFA, Oakland, Cliff Avril, (UFA, Detroit)
Kansas City
The Chiefs finished with a 2-14 record, tied for last in the NFL with the Jaguars, but at least find themselves with the No. 1 overall pick. Matt Cassel hasn’t worked out behind center, but Geno Smith is sitting there if they want him. Or they could address the offensive line with the selection of Luke Joeckel.
With Andy Reid taking over, it’s likely he’ll bring in some former players that fit within his scheme. After his success in Philadelphia, there is hope he can resurrect the Chiefs.
Greatest Team Needs: QB, OT
Best Available Fits: QB-Geno Smith (Draft, West Virginia), Matt Flynn (Trade, Seattle), Alex Smith (Trade, San Francisco)
OT-Luke Joeckel (Draft, Texas A & M), Max Starks (UFA, Pittsburgh)
Miami
Rookie QB Ryan Tannehill looked excellent at times, giving the much-maligned franchise promise for the first time in a while. The team finished with a 7-9 record and is trending upwards heading into the 2013 season. Priority No. 1 will be to retain franchise left tackle Jake Long, but there is much work to do on defense, starting with a starting cornerback (two if they allow free agent Sean Smith to depart).
Greatest Team Need: CB
Best Available Fits: Mike Jenkins (UFA, Dallas), Tracy Porter (UFA, Denver)
New England Patriots
The Patriots once again met the Ravens in the Conference Championship, but this time the Ravens came out on top. The team has two key free agents in Danny Woodhead and Wes Welker and will have to pay if they want to retain both.
The Patriots need to beef up their rush defense and could start with another DT to play alongside Vince Wilfork.
Greatest Team Needs: DT
Best Available Fits: Richard Seymour (UFA, Oakland), Randy Starks (UFA, Miami)
New York Jets
The Jets were a circus, where Mark Sanchez struggled mightily and Tim Tebow was never given a chance to start, It’s clear the Jets need a new franchise QB as the Sanchez experiment failed and they could also use a running back with Shonn Greene solid but unspectacular.
Greatest Team Needs: QB, RB,
Best Available Fits: QB-Geno Smith (Draft, West Virginia), Tyler Wilson (Draft, Arkansas, Alex Smith (Trade, San Francisco)
RB-Giovani Bernard (Draft, North Carolina), Eddie Lacy (Draft, Alabama)
Oakland
The Oakland Raiders continued their streak of seasons without qualifying for the playoffs, marking it at 10 and counting. The last time they had a winning season, they were in the Super Bowl on the losing end to Tampa Bay in 2002.
The Carson Palmer acquisition hasn’t worked out and the Raiders are once again in need of a quarterback to groom as a franchise guy. Any team that finishes 4-12 has a multitude of problems, but the most glaring need for the Silver and Black is at cornerback.
Greatest Team Need: CB
Best Available Fits: Cary Williams (UFA, Baltimore), Sean Smith (UFA, Miami)
Pittsburgh
The Steelers missed the playoffs for just the second time since 2003, compiling an 8-8 record. It’s possible No. 1 wideout Mike Wallace will move on after being plagued by drops, but a biggest need is rush linebacker in their 3-4 defense, after registering a No. 15 ranking in sacks. With the No. 17 pick, there should be ample options.
Greatest Team Need: LB
Best Available Fits: Jarvis Jones (Draft, Georgia), Anthony Spencer (UFA, Dallas)
San Diego
The Chargers finally canned long-time coach Norv Turner along with GM A.J. Smith after a 7-9 finish, much to the delight of the fans. New GM Tom Telesco along witih coach Mike McCoy have a big challenge ahead of them, but at least have some pieces in QB Phillip Rivers and RB Ryan Matthews.
The bigger problem is that the team features one of the league’s worst offensive lines, so Matthews and Rivers haven’t been able to realize their full potential. With the No. 12 pick, the Chargers are lucky to be facing a solid offensive line draft class.
Greatest Team Need: OT
Best Available Fits: Lane Johnson (Draft, Oklahoma), Eric Fisher (Central Michigan)
Tennessee
The Titans were 6-10 in 2012 and lost six games by a startling 21 points or more. The team has a porous pass defense and needs all the help it can get. They’ll likely look long and hard at cornerback when they’re on the clock at No. 10 come Draft Day.
Greatest Team Need: CB
Best Available Fits: DeMarcus Milliner (Draft, Alabama), Johnthan Banks (Mississippi State)
Follow Mike Coppinger on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger
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